Well, dear readers, I must really write these notes in a hurry because I must arise at four in the morning to announce our new title, get ready, and then be on my way to the airport and then the city that never sleeps. So, please send your most excellent vibes and xylophones for a safe, secure, and on time flight.
Yesterday, I slept late, I was lazy, I did a mile and a half jog, I did some errands and whatnot, I had a foot-long spicy Eyetalian sandwich from Subway, I made sure everything was prepped for our release, I packed, and then I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Yesterday, I watched two count them two motion pictures on Blu and Ray. The first motion picture on Blu and Ray was entitled The Last Picture Show. I saw the film at its premiere showing at the Filmex Film Festival. It was a wonderful film then, and it’s a wonderful film now. Mr. Bogdanovich certainly came out of the gate strongly – first with the ultra low budget Targets, then The Last Picture Show, followed by What’s Up, Doc and Paper Moon. Since then, it’s mostly been a downhill ride and I’m not quite certain why, other than he is seemingly one of the cockiest directors ever. One simply can’t imagine a better film of The Last Picture Show – the casting is terrific, the photography by Robert Surtees is terrific, the production design by Polly Platt is terrific, and the score by – oops, that’s right, Mr. Bogdanovich doesn’t like original motion picture scores and I believe he has never had one in any of his films. It works for Picture Show and Doc and Paper Moon, but it doesn’t work for all of them. It’s a bit surprising that Timothy Bottoms didn’t have more of a career – his performance is natural and wonderful. And Ben Johnson is just great. Jeff Bridges and Cybil Shepherd are perfect, but every bit of casting is perfect. The transfer is excellent.
I then watched that film’s polar opposite, truly one of the worst movies ever made, entitled Student Bodies. Made the same year as The Creature Wasn’t Nice, it, unlike Creature, was really trying to be like Airplane – but Airplane was Airplane and had great writing and expert players. This thing has an almost all amateur cast. It’s written and directed by Mickey Rose and you’d think the man who co-wrote Bananas with Woody Allen would have one funny thing in a movie, but sadly that is not the case. It is one monumentally unfunny thing after another. All the spoof jokes that you can imagine, spoofing Halloween and Friday the 13th, happen in the first five minutes, but then you have to endure another eighty minutes of wretchedness. It was one of several films Paramount put into production to get around a then writer’s strike. Michael Ritchie had his name removed from the film so as not to get in trouble (he’s credited as Alan Smithee, producer) and there seems to be some confusion as to whether he directed the film, as well. Truly, mesmerizingly awful.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get some semblance of beauty sleep.
Today, I shall arise at four and announce our new title, after which I shall get ready and then be on my way to the airport and then the city that never sleeps. Then we have a rehearsal at six, then I’ll be supping at Joe Allen.
Tomorrow, I have a morning meeting, then we do a sound check and then it’s show time. Wednesday is a recording session with Skip Kennon, then supper with Barry Pearl, then seeing his show. And then Thursday I shall be on my way back to the City of Studio.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, announce a title, be on my way to the city that never sleeps, rehearse, and sup. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite Peter Bogdanovich films, and what are the most unfunny comedies you’ve ever seen? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland and get ready for the trip.