Well, dear readers, why does today feel like a Monday when it is, in fact, Tuesday? Why do certain lines of dialogue stay with you your entire life and why do a few of those lines happen to come from The Twilight Zone? For example, “My name is Talking Tina and I’m going to kill you.” “To Serve Man – it’s… it’s a cookbook!” “And as for being in darkness, Mr. Vollmer – I invented darkness!” And the one that creeped me out more than any other: “Room for one more, honey.” I mention that one because I watched that episode last evening and it still creeps me out. When I saw it originally, I couldn’t quite pinpoint why that episode didn’t look like others – the reason was that it was one of six episodes that were shot on videotape to see if costs could be cut. It was a bad experiment and given up quickly. “Room for one more, honey.” It wasn’t until much later that I found out that that episode was based on an old ghost story and a variation of it was included in the omnibus film Dead of Night (where the line is simply, “Room for one more.”) Barbara Nichols gives her best performance in 22, the name of that episode – a woman in a hospital having a recurring nightmare of going down to the basement where the morgue is and having a weird-looking nurse come out and deliver the line. The morgue is the titular 22, as in Room 22. Later, she’s gotten out of the hospital and is getting ready to board her flight when she’s told it’s flight 22. She goes to board and the stewardess comes out – it’s the same gal as the weird-looking nurse, and she says “Room for one more, honey.” Barbara doesn’t board but runs away screaming. A few moments later, the plane takes off and – explodes in mid-air. I think The Twilight Zone is still one of the greatest TV shows ever done in the history of TV and it’s amazing how many hold up beautifully even today in 2023.
At this particular moment, I’m listening to several Arnold Bax tone poems – he was a master at them and they’re all beautiful – I just heard The Garden of Fand, and now it’s Tintagel, one of the most famous of his tone poem. They’re very bucolic and veddy English. Prior to that and The Twilight Zone episode, I watched two motion pictures. The first motion picture was Coma. I haven’t seen it in a decade, and I always enjoy it. It’s a bit dated with all the I am woman hear me roar stuff that gets very tiresome about the sixth argument that Genevieve Bujold and Michael Douglas have. Michael Crichton was a better writer than director, but it’s competently directed, and the story is really good. Crichton did make one great directorial decision, which is no score for the first fifty minutes of the film. So, when the score comes in it’s a really great moment. Very clever and the score, by Jerry Goldsmith, is great. Our very own Kay Cole is in one brief sequence in a dance class, and the supporting cast is filled with up-and-comers like Tom Selleck, and Ed Harris. Very enjoyable still and still very enjoyable.
Then I watched the second motion picture, Safe House, starring Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds, who I’ve never seen in anything before and never need to see in anything again. It’s a strictly by-the-numbers thriller – every scene predictable, every twist can be seen from a mile away, and how anyone, let alone Mr. Washington, a fine actor, could have read this tripe and signed on is beyond me, although I’d imagine if millions are thrown at you you might just take the money and run. The director should never be allowed to direct again – one of the most inept films ever – every shot shaky cam and moving like the camera had palsy – the action scenes are horrible – an edit every second, you never can tell who is shooting at whom, it’s just awful. And they would have you believe that this giant hunk of merde grossed over two hundred million bucks worldwide, It is to laugh. I yelled at the TV several times to no avail. None of the actors come off well and that especially goes for Sam Shepard – a writer he may be, an actor he has never been and he’s terrible. And Brendan Gleeson doing perhaps the worst American accent EVER. A complete and utter fail and highly NOT recommended by the likes of me.
Yesterday was a nothing day. It began with yet another obnoxious text (on a holiday yet – people have no shame or sense) – I responded and managed to hold my ire. I got almost eight hours of sleep, answered e-mails, had two tacos for food from the local Mexican jernt I like, then did my viewing. After the viewing, I finished writing the commentary, so that’s all done now, thankfully. Then I began listening to music and here we are.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, I’ll do whatever needs doing, including some Sami stuff (I believe the Emmy folks send out the first of two eBlasts they do for us), I’ll get the Kritzerland schedule done and start figuring out the workshop schedule, I’ll eat something fun, I’ll check with the mail place to see if any important envelopes have arrived, and then at some point I can watch, listen, and relax.
The rest of the week is more of the same, some meetings and meals, a work session for Kritzerland, and then getting ready for the big Kritzerland rehearsal week.
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, including some Sami stuff, do schedules, eat, check with the mail place, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite films of Denzel Washington and some of your favorite lines of dialogue that have stuck with you over the years. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, whilst I remind everyone that there is always room for one more, honey.