Well, dear readers, I am sitting here like so much warm fish, cooling down the home environment whilst listening to Mr. Arthur Fiedler do some tuneful Leroy Anderson, and boy was Mr. Anderson tuneful, one of the all-time great light music melodists, and his Broadway show Goldilocks is also chockful of great tunes. The other day we spoke of bad sequels and there are plenty to speak about. But last night, I watched not a sequel but a prequel. I usually find those completely dreary, too, along with “origin” stories. As you know, I watched a horror movie months ago, one that came highly recommended, called Orphan, a well-thought of film from 2009. I found it be not a horror movie in the way they make horror movies these days, but I did find it to be really well made and kind of a minor classic, with excellent direction, writing, and performances. Yes, it was campy in its way and yes, the revelation was completely unexpected and unique and great fun. Since there was no way to do a sequel, thirteen years on they decided on the prequel, Orphan: First Kill. I was intrigued by the idea of it mostly because the wonderful Isabel Fuhrman was coming back as Esther. And it WAS intriguing since she was eleven when she did the original film and she’s now twenty-five. How on Earth was THAT going to work? Well, last night, I did one of those week-long trial subscriptions to Paramount Plus – a free week, after which you cancel, which I, of course, intend to do. If they actually had their classics from the 1950s and 1960s and into the 70s I might keep it, but those seem to not be much in evidence, which is a odd. Anyway, Orphan: First Kill takes place two years prior to the original film. The first thing I noticed was how dark and ugly the photography was and that was disappointing. And the direction was just pallid compared to the original. But then we get our Esther and things kick in and after a while I at least understood why they were doing murky photography, but they shouldn’t have. It’s because they have to sell Fuhrman as a kid. This they do very cleverly at times with the use of doubles in wide shots, always with back to the camera. It’s edited carefully and it kind of works, although as the film goes on it becomes more obvious. Forced perspective, keeping her face low in the frame, having people standing on a higher level than her. She still looks young, and I just went with it because she’s so good.
After escaping from her mental hospital, she finds on the Interned a missing child report and since she resembles the girl, she ends up in America and being “returned” to the family – mom, dad, and brother. Dad is especially thrilled to have her back after four years missing and they bond. Mom is somewhat weirded out by her, and brother really can’t stand her. It goes along like that for a while and that section isn’t wonderfully paced, but then we get a revelation smack in the middle of the film that’s so clever and fun that it elevates the entire film to something delirious and yes, campy. Mom, played by Julia Stiles, is a wonderful character. The final third of the film, of course, lacks any suspense because we know the outcome for Esther thanks to the original film. It’s no minor classic like the first movie, but as prequels go it’s really quite enjoyable and actually works. A few of the scenes are really funny and I just had a good time throughout and only wished it had a better director so that it had more of the style of the first film.
After that, I watched the first episode of the limited series about the making of The Godfather – The Offer. Thus far, it’s just as bad as you might imagine, with risible dialogue, silly art direction mistakes, and actors impersonating famous people. I must say, however, the guy playing Robert Evans, who looks nothing like him, has the voice down perfectly. We’ll see how it goes from here but it’s kind of campy in all the wrong ways. I did love that the film Little Fauss and Big Halsey is playing at the El Rey where it never played. It opened at the National where it played for two months, and with a little CGI trickery that could have been an easy recreation. And why on Earth would they have a coming attraction one-sheet of It’s a Wonderful Life in the display case? Why not an actual film of the period. Not hard to find this stuff, really. Anyway, it’s Paramount Plus thing so it’s free and I’ll stick with it.
Yesterday was not a bad day. I got eight hours of sleep, got up, answered e-mails, had telephonic calls, and then I moseyed on over to the mail place and picked up a small package and the Vitello’s check for the last show. I must say, and I don’t quite understand why, it was more than double what I was expecting. And that was a nice surprise. Then I went to Gelson’s and got two onion rolls, a can of tuna, then came home and made two sandwiches. They were really good, I must say and have said.
Then I did a few things on the computer, finally heard from the two people who hadn’t responded to messages, and finally sat on my couch like so much fish and began my viewing.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, I’ll do whatever needs doing, I’ll hopefully pick up an important envelope, and then it’s a ME day – I’ll eat something fun – I was thinking about making some kind of pasta, since I already have the pasta, cheese, and an onion. I could add a bit of hamburger meat to it easily. Then I’ll watch, listen, and relax.
Tomorrow, I have a telephonic conversation that I hope goes smoothly and easily, and then I can do whatever I like. Then this upcoming week is finishing choosing songs, doing prep work for the web series, and continuing trying to fill the cameo roles, a meeting with a publicist we’re thinking about hiring and then whatever else needs doing.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up when I’m up, do whatever needs doing, hopefully pick up an important envelope, have a ME day, eat something fun, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What prequels do you like as well as origin stories? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have seen a rare prequel sequel that actually works.