Well, dear readers, the holiday weekend has begun and I am in quite a holiday weekend mood and mode, not necessarily in that order. I have only a few things planned and all of them are fun things. I spent most of yesterday catching up on CD listening and movie watching. Before I did any of that, however, I had to ship out two big packages and two small packages. I had to do some errands and whatnot. And I made up a big batch o’ tuna pasta salad for my various and sundried meals o’ the day. I had to undo my Sunday night plan because I’d forgotten that I have to pick up a friend at the Burbank Airport, so we switched the Sunday night dinner to Monday night, which is fine by me and by me fine. You know, these notes are BORING. These notes are boring me to tears. These notes are putting me to sleep. This is what we call a laundry list. The fact that I’m eating dried CRANBERRIES whilst writing these here notes is more interesting than the notes. These notes need a shot in the arm, that’s what these notes need. Perhaps I should talk about a wonderful invention like 5 Day Deodorant Pads or Flavor Straws. Perhaps I should tell the story of The Randy Vicar and the Asparagus. THAT would perk up these notes, that much I can tell you. Perhaps I should sing a classic song from The Great American Songbook such as Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini. Perhaps I should do the Texas Two-Step or the Ohio Three-Step. Perhaps I should have an egg roll, Mr. Goldstone. Perhaps I should ponder the meaning of lint or even Lent. Perhaps I should just get on with these fershluganah notes.
I managed to watch three count them three motion pictures on Blu and Ray yesterday. The first motion picture on Blu and Ray was entitled The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum, a German film from Germany circa 1975. It is a powerful German film and I liked it very much. It is sadly truer today than it was even back then. It’s about a woman who meets a wanted man (accused of being a bank robber and member of some sort of terrorist group – his crime really seems to have been having gone AWOL and stolen some money before he did so). She has a fling with him and he leaves before she’s up. The police arrive and interrogate her in the most specious way. And one newspaper begins to paint her as an accomplice, a woman of loose morals, and an all around bad person. The reporter just writes whatever he wants – if he interviews someone who likes the woman, he makes up a story that they don’t like her. It’s the sort of thing that happens all the time – a rush to judgment and a trial in the newspaper (or today on the Internet or cable TV). And, of course, they use “freedom of the press” as their out. How often have we seen news people report a story before having all the facts – just making it up as they go along? It’s despicable. In any case, the film is a strong one, and has excellent performances, writing, and direction. The transfer on this all-region Blu-Ray is terrific.
I then watched movie number two on Blu and Ray, entitled Vivre se Vie (My Life to Live), a French film from France, directed by Jean-Luc Godard. I have to say, I dislike Godard much more than I like him, although a handful of his films I can tolerate and even a couple I really like. But he’s just so irritating sometimes with his “style.” Vivre se Vie is in the middle for me – it features a wonderful performance by Anna Karina, and the music by Michel Legrand is excellent, as is the luscious black and white photography of the great Raoul Cotard. And it’s really short. The transfer is excellent – one of the better Criterion transfers.
I then watched movie number three on Blu and Ray, entitled Rock ‘n’ Roll High School, a rather silly film from 1979. It’s certainly good-natured, but the humor, for me, is really forced, and The Ramones are not a band I love – looks-wise or music-wise. The movie’s real strength is its leading lady, P.J. Soles. Why this woman didn’t have a bigger career is anyone’s guess. Along for the ride are Mary Woronov and Paul Bartel, who are their usual selves. The transfer is quite pleasing, and there are some nice extras.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I’m pondering lint and it’s giving me a headache.
Today, I shall have a ME day. I’ll do a little writing, a couple of errands and whatnot, and then I’ll listen to CDs and watch movies until my dinner.
Tomorrow is more of the same and then I pick up my pal at the airport and she’s taking me to dinner after, because she wants to show her appreciation, which is lovely.
Monday, I have a few little things to do, like announce the new Kritzerland title, and I’m supping at Genghis Cohen after that.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, sleep in, do a little writing, do a couple of errands and whatnot, and then listen to CDs, watch movies, and go out to a dinner. Today’s topic of discussion: Two of my favorite singers of the 1960s are Jack Jones and Andy Williams – so, what are your favorite Jack Jones and Andy Williams songs, and what is the first song you ever heard by each of them? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I stop the pondering of lint because to ponder lint is like gazing at your navel, which is, by the way (BTW, in Internet lingo) where lint occasionally gathers.