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July 13, 2016:

WHEN YOU’RE TIRED, YOU’RE TIRED

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, when you’re tired you’re tired and I’m tired. Why, you might ask, am I tired, and I might tell you because why should I withhold such information from dear readers such as yourselves? I am tired because I fell asleep at two despite getting into bed by 12:45. And then I woke up at four-thirty after sleeping only two-and-a-half hours. I got up and did some stuff on the computer, and then went back to bed finally falling asleep around eight-thirty and sleeping until eleven. Once up, I was tired. I had a few tired telephonic conversations about this and that and also that and this. And worked on replacing our cast member for the Kritzerland show – we have an ask out, but no answer yet. After that I went over to Jerry’s Deli.

I couldn’t do yet another chopped salad, so I had a chili, cheese, and onion omelet and an English muffin – the latter has considerably less calories than a bagel, so that was good. The omelet, which I looked up on the line, has about five hundred calories, so I was very good, calorie-wise, and instead of potatoes I got fruit. After that, I picked up a couple of little packages and came home. And then I was tired some more. In fact, I could barely keep my eyes open, so after doing a little work, I sat on my couch like so much fish, put on a movie and promptly dozed off for forty-five minutes. That became a pattern for the rest o’ the day and evening, not necessarily in that order. I did manage to watch two count them two motion pictures. I did doze off occasionally but it’s easy to just hit the back button and pick up at the point where I fell asleep.

The first motion picture was entitled Fantastic Planet, the animated French film from the 1970s. I find it a very peculiar film, but I kind of enjoy it. I had the UK Blu-ray, which I thought was fine, but when the new Criterion transfer showed up and people began with the damn screencaps and the outcry of it’s been tealed to death, it was crazy and hilarious to watch these nincompoops go at it – none had seen the Blu-ray. And then a couple of days ago people actually got the disc and they LOVE it and it’s NOT tealed to death nor tealed at all, it’s just a little different than the previous transfer because this was supervised by people who worked with the director. And all those complainers, those dolts who know NOTHING about film, color, or transfers but think they do, those dolts who probably cost Criterion some sales because other idiots just listen to these idiots – it’s a real idiot listening party – well, they should be banned from that particular site, but that particular site is just about the worst place on all the Internet, so perhaps it’s a good fit. So, I am here to tell you the transfer is fantastic – the film looks great, the color is great, it’s MUCH better than the UK Blu-ray and MUCH more accurate. And no, it has not been tealed to death. It has an incredible range of colors, especially the pure blues, which really pop. If you like this film it’s a very safe purchase – and 50% off during the Barnes and Noble Criterion sale.

I then watched the new Criterion transfer of The Manchurian Candidate. I wasn’t that fond of the previous transfer, but this new transfer is really great. It’s quite beautiful to look at. I’m sure some somewhere will comment on how some shots look softer, but this is a film not only with a lot of opticals but the opticals sometimes go on for many, many minutes, and that includes the amazing circular shot during the first dream sequence – that entire shot is part of the optical. The film remains, for me, a miracle of writing, directing, photography, and especially acting. Frank Sinatra was never better than in this film, Laurence Harvey should have been up for an Oscar, Janet Leigh has the unenviable task of having to spout some very arch but amusing dialogue but she just plain makes it work, John McGiver is great, and Leslie Parrish as his daughter is heartbreaking and heartbreakingly beautiful and natural as his daughter and the love of Laurence Harvey’s life – why this woman wasn’t a huge star I don’t know – it makes no sense to me. And then there’s Angela Lansbury, in one of the most chilling performances ever put on film. If you’ve somehow never seen it, or if you love it, you must have this new disc. You’ll thank me later.

After that, I was still tired. I did stuff on the computer while loading into iTunes and then listening to the entirety of the Elmer Bernstein Filmmusic Collection box set, about which more in tomorrow’s notes.

Today, I’ll certainly be up by ten, then I think I’m going with Nick Redman to pick up his auction wins, then I’ll hopefully pick up packages, and then I’ll hopefully have our replacement for the Kritzerland show. Then I have a dinner thing at six-thirty, which will involve dinner.

Tomorrow we have a couple of our ALS performers coming over to work on their songs, but before that happens I’m getting a haircut. Friday I have a work session with one of the singers from the Kritzerland show, and Saturday is a birthday dinner with David Wechter – trying to decide on a fun place to go.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, go for a drive with Nick, hopefully pick up packages, hopefully find our replacement performer, and then attend a dinner thing. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Ask BK Day, the day in which you get to ask me or any dear readers 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 hopefully sleep well so I won’t be tired.

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