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May 2, 2011:

THE WAY BACK

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, why is it that certain great movies are completely ignored on their original release? While the critics are falling all over themselves to give raves to utter pieces of mediocrity, they give mixed reviews to a film that will, in years to come, be highly thought of. Certainly that happened with Spielberg’s Artificial Intelligence. And I feel it’s going to happen with Peter Weir’s wonderful film, The Way Back. This film was completely ignored at the box-office – it did manage to get one lonely Oscar nomination for makeup – which, I must say, it deserved to win. No, it wasn’t fantasy or creatures, but it was brilliantly done and quite real. The film is about some prisoners in a Gulag during WWII who escape and travel 4000 grueling miles from Siberia to India. Many critics complained that there wasn’t enough tension between the characters on the long journey, as if this story NEEDED that kind of dippy Screenwriting 101 horse crap. They bicker occasionally, but they’ve all got the same goal so why do we need artificial drama? The elements are the drama, the scenery is the drama, the characters’ quest for freedom is the drama. But, take away these critics’ comfort zone and they don’t know what to do. The fact is, Peter Weir is a masterful director, as good as we’ve got, and his film is an epic with some visuals that are right up there with the greatest of David Lean. He has a unique visual style all his own, however, and this is one of his best films. The cast is great, and Ed Harris should have been nominated for an Oscar, as should have Mr. Weir. And given some of the dreck that was part of the TEN Best Picture nominees, the film should have, as well. But then, no one saw it. It opened with no fanfare and disappeared instantly. The transfer on the Blu and Ray is excellent, with Russell Boyd’s magnificent photography really shining. You’d never know that if you just looked at the truly terrible screencaps posted on the usual sites – they don’t resemble in the least what this disc actually looks like. Highly recommended by the likes of me, and one of the best films of the last ten years.

Prior to watching The Way Back, I’d gotten a really good night’s sleep. I then delivered a box o’ CDs to a local dealer, then got a late breakfast, then came home and did a mile and a half jog. I then wrote and finished the liner notes for our next release, and got that off to the Kritzerland designer. After that, I did some other work on the computer, and also finessed my contextual commentary for the Gardenia show. Then I had a long telephonic conversation with the Kritzerland designer, and made the decision to do the new booklet all color – I just love the score so much I want to give it the best packaging we can.

Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because it is late, and these notes should have been posted thirty minutes ago, and I really must get my beauty sleep.

Today, I have to approve the packaging for our next release, I have to do errands and whatnot, I have to jog, I have to hopefully pick up some packages, I must eat something light but amusing, and I must have a two-hour work session with John Boswell.

Tomorrow, we have our stumble-through, and Wednesday it’s sound check and show time. The rest of the week is quite busy with meetings and meals and preparing for my trip to New York, New York.

Let’s all put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, let’s all break out the cheese slices and the ham chunks, let’s all dance the Hora or the Square Dance, for today is the birthday of our very own FJL, the Parody King. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to our very own FJL, the Parody King. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO OUR VERY OWN FJL, THE PARODY KING!!!

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, approve packaging, I must jog, I must do errands and whatnot, I must hopefully pick up some packages, I must eat, and I must have a work session. Today’s topic of discussion: What do you feel are the most underrated films that you’ve seen – movies you love that somehow had the critics scratching their collective idiot heads or films that audiences just weren’t buying? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland and hope I don’t ever have to travel 4000 miles to the way back.

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