Well, dear readers, this month is flying by, like a gazelle doing the Texas Two-Step whilst doing the Illinois Shuffle into the Iowa Hustle. I am sitting here like so much fish, listening to the first John Williams score for a new director named Steven Spielberg, for his first theatrical motion picture, The Sugarland Express. I haven’t seen the film since it came out, but as we all know, thus began an incredible director/composer collaboration that continues to this very day. One does wonder why Spielberg didn’t use Billy Goldenberg, who’d scored his breakthrough TV movie, Duel, in addition to Night Gallery and The Name of the Game. Interesting to ponder. But Williams was the guy for Spielberg, clearly and certainly an artistic marriage made in heaven. There’s a little too much country twanging around in the Sugarland score, but in the film it works. There’s a nice theme and several fine dramatic cues, especially towards the end. A big plus is the harmonic genius of Toots Thielmans, who’d return to Williams for Cinderella Liberty. The party line on this score was always that Williams did not want it released. But things change and here we are, fifty years later and he obviously gave it his blessing. It’s nice to have but not something I’ll listen to a lot. I did watch a motion picture last night, entitled Salt, starring Angelina Jolie. It all seemed very familiar, and it was because I watched it way back in 2011. However, it would have seemed familiar even if I hadn’t watched it because we’ve seen movies aplenty with this same plot. Here’s what I wrote back in 2011. I can’t cut and paste it, unfortunately, but the gist was it’s terrible, the usual CIA operative Jolie is accused of being a Russian spy, everyone believes the accuser immediately save for her friend in the CIA (Live Schreiber), she escapes, takes it on the lam, many car chases and ludicrous stunts ensue from which no one would survive except in movies like this – can’t blame director Phillip Noyce, who keeps things moving along but there’s no fighting the silliness of the script. When the big “twist” comes anyone who hasn’t figured it out in the first ten minutes should turn in their “twist” card. Noyce had made some terrific pictures and it’s usually when he has a good script – Dead Calm is a classic and I enjoy Clear and Present Danger and Patriot Games, the two Jack Ryan films starring Harrison Ford. Anyway, I cannot recommend Salt or its sequel, Pepper.
Earlier, I’d gotten about five hours of sleep, could not fall back asleep, answered a few e-mails, sent the new Benjamin Kritzer files (dust jacket flaps redone, back cover redone, and spine redone) and so that’s now with the designers, who will hopefully assemble it quickly and get this thing on its merry way to the printer. At 9:45, I was on my way to the bank to do banking. I was in and out of bank one quickly, although I did wait for two minutes so I could have the teller I like and who knows me and gets it done in seconds. Then I walked over to my bank and while there was no one in line the computers were down. So, I made the cash deposit in the ATM, and it went through fine. Then I came right home, answered more e-mails and then ordered food – a bacon cheeseburger from Tom’s and some onion rings. The burger, which hasn’t been great the last couple of times, was back to great. The onion rings were not that good, and I left several to their own devices. After the movie, I had a small Caesar salad from a jernt I’d liked, but this time it was pretty rank. I ate it, but it really wasn’t very good. I had a telephonic meeting for an hour that was productive and here we are.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, I’ll do whatever needs doing, I’ll go to the mail place and pick up a small package and hopefully the other important envelope, then I’ll go to Gelson’s and get something for food – thinking about faux chicken stroganoff, since I have most of the ingredients already and would just need the rice and chicken breast. I’ll do a bit of work, then I can watch, listen, and relax.
The rest of the week is really a vacation week and I intend to catch up on my sleep, although what up is doing on my sleep is anyone’s guess. Thursday is July fourth and let’s all be safe and sane and make our own haineshisway.com fireworks right here.
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, go to the mail place and pick up a package and hopefully an important envelope, do a Gelson’s run for food, do a bit of work, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite film scores of one John Williams? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I shall do the Texas Two-Step, the Illinois Shuffle, and the Iowa Hustle.