Well, dear readers, this week is flying by, like a gazelle translating Kafka into Armenian. Does anyone still transfer Kafka into Armenian? That would be a Trial and perhaps cause a Metamorphosis in a Castle in America. Wow, are these here notes ever Kafkaesque or, at the very least, Kimmelesque or, barring that, Burlesque. I’m already enjoying this week and I hope you dear readers are, too. I did get up too damn early, thanks to machinery and barking dogs – eight-thirty. So, I got out of bed at nine, answered e-mails and then finished liner notes set three and sent them on their merry way. I did some other work on the computer and then it was time for our second Kritzerland rehearsal.
In attendance at various points from one-thirty to five-thirty were Kelsey Scott, Dan Callaway, Ashley Fox Linton, Robert Yacko, Lisa Livesay, Hadley Miller, and then we had our wonderful guest star, Terri White – I’m just mad about this woman. We did her put-together of The Christmas Waltz and I’ll Be Home for Christmas, which will be really nice. Last up was Sarah Staitman, who’s doing a put-together of Jingle Bells, Jingle Bell Rock and Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, which is wonderful fun. Then Sarah, her mom and I went to Mucho Mas, where I ate way too much food, but it was my only meal of the day. Six hours later, I’m still full. After that, I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on a DVD screener entitled Prisoners, starring Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Maria Bello, Melissa Leo and Paul Dano. It’s kind of a pulpy neo-thriller disguised as an art film, with direction that’s occasionally so heavy-handed that you feel like you’re punched in the face. But it’s an engrossing (can’t exactly call it entertaining) kidnapping film, and it’s a pretty good two-hour movie. Unfortunately, the film runs two hours and thirty-three minutes, which is not a good thing for a film like this. Too much repetition, shots and scenes going on long past there expiry date, and always trying to make a statement while still wanting its thriller tropes. But I didn’t mind it and it has some very good performances, especially Miss Leo. The photography by Roger Deakens is very nice, too. The music is the usual drone wallpaper that passes for film music these days – it’s not better or worse than other droning film music of today. It would really be quite easy to pull thirty minutes or more out of the film and the film would be better for it, and that includes the opening scene, which is quite pretentious and arty and, if you like our friendly forest creatures, a little off-putting. It’s a shame no one seems to have any pacing sense these days – they want it long and IMPORTANT rather than a more reasonable running time and a film that works better for it.
I think that catches me up on screeners save for Before Midnight, which I understand is the third part of a film trilogy and therefore I really have no interest in watching it. I’m hoping that over the next few weeks we get some good stuff, both from the DGA and SAG.
After the movie, I perused a couple of book catalogs, had a couple of telephonic conversations and that was about it.
Today, I shall hopefully arise after a good night’s beauty sleep, then I’m meeting Kay Cole for lunch and we’ll hash out exactly what we want to do with the opening of the show and talk through the two-act version, which we’ll try on one of our two rehearsal nights to see if we even like it. After that, I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, I’ll do some work on our benefit, and then I’m relaxing and watching motion pictures for the rest of the day and into the evening.
Tomorrow I have no plans whatsoever and I’ll probably just do a bit of writing and stuff, but mostly relax. Thursday is Thanksgiving with Barry Pearl and his ever-lovin’ Cindy, then I’m going to try and see Twelve Angry Men, in which Barry is appearing – that would be Friday night. Saturday is our stumble-through and then a bite to eat afterwards. Sunday is, of course, sound check and our fortieth Kritzerland show and fourth holiday extravaganza.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, have an early lunch meeting, hopefully pick up packages, write, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite films with a religious theme? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, after which I shall arise with nary a thought of Kafka.