Well, dear readers, I think I shall write these notes in a hurry because I was up until two in the morning the night before this and got up at eight and I am quite overtired and therefore these notes will be down and dirty or, at the very least, dirty and down. We managed to get the new Kritzerland release live last night at midnight, so after I posted the notes I had to send out our eBlast, get it announced on the various and sundried boards, and then send e-mails to all my dealers. I finally crawled into bed at two and fell asleep very fast. I woke up to lots of nice Topkapi orders, so that was a pleasant way to begin a day. I spent quite a while printing them out and answering e-mails. I then did the two-mile jog and then did quite a few errands and whatnot. When I got home, I did some more work on what is potentially a new replacement song for Nudie Musical (the ninth, I believe, for this particular slot). This song has been a thorn in my side and also a side in my thorn for way too long. And I think it’s because every time I do a new version, I never change the IDEA of the song – I just do a new lyric or new music. But, I think I finally realized that it’s the IDEA that’s what’s not working – it’s taking the character into a weird place and really giving her someone else’s joke. So, I began thinking about what the character really wants and what she feels is her strength – and then I borrowed a joke from the end of the show – her playoff joke, and used that as the title of this potential new number. Then I finally came up with a tune I like and now I have to do the lyric. I’m hoping I’m finally on the right track with this. After that, I drove to the mail place where there was no mail and none of the packages I’m expecting. I then came home and sat on my couch like so much fish and watched a motion picture I’d TIVOd entitled A Child Is Waiting, starring Mr. Burt Lancaster, Miss Judy Garland, and Miss Gena Rowlands, directed by Mr. John Cassavetes, and written by Mr. Abby Mann. It’s quite a powerful and moving film – I’d only seen a couple of scenes from it before. It’s one of Miss Garland’s best performances, and Mr. Cassavetes’ work is great (it was his only real studio film, and not a happy experience, I gather – but the film is the film, and it’s a really good one). The film has a wonderful Ernest Gold score, too – Mr. Gold is one of the most underrated film composers ever, and shame on those who underrate him because he was a treasure and his music is fantastic.
I then toddled off to sup at the Eclectic Café and then see a screening of a new motion picture entitled Public Enemies, starring Mr. Johnny Depp, Mr. Christian Bale, and Miss Marion Cotillard. It’s yet another neo-gangster film about Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson, Melvin Purvis, and those types. This time it’s all directed by Michael Mann, who I find one of the least-interesting filmmakers ever. He has no real style and his shaky-cam “style” in a period film is really annoying, but not as annoying as his idiotic decision to shoot this film on digital video. In fact, it may be the single ugliest-looking major film I’ve ever seen. It borders on being out of focus the entire time, and, naturally, because Mr. Mann is so “today” the entire film is yellow. It’s not a terrible movie, but it’s certainly not a good one, and, because it’s Mr. Mann, his tale takes two-and-a-half hours to tell rather than the ninety minutes it should take. Elliot Goldenthal’s heavy-handed score doesn’t help. The performances are all fine.
Prior to going to the movies, Mr. Video Man came over to scope out a problem I’ve had with two Blu-Ray discs – one was Edward Scissorhands, where the center channel wouldn’t decode properly and hence one could not hear one line of dialog in the entire film – just music and fx. The other was The Deep, same problem. I haven’t had the problem with other discs or, if I have, I haven’t noticed it. He did some checking then was able to fix the problem in the Blu-Ray player’s menu by going from PCM to bitstream audiophile. That fixed both discs. So, I’ll use PCM most of the time, but use the other setting if there’s a problem.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I’ve got a busy day ahead of me and I need my beauty sleep.
Today, I shall be going to Mr. Grant Geissman’s home environment to work on the book design of the new novel, plus work on the cover design, all of which I’m looking forward to. I’ll probably be there about four hours, from eleven to three. I don’t really have any other plans for today, but we’ll see what comes up, if anything.
Tomorrow is pretty free, save for an hour work session at three with the composer and lyricist of the long musical. Other than that, I shall relax and smell the roses or the coffee or the baked beans.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do the long jog, work on a book and cover design, and then figure out what’s what for the rest o’ the day and evening. Today’s topic of discussion: What are the most beautifully photographed motion pictures you’ve ever seen – those with photography that literally swept you away or served the film brilliantly and helped tell the story? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst we end these down and dirty notes, which actually didn’t have much down and even less dirty.