Haines Logo Text
Column Archive
January 11, 2011:

THE PASTRAMI LIFE

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, this week is flying by, like a gazelle doing Yoga. Do you know what Yoga spelled backwards is? Agoy. Of course, that reminds me of the classic tale of The Randy Vicar and the Shower Nozzle. It was another long and winding day yesterday and I suspect that’s just what I’m in for for quite some time. I got up at six and announced our new Kritzerland CD, Dave Grusin’s great score to A Dry White Season. Then I went back to bed and slept for another couple of hours. I got up, printed out some orders, and then spent about forty minutes futzing and fixing the nine or ten pages I’d written yesterday. I was actually pretty happy with them. Then I wrote six new pages, after which I did a long drive to Westlake Village to lunch with Mr. David Wechter at Brent’s Deli. Brent’s is one of the best delis we have – I had pastrami with cole slaw and Russian dressing and it was superb. The rye bread was especially fresh and yummilicious. I believe I could eat a pastrami sandwich at Brent’s or Langer’s or Nate ‘n’ Al’s every day and never tire of it. We discussed our script and divided up the next batch of scenes. I’ll try to do some work on that in the evenings, but for now my main focus is the book and I can’t really split that too much. So, I may just wait until I’ve finished. If I keep up the pace that won’t be more than three weeks from now. Then I picked up a package and no mail, did some banking, then came home. I printed out more orders, answered some e-mails, and then I wrote three more pages. Then the helper’s best friend came over and we packaged up some stuff and she’ll be shipping that in the morning. I then sat on my couch like so much fish.

Last night, I watched the first hour of Once Upon A Time In America on Blu and Ray. I do love this movie, despite its occasional faults. The performances are wonderful, and Sergio Leone’s direction is incredibly incredible. So far the transfer looks wonderful. I have no idea if they’ve used the previous transfer from the special edition DVD or if this is new – it’s already getting knocked by reviewers who have no clew. I saw this film many, many times when it was released, both in the short and long versions. The dark scenes in this film have always had a muddy quality to them because they pushed the film. And it doesn’t take a braniac to figure it out because the minute the film cuts to an outdoor scene everything is sharp as can be with excellent contrast. I read three or four reviews of this Blu and Ray, all of which said that it had taken decades for Mr. Leone’s long version to see the light of day. Say what? And one of them even said that the Blu and Ray was the first time the complete version was on home video. This review was from a site called DVD Authority. Yeah. I’ll buy that. I wrote a few of these people and set them straight. Mr. Leone’s long version was first shown in the United States of America eight months after the short version had died a quick and painful death. Eight months is not decades. Furthermore, Mr. Leone’s long version has been available on EVERY video format since the beginning – VHS, Beta, laserdisc, DVD, and the special edition DVD. In fact, the RARITY is the short version. THAT hasn’t been seen since the year it came out, and I’m probably the only one who has it – I got it when it came out on Beta tape. These guys do their “research” on the Internet, reading other idiots who are incorrect. These guys did not see the film during its original run and they have no clew as to what they are talking about. It’s shameful, amusing, and pathetic all at the same time.

After that, I wrote another two pages – eleven in total, which made me feel I’d been very productive. I’m really enjoying creating the new cast of characters for this book, and there are quite a few of them. Then I was really hungry, so I whipped up about five ounces of spaghetti, put a little butter and cheese on it and that hit the spot. Then spot hit the that. Then I decided on the next Kritzerland release, which will actually be easy/breezy in every way.

And since I didn’t really get to write about A Dry White Season the other day (I’ve written about it in the past, though), let me just say it is a powerful, hard-hitting, and superb film, with a brilliant performance by Donald Sutherland, and a show-stopping on by Marlon Brando. And the score by Dave Grusin is amazing and anyone on the fence about it should get off the damn fence and get it.

Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button because I’ve been up since six and I’m quite tired and quite need my beauty sleep before another long day – perhaps I’ll ponder having another pastrami sandwich tomorrow. Then I’d be living the pastrami life.

Today, I will be mostly writing. I have only a couple of errands and whatnot to do, and hopefully I’ll pick up a package or three. Then at five our wonderful company of players arrives and we do our stumble-through of the Gardenia show. That’s always fascinating, and I may or may not have to make some changes once I’ve heard how it all plays in show order. After that, I’ll go to the Wood of Holly to sup with a friend from New Jersey. I’m not at all sure where we’ll go – she’s staying at the Renaissance Hotel, so we’ll probably go to the Daily Grill or the California Pizza Kitchen since they’re right there.

Tomorrow, I’ll be up early to do my writing, then at two we have a sound check at the club, then I’ll come home and write some more and maybe pick up a package, and also print out the current sixty pages or so and get them to Muse Margaret, and then it will be time to mosey on over to the Gardenia to sup and then do our show. I heard today that we’re already pretty full up and I know there are seventeen more people coming beyond those who’ve already reserved. I’m very excited about that.

The next couple of days will be writing days, and I have a meeting or two and a meal or two. Not sure what the weekend holds other than a birthday party to attend on Saturday night.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, write, do a couple of errands and whatnot, hopefully pick up a package, rehearse and then sup. Today’s topic of conversation: Deli – where have you eaten the best deli food? What did you have that was so great, and what are your favorite deli dishes? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I will probably dream of The Pastrami Life.

Search BK's Notes Archive:
 
© 2001 - 2024 by Bruce Kimmel. All Rights Reserved