Well, dear readers, some days take unexpected turns and that’s all I’m saying about THAT other than to say that unexpected turns are occasionally good things. I only got about five hours of sleep, and then found out that Dr. Chew couldn’t really take me until today in the afternoon. But the good news was/is that the pain had pretty much subsided to a very dull kind of ache, which was great. I was able to eat a Cobb salad and bagel for my meal o’ the day. I picked up a couple of packages, then came home and got the New York musical director all kinds of links for viewing and listening so he understands the tempos and layouts of what we’re doing. Then I did some other work on the computer, after which I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a new Blu and Ray of a motion picture entitled Victim, which I’d only seen once before over a decade ago on DVD and which I wrote about in these here notes, albeit briefly. Victim is a British motion picture from 1961 that was truly an envelope pusher in terms of its then controversial subject matter. In fact, the film was not shown in the US because of said subject matter, which was homosexuality. It was, apparently, the first film to actually use that word, and while it’s a thriller it tackles the issues very forthrightly and strongly. At the time, homosexuality was an actual crime in Britain for which you could be jailed. This film kind of led the way for that truly idiotic law to finally be repealed six years later, although even by 1961 the authorities were very lax about it. It was a very brave film for the cast, several of whom WERE homosexual – Dirk Bogarde, Dennis Price and several others, and their performances are all quite brilliant. The film was directed by Basil Dearden, who, with producer Michael Relph, turned out many fine films. This is a film well worth catching – the Blu-ray is a region B release, but it was released here on DVD as part of a Basil Dearden box set from Criterion. The transfer on the Blu-ray is just terrific, with cold grays, deep blacks and white whites. Highly recommended by the likes of me.
I then checked out the transfers of Playtime and Mon Oncle in the new Jacques Tati box from Criterion. There has already been much hue and cry about the Playtime transfers color – how it “radically” differs from the previous Criterion and BFI Blu-rays. Well, as usual they are not correct. There is nothing “radically” different – the difference is that the skin tones are pasty on the previous transfers and more what they should be on the new transfer. The wags cried out that the whole thing was washed in green and of course they pointed to their precious screen caps as proof. There’s no green wash here – the grays are as gray as ever – it’s just the flesh tones are more accurate and the transfer itself is fantastic, beating the previous transfers in every way, especially in contrast and sharpness – the previous transfer also had terrible grain in the main titles (and scratches) that absolutely was wrong – this film was shot in 65mm and while the titles are obviously and optical, the grain should be fine, not overt and clumpy. The new transfer is steady as a rock, has no blemishes at all with the perfect light grain. Mon Oncle has a couple of sequences that are a bit yellower than they are on the previous Blu-ray, but it seemed very right and again it’s sharper and has better contrast and the colors are very rich. I’m looking forward to checking out the other discs and, of course, actually watching them. If you’re a fan of Tati, you can purchase this set without any reservations.
I did go back to Jerry’s Deli with a friend, where I had a cup of chicken soup and some tap tap tapioca pudding.
Today, I shall take it easy until I go see Dr. Chew. I have no idea what I’m in store for or if he’ll do anything other than x-ray – I’m kind of hoping he can just do whatever he has to do and be done with it. I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, then if I’m able to at some point I’ll eat something that’s easy to eat. Then I’ll relax.
Tomorrow is our second Kritzerland rehearsal, something is happening on Friday but I can’t remember what, Saturday is our stumble-through, Saturday night I’m seeing our very own Robert Yacko in Ragtime, Sunday is sound check and show.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, take it easy, go see Dr. Chew, hopefully pick up packages, eat something light, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Ask BK Day, the day in which you get to ask me or any dear reader any old question you like and we get to give any old answer we like. So, let’s have loads of lovely questions and loads of lovely answers and loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I shall ponder unexpected turns of the third kind.