Well, dear readers, I must write these here notes in a hurry because I must be up at six in the morning to announce the new Kritzerland title. I had a lovelier than lovely Father’s Day – I even got a phone message from the darling daughter – in fact, if my telephonic device weren’t so damnably stupid I could have actually talked to her, but what my telephonic device does is light up but not ring until about three rings in and if I don’t get to it instantly it goes to voice mail, and that’s what happened. By the time I heard it and grabbed the phone it was too late. I called right back but I got voice mail because she was leaving the message. I should probably just get a new phone because the not ringing right away is just too too irritating. I managed to get a really good and long night’s sleep, which my eyeballs needed jogged, and then had a fun rehearsal with the thirteen-year-old. As I watch what she’s doing, new ideas for patter come to me, or she’ll do a move I like and we build from there – this is the fun part, getting to the details. Then we all went out to eat at Stanley’s – I hadn’t been there in ages. I had a small Caesar salad and their rotisserie chicken – the latter isn’t that great and I probably should have gone with my first instinct, the Chinese chicken salad. After dinner, I came home, did some work on the computer, and then sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched two count them two motion pictures on Blu and Ray. The first motion picture on Blu and Ray was entitled Salt. This was not a prequel to Salt and Pepper, which starred Sammy Davis, Jr. and Peter Lawford. No, this was another of those things that have the kinds of quotes that say “A thrill ride,” and “a superb thriller white knuckle ride.” This one stars Angelina Jolie as, what else, a CIA operative. A Russian accuses her of being a Russian spy and, of course, everyone immediately believes it so she takes it on the lam. As always, there are many of the obligatory and completely ridiculous car chases, stunts that no human being could live through (this constant leaping from huge heights to much lower heights is so idiotic and so stupid that you just sit there scratching your head) and a lot of extremely predictable “twists” (the main “twist” you know in the first ten minutes if you’ve seen any of these so-called “thrillers.” It all plays like a sub-par episode of Alias. In fact, Miss Jolie looks a lot like Jennifer Garner, including the outfits and wigs. I will conclude by saying that the completely bankrupt Roger Ebert gave this movie four stars. How this man is read and taken seriously by any thinking human being is an enigma. I think he likes the director (Phillip Noyce, who’s done better) and he thinks Miss Jolie is hot so he not only gives it a pass for things he’d condemn other films of its ilk for, he gives it an unabashed rave. He’s always been a bad critic and a bad writer, but he’s hit rock bottom in the last few years. And yet, if you click on “external reviews” at the imdb his is the first name you see – always. Hang it up Roger – you’ve become a sad joke, at least for me.
I then watched the second motion picture on Blu and Ray, which was entitled How Do You Know, a James L. Brooks film, starring Reece Witherspoon, Owen Wilson, Paul Rudd, and Jack Nicholson. We’ll forget the completely inane title – I’m so tired of this kind of title for a film – it’s completely unappetizing and it’s been going on for a decade now. It’s like writers just can’t think of anything clever anymore or even anything interesting-sounding. Now, I’m a fan of Mr. Brooks. I loved Terms of Endearment, liked Broadcast News a lot, and thought As Good As It Gets was fine. I want to say this: If this exact same film had come out in 1985 it would have been up for awards, critics would have raved, and audiences would have flocked to it. But it’s not 1985 and this film, which reportedly cost over 100 million dollars (where that money went is anyone’s guess) and took in less than thirty million (and that’s probably a, pardon the pun, gross exaggeration) was a disaster and mostly critically reviled. In fact, the aforementioned Roger Ebert gave it one star. While it’s too long, it has some lovely scenes and is a real James L. Brooks movie. But today, apparently audiences are willing to suspend their disbelief for crap like Salt, but not for Mr. Brooks. That’s the difference twenty-five years makes. Miss Witherspoon is fun, Paul Rudd in excellent (and really channeling Albert Brooks), Owen Wilson makes the best of a silly character, and Nicholson does Nicholson. It’s slight, but it’s better than Salt, Unknown, and The Adjustment Bureau put together. It does feature a somewhat irritating score by Hans Zimmer, that sounds just like every other “quirky” score for every other “quirky” romantic comedy. Transfers on both films were fine.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must be up at six in the morning and must try and get as much beauty sleep as I can, and besides there is VERY important information awaiting your eyeballs.
Today, I shall be up at six in the morning to announce the new Kritzerland title. After that, I shall hopefully print out a LOT of orders. Then I may go back to sleep for a while. After that, I have errands and whatnot to do, some banking to do, a jog to do, then I’ll hopefully pick up a package or three, do some writing, and eat something light but amusing.
The rest of the week is filled with rehearsals, meetings, meals, and then hopefully continuing work on the Nudie Musical transfer. Speaking of the Nudie Musical transfer, for those who may have been errant and truant, we’re trying to raise some money to do the best job we can do on the transfer and sound, so that the film is preserved for years to come. The figure they originally told me has doubled and it’s just a lot of dough to put out, so we thought it would be fun to do a little Kickstarter project. You can donate anywhere from one dollar to one thousand dollars (or more) – our goal is to reach five thousand dollars, which is half of what this is going to cost. Money is pledged, but unless we reach our goal, no money changes hands – but the idea is to reach the goal – in the first two days we’re over a quarter of the way there, which is very nice. So, if you feel like it and can, join in – there are different “rewards” for every donation tier and I hope we made them fun. Here is the link to the Kickstarter page, where you can read all about it and follow the action:
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, announce a new title, print a LOT of orders, do errands and whatnot, bank, jog, pick up a package or three, eat, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What books are you currently reading or have you just finished reading that you would recommend to others – especially non-fiction? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where my eyeballs shall hopefully get at least some rest.