Well, dear readers, what a difference a day makes, twenty-four little hours. I’m feeling much better about everything, which is what a complete day of rest will do. I only wish I could have actually slept in, but those days are done, save for Sundays, because the jerks next door are out there every morning at seven and the noise level has raised about 100% in the last few days. So, I was out of bed at seven. I had an early hair appointment so I didn’t do the long or short jog. I answered some e-mails and caught up on a few things, and then I toddled off to Teddy to get my haircut. He did his customary lovelier than lovely job on my do, and we dished much dirt. After Teddy (AT, in Internet lingo), I drove to Amoeba and took in a big box o’ trade DVDs, for which I was given a nice amount of credit, although I did not get one of the good people so it was less than it should have been – it’s all in the luck of the draw at the trade counter. So, I got some new Blu-Ray discs, plus one CD – a singer I’d never heard but who I know is quite popular with the populace – Jane Monheit. After listening to this, her latest CD, I must say I am not a fan. A very fussy vocalist, with not, for me at least, one ounce of honest emotion in her voice, phrasing, or interpretation. It’s all studied and plastic like most of what I hear these days that passes for music and seems to strike the public’s fancy. Each and every selection sounds the same, both vocally and arrangement-wise. It’s going back for a refund. I then came back home, made a couple of telephonic calls, and did some more catching up. I then got a Spicy Eyetalian Subway sandwich, picked up a couple of packages, and then came home, ate, and sat on my couch like so much fish, which is exactly what I wanted and needed to do.
I managed to watch three count them three motion pictures on Blu-Ray. The first motion picture on Blu-Ray was entitled Sleuth, the remake. I had heard it was terrible, but nothing could have prepared me for the awfulness of this film. It’s top-ten bad material. Let’s face it – Anthony Shaffer didn’t need Harold Pinter’s help. And Kenneth Branagh’s direction is so wretched that it actually boggled my mind. Some of the shots are so stupid you really can’t believe it – it’s almost like a parody of artsy moviemaking. It’s fun to see Michael Caine in the Andre Wyke role (Olivier in the original film, in which Caine played Milo). In the remake, it’s Jude Law (who’s also one of the producers), who I have to say I am no fan of. Pinter’s ruination of Shaffer’s terrific play is shameful. A complete waste of celluloid but mercifully short – in fact about twenty-five minutes shorter than the original film version of the play. I then watched Bonnie and Clyde. I’ve written about the film before, which I saw at a sneak preview in Westwood, before anyone knew anything about the film. The audience booed when Beatty’s name came on the screen, but within minutes they were completely hooked and by the end they just sat there, stunned. We all knew we’d seen a masterpiece, and the film remains a masterpiece all these years later, despite its being ripped off many times by far less talented people. The Blu-Ray is quite good. I then watched the third motion picture on Blu-Ray, which was entitled The Fugitive, the film version of the TV series. I’d only seen it once before, when it first came out. It’s a very good picture, with stellar performances and good action sequences. The Blu-Ray is okay – reasonably sharp, but apparently transferred not quite at full 1080p. Still, better than its DVD counterpart. I gather this was one of the first Blu-Rays.
After the third movie, we took the new Kritzerland release live. I love the new site, and it was so easy and effortless getting the new title up on the site. What a difference from the old way with the webgal.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must hit the road to dreamland as the jerk workers will be back bright and early to wake me up.
Today, I have no plans at all, and tomorrow is the same, save for getting ready to design the new book. The Kritzerland helper will be coming over at some point to import more names into our Constant Contact eBlast list, and the Simply Sondheim producers are picking up some CDs to take back to San Francisco. I may take a drive in the motor car, and I’ll probably go somewhere fun for food. And for sure I will listen to CDs and watch some motion pictures.
Next week, I jump right back into the fray, prepping the new Kritzerland release – I heard the master last night and it’s really terrific-sounding and a really fun release it will be. And that will be followed by two more releases in quick succession. And just in case I haven’t mentioned it, how is June half over with already?
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do the long jog, drive about in the motor car, and relax and smell the roses or the coffee or the garbanzo beans. Today’s topic of discussion: If you could change one bad habit, what would it be and how long has it been a bad habit? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst we all sing a chorus of What A Difference A Day Makes.