Well, dear readers, here I am, fit as a fiddle and ready for notes. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, I, BK, am fit as a fiddle and ready for notes. As I begin said notes, I am sitting here like so much fish, still listening to the glorious music of one Gerald Finzi. So much beauty. If you’re unaware of him, go to the Tube of You and search for A Severn Rhapsody or Prelude for String Orchestra or Introit or Ecologue – all gorgeous works. Prior to that, I watched another great motion picture on Blu and Ray, this one entitled Terms of Endearment, which I haven’t seen since the Blu-ray came out about five or six years ago or thereabouts. Actually, I just searched the notes, and I can see that I actually didn’t watch the Blu-ray at all – I probably checked its quality and never got around to it, because the last time I wrote about it was back in 2008 and that was the DVD. I saw the film on its opening night at the Bruin Theater (where Witness played – although, I may have seen that one at the Chinese, where it also played – can’t remember)- but it may have been one night earlier at a special invited screening) and was kind of blown away by how great it was. The laughs were huge, the tears were huge, and everything just worked, which was amazing because it was the first film James L. Brooks had directed. We all knew we were seeing an instant classic and it plays as beautifully and timelessly today as it did back then. You could not ask for better performances in all the roles. Shirley MacLaine is perfection and deserved her Oscar, Debra Winger is her match and give a completely fresh and unique performance, Jeff Daniels, whose film debut this was, is terrific, Jack Nicholson steals every scene he’s in and deserved his Oscar, and John Lithgow, who apparently came in on a moment’s notice after the original actor was fired during the shoot, is utterly charming and his always great self. But even the smallest roles are perfectly cast. The direction is simple and just right, the photography is wonderful, Brooks’ writing is also fresh and funny and never devolves into maudlin territory, which it certainly could have done. It earns every laugh and every tear, because it’s all real and never pushed. The score by Michael Gore works really well, but it’s not always mixed well. I’m sure he wrote several themes and then Richard Hazard, who arranged and conducted, probably turned it into an actual score. The transfer is one of the better Paramount jobs – it’s very sharp and detailed, with perfect color. It looks as good as it did in theaters, and it looked great in theaters. If you’ve somehow never seen this, do something about that posthaste. And yes, even though I was all by my lonesome, I laughed out loud many times, belly-laughed more than a few times, and teared up. After the movie, I had a long telephonic conversation and then began listening, continuing my Finzi frenzy.
Yesterday was a completely weird day. I was up at seven-thirty after two-and-a-half hours of not-enough sleep. I finally got back in bed around nine-thirty, finally fell back asleep and slept until two-thirty. So, not quite eight hours of sleep, but the day was basically done and so I got almost nothing done, which means the weekend will now be very busy with catching up. For food, I went to Taco Bell, came home, and ate it all up. It was fine, but I now have to be done with Taco Bell for a little while. After eating, I answered e-mails, CDs weren’t ready until after three, which was too late for the helper to get them, so hopefully she’ll drive down there this morning and get them and bring some to storage so I can pick it up on Saturday morning. I didn’t record the other song and I didn’t do any Group Rep cabaret planning or Kritzerland casting. I did, however, pretty much decide on the next two Kritzerland releases, so I’ll now get those liner notes written. Then I watched Terms of Endearment and the rest you know.
Today, I’ll be up by ten at the latest and I have an eleven o’clock meeting here at the home environment. After that, I’ll do whatever needs doing, then I think it will be a three o’clock late lunch/early dinner, then I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, start writing liner notes, and then I’ll watch, listen, and relax.
Tomorrow, she of the Evil Eye will be here bright and early and rather than have an early breakfast I’ll head over to storage to pick up some copies of The Sap of Life and Cole Porter Volume III, then I’ll come home and do some casting, some planning of the Group Rep cabaret, begin choosing the songs for the latter, and so a busy day. Sunday will be more of the same and then I’m attending a Linda Purl cabaret show, which I’m looking forward to. Then next week is making sure all the CDs have been shipped (whew!), announcing the two new titles, and some meetings and meals, and continuing with the Group Rep cabaret and the Kritzerland casting stuff.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up by ten, have a meeting at eleven, do whatever needs doing, have a meal, hopefully pick up packages, write liner notes, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/Blu and Ray player? I’ll start – CD, nothing new. Blu-ray, perhaps Too Late Blues, a UK Blu. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have been fit as a fiddle and ready for notes.