Well, dear readers, I had a lovelier than lovely Thanksgiving, first being lazier than lazy, then having a warm and cozy meal with Melody, her brother, and her folks. I had the turkey, I had the stuffing, I had the green beans, I had the asparagus, I had a teeny-tiny bite of sweet potatoes, I had three roles, I had the pumpkin pie, and I had the apple pie. I didn’t really overdo the eating, although I was quite full by the end of it all. I also did not do the four-mile jog because I was lazy and because it was very nippy outside. I showed Melody her second episode of Outside The Box – I just sort of put her into it, but then gave her a featured spot and she’s cute as a button in it. I also delivered the hot off the press Melodyland CD, which they were all thrilled with. We all watched Defending Your Life – none of them had seen it, and it was one of a bunch of movies I’d lent them – they all loved it, and I must say it remains, for me, Albert Brooks’ finest hour – just a lovely, funny, warm, and very sweet film, with great performances from Brooks, Meryl Streep, Rip Torn, Lee Grant, and Buck Henry. And I truly love the score by Michael Gore. I left about nine-fifteen.
Prior to that, I’d arisen after eight and a half hours of sleep and I just decided I would be completely lazy. There were several times I put on the jogging clothes, but in the end I just wanted to be in my warm and cozy home environment. So, I just sat on my couch like so much fish.
Yesterday, I watched a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled Super 8, a film of J.J. Abrams, produced by Steven Spielberg. Mr. Abrams was, apparently, Mr. Spielberg’s protégé – I’m sure he was a Spielberg fanatic as a youngster and that’s what Super 8 is – the greatest hits of Mr. Spielberg as re-imagined by a devoted fan. I enjoyed it fine, but in the end it’s a little too calculating in its effects, it tries a little too hard to emulate the master, and the ending feels so rushed and the film hasn’t really developed its central conceit enough for it to be involving. And I’m so bored of the overuse of CGI and there’s a train wreck early on in the film that is so overdone that it becomes laughable. There are some nice performances from the kids in the cast – the adults are all okay, but no real memorable turns, not that their roles would allow that. We get some Goonies, we get some Close Encounters, we get some ET and lots of other little homages, but it doesn’t quite add up to what it should. A classic score by John Williams might have helped it, but the Michael Giacchino score is merely okay. One of the reasons ET and Close Encounters have such a sense of wonder and magic is due in no small part to Williams’ music. I’m probably making it sound like a loser film, which it’s not – it just should have been better or at least gone in more original directions. Transfer is, as you’d expect, excellent, and sound is boisterous and detailed and booming.
I also began another Maigret episode – this is quickly becoming addictive – and I may even finish it before heading off to the bedroom environment. And that was my Thanksgiving day in all its lazy and splendiferous splendor. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must try and get another good night’s beauty sleep. That’s the most important thing I can do for the next four days.
Today, I shall hopefully arise after a good night’s beauty sleep, then I shall definitely do the four-mile jog, I shall eat something light but amusing, I shall prep our next release announcement, which will happen mid-week – I can tell you now it’s the new Broadway cast album for The People In The Picture, starring Donna Murphy. We’re very excited to have this on Kritzerland – it’s been a bit of an ordeal getting it ready quickly – the booklet alone is twenty-four pages and full color – I shudder to see THAT bill, but that’s what it took and, for me, it’s worth the expense to have a brand new Broadway cast album – just to let producers who pay for these things know there’s another label in that game in case they want to try something new. I shall hopefully pick up some packages and an important envelope, although the holiday may push that a day or two, otherwise I’m staying put and staying warm and cozy in the home environment.
Tomorrow, I have a couple of things to do, minor stuff, and otherwise it’s more relaxation, and then in the evening I’m seeing Barry Pearl’s ever-lovin’ Cindy in a play. Sunday, we have our first Gardenia rehearsal, but it only involves three people, so less than ninety minutes of my day – otherwise, I’ll keep on relaxing. Next week, of course, is absolutely insane – we have our one and only tech on Monday night, our dress rehearsal with invited audience on Tuesday night, and we open on Wednesday, play two shows on Thursday, one on Friday, and two on Saturday, our closing evening.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do the four-mile jog, I must eat something light but amusing, I must hopefully pick up packages and an important envelope, and I must stay warm and cozy in the home environment, where I shall keep quiet, relax, and watch motion pictures. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player, and your DVD/video player? I’ll start – CD, various and sundried upcoming Kritzerland projects. Blu and Ray, Maigret, Absence Of Malice, Little Big Man, Touch Of Evil, Silent Running and more. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland in my warm and cozy bed.