Well, dear readers, I am sitting here like so much fish, trying to figure out what to write for these here notes and what not to write for these here notes. And you know what – I’m just going to do what I always do and accentuate the positive, as hard as that is sometimes. In trying to figure out what music to listen to, my first instinct were the soundtracks to The Omen or Rosemary’s Baby – I’m sure you can figure out why. Then I thought about the funeral march from Hamlet by William Walton. But instead, I chose the soundtrack to Yanks, filled with such beauty by composer Richard Rodney Bennett. Because we need all the dam beauty we can get. Rid the world of ugly and bring in the beauty and I’m afraid we’re all on our own in that regard. I, for one, know that I will do everything I can to bring some beauty, laughter, good feeling, warmth, and positivity into the world, at least to the best of my ability. And there you have it. Yanks is playing now so I am in musical heaven. I did watch half a movie last night, something called Target. I saw it when it came out and for reasons I’m not remembering, I believe I saw it in New York, although what I would have been doing in New York in November of 1985 is unknown to me. I was excited to see it – a thriller, director Arthur Penn, star Gene Hackman. What could be bad? Well, everything. I remember being so disappointed and hating every second of it. But sometimes things do age well, unfortunately this isn’t one of those times. I watched the first hour and it’s so horrible – what ever happened to Arthur Penn? When did he forget how to direct a movie? In fact, after 1970, it’s one bad movie after another, each worse than the last, and yes, I’m including Night Moves in that batch, even though it has a few moments – the real point is every film he made after including that one was a box-office loser. Target is absurd from frame one, with music that tells us nothing about what we’re in for – in fact, it does the opposite. Shocking that it’s Michael Small, but it must be what Penn wanted. The dialogue is absolutely horrible, as is the plotting. Hackman is fine, but no one else comes off well – in fact, they come very badly, especially Matt Dillon. I don’t know if I’ll finish it or not. Probably not, but maybe. I tried to stay away from all social media but did peek a couple of times to see such beyond belief negativity being shot into the ether that I was not so surprised at what happened after.
Prior to all that, I got seven hours of sleep, got up, answered e-mails, went to the post office and picked up a couple of packages, including more Pepcid, stopped at Gelson’s and got some pulled pork from the hot food bar, some hamburger buns and onion rolls, coleslaw, and a couple of other things, came home and made two pulled pork sandwiches – pretty good – just the meat, coleslaw, and pickles. I had some telephonic conversations, did a bit of writing, then, after watching half the movie, I made the remaining chicken breast from the other day – small – and sauteed it and made a little sandwich on an onion roll – very good. And the rest you know.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, I’ll do whatever needs doing, I’ll make a show order for sure, I’ll begin writing and assembling the commentary, hopefully talk to two more set designers and a couple of lighting designers, including the fellow who lit Levi and did a great job, I’ll eat sandwiches of some sort, and then I’ll watch, listen, and relax.
The rest of the week is more of the same except for the sandwiches part. That’s it.
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, make a show order, write commentary, hopefully have some telephonic conversations, eat, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Ask BK Day, the day in which you get to ask me or any dear reader 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, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, hoping we can rid the world of ugly – may take some time and doing, but we really must. And do feel free to vent.