haines his way

07/21/2002:
"THE BABBLING ME"

Well, dear readers, late yesterday (or early this morning) a dear reader lurker out there in the dark came out of the woodwork and posted a question. We’re always very happy when dear reader lurkers out there in the dark come out of the woodwork and post questions. After all, how comfortable can it be in the woodwork, day in and day out and also day out and day in? In any case, here is what the dear reader lurker out there in the dark asked: Bruce, what the hell are you babbling about? He then suggested a nice dosage of Valium every four hours. I have given this question quite a bit of thought. What the hell am I babbling about? First of all, one of the most frequently used sentences in these here notes is the following: What the hell am I talking about? Do a search on that sentence and see what happens. So, since I ask a variation on the question our dear reader lurker out there in the dark has asked, and said question remains unanswered, the answer is quite simple: I have no idea what the hell I’m babbling about. I am the babbler, I babble. It is up to others to decipher the true hidden meanings and importance of any babbling. Why should the babbler have to do all the work? Funnily, most dear readers know exactly what the hell I’m babbling about, which is either a good thing or a scary thing. Now, I don’t happen to think our dear reader lurker out there in the dark was being mean and/or serious – after all, yesterday’s notes were especially obtuse - but on the off-chance or even the on-chance anyone doesn’t like the babbling around here, I have a simple solution – if you don’t like the babbling get out of the brook. I remember when I was writing my column as The Real A, early on I got an angry e-mail from someone who was quite offended with what he called “my drivel”. I wrote him back and asked the obvious – why did he read it if it’s so offensive? He said because it was addictive. In any case, I take a Diet Coke every four hours, which I find much more effective than Valium.
Last night I watched half of a motion picture entitled City of Lost Children, from the director of Amelie, Jeunet (this film is co-directed with Marc Caro). I’m enjoying it thus far – it is very strange but somehow mesmerizing. Messrs. Jeunet and Caro do seem to have taken a Terry Gilliam pill every four hours – it is suffused with Gilliamesque imagery. It is no wonder that he is a huge fan of this film (and their first film, Delicatessan). It’s very well cast, and the music of Angelo Badalamente is wonderful. I’ll finish watching it this very evening.
What am I, Ebert and Roeper all of a sudden? Don’t I have more babbling to do?
By the way (BTW, in Internet lingo) it may or may not interest you to know that I have never taken a Valium or any other pill of its type. I have never taken a Percodin or a Zanex. I wanted to take Lithium once, just because I like the name, but I didn’t. I have, on occasion, taken an aspirin or a Tylenol or an Actifed.
Quick, let’s all click on the Unseemly Button below and I’ll tell you why in a minute.

Well, dear readers, I know you are sitting there scratching your collective heads wondering why in tarnation these here notes are going up so late. Well, I'll tell you why, dear readers - because two hours ago I got a phone call and I had to do an interview with Cinescape Magazine. I had no idea how intensive it would be, but it just went on and on and on, and I must say I babbled quite a bit.
So, I'm afraid I must cut to the chase as they say in Hollywood, California. It is now noon and I must take the day, I must do the things I do and babble whilst I'm doing them. Today's topic of discussion: It's free-for-all day here at haineshisway.com, so feel free to babble on about any old thing that comes into your mind. I'll be back in a bit to see what old things have come to your mind and to take part in the babble. Post away, my pretties.

Replies: 27 Unseemly Comments

I'll be loading the new radio show later this afternoon and it's the 2nd in our celebration of the Richard Rodgers Centennial....this week we're Putting It Together....we're putting together "Oklahoma!"
Posted by Donald @ 07/21/2002 12:06 PM PST

Cassie: Does anybody have a Darvon or a Valium?
I do.
Posted by Sara Rosemary (Sheila) Bryant @ 07/21/2002 12:16 PM PST

Here's something that's been on my mind for quite awhile. I have this theory that the reason the classic movies of the '30s, '40s and '50s were more enjoyable was because there wasn't a lot of auditory on-screen competition. When I see a movie today--especially in the theatre--I'm really bothered by all the extraneous sounds. When you hear--not only the dialogue on the screen--but the tinkling rain on your right and the traffic noise on your left as well as the conversation in the hall and the radio playing in the background, it seems to me that sound technology has gone too far. For me, all this "surround sound" only takes away from the enjoyment of the film. Reality is very NOISY! When I go to the movie theatre, it's to GET AWAY from reality--to immerse myself in a darkened theatre where I can focus on another reality that is more orderly than mine; where the complexities of living are sorted out and come to some resolution. I don't need the intrusions of daily life to follow me in the theatre. Does this make sense? What do you think?
Posted by Donna - Cabaret West @ 07/21/2002 12:57 PM PST

Can someone tell me if the poster Tom from Oz is Tom Fontana who writes and produces the HBO series OZ or if it is someone named Tom from Australia. Just wondering.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 07/21/2002 01:40 PM PST

Tom from Oz is a retired teacher living in Australia and in not Tom from the HBO series OZ.
I somewhat agree with our very own Donna about the sound design of today's films. Sometimes it's very hard to hear the dialogue amidst all the overdone loud extraneous noise. It doesn't mean that older films didn't have incredibly dense soundtracks - one need only look (or listen) to Rear Window to know how a great mono track should sound - it's brilliantly done. Of course, in those days they didn't have "sound designers" they just had professionals who were really good at their jobs, especially given the technology of the times.
Posted by bk @ 07/21/2002 01:44 PM PST

Thanks for the quick answer to the Tom from Oz question.
Regarding the sound on films, I often sit with the remote when watching a DVD so I raise the sound for the dialogue scenes and lower it when the music and effects come on. The worst offender so far was STAR WARS I where the sound was super until someone started talking. My only alternative would be to use the English Subtitles.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 07/21/2002 01:58 PM PST

I'm not only talking about the volume level of the sound--although there's that too! I solve that annoyance by putting in my handy dandy ear plugs. I'm talking about the other sounds of living that aren't particularly pertinent to the scene. Do we really have to hear the traffic noise when the scene is inside an apartment for example? I'm probably really spliting hairs here (at least I'm not spitting hares!)
Posted by Donna - Cabaret @ 07/21/2002 02:55 PM PST

I'm not only talking about the volume level of the sound--although there's that too! I solve that annoyance by putting in my handy dandy ear plugs. I'm talking about the other sounds of living that aren't particularly pertinent to the scene. Do we really have to hear the traffic noise when the scene is inside an apartment for example? I'm probably really spliting hairs here (at least I'm not spitting hares!)
Posted by Donna - Cabaret @ 07/21/2002 02:55 PM PST

Oops! Hit the Post button twice! Sorry about that!
Posted by Donna @ 07/21/2002 02:56 PM PST

I have had occasion on r.m.m. and the FilmScoreMonthly Messageboard to encounter folks who harbor resentment at some topic or other to which I am expressing opinions.
There are literally thousands of threads accessible to one and all (and all and one). However, if even one of these captures my interest, I am intrigued, and I like to contribute my own thoughts and/or opinions. Sometimes I will start my own thread if it's on a topic of great interest to me.
Yet there are always some people who feel it's their duty to post to the thread and to tell me they think I've said all I could possibly say and don't I think it's time to move along.
Well, of course, I will move along in my own good time, but NEVER at the suggestion of someone who has nothing better to do than to presume to police what I say in any thread, one I've joined or one I've started. It's my business when I will shut up. It's everyone else's business to stop reading me when they've had enough.
I'm just AMAZED at folks who will interrupt what I consider an interesting exchange with another person and suggest that we've beaten the horse to death. Now if the horse were literally real and was being beaten, I'd expect someone to stop the beater well before death.
But to presume to censor thought and expression because YOU are tired of the discussion is the height of boorish self-involvement.
Ramble over....
R
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 07/21/2002 03:12 PM PST

The boorishness on Usenet newsgroups never ceases to amaze me. Whether it's rudeness or interruption or most of all, totally off-topic posts, I find it fairly insufferable. I have been known in my time to take on certain offenders and to be merciless with them. They, of course, make lame attempts at comeback posts, until they realize just WHO they are dealing with - in other words, that they are dealing with someone who will best them at their own game and who will not stop and who is, most times, cleverer than they. I've sent several ng bullies scurrying for cover, including one idiot on the ng Mr. Pulliam mentions (that gentleman no longer posts there at all - because finally everyone had had enough of him). That is why I love our little posting system here - everyone knows they are a dear reader, everyone can post what they wish when they wish, and it's all done with decorum and civility, not necessarily in that order. And woe to anyone who tries to upset the cart because they will be bitch-slapped from here to eternity and back again. First of all, what did the cart ever do to anyone that someone should upset it? The cart is very sensitive and gets its feelings hurt quite easily. Oh - am I babbling? Should I take a Valium? Tonight I am going to Islands, a hamburger place where they have the absolute best onion rings I've ever eaten. Now, just where in tarnation is everyone? I do not like the summer because everyone is off on vacations, with no computer access and that is just heinous (heinous, do you hear me?). Come back, little Shebas, come back, Shane, come back to Sorrento or at the very least haineshisway.com, come back to me, and stop being errant and truant.
Posted by bk @ 07/21/2002 03:33 PM PST

Yes, actually RJG left shortly after a fracas that took place the day after this year's Oscars -- a fracas involving some observations I made and some wild conclusions he jumped to in order to force me off the ng. Our BK jumped into that fray and, along the way, invited me to visit here.
That was not the first time RJG had attempted to rid himself of me -- I was informed by someone else that RJG felt there wasn't room enough for his opinons AND mine. He actually sent me a list of "rules" he insisted I follow if I were to post there!
I laughed over that one for days.
Allegedly, he threw a hissy fit in late March when one of his former friends insisted in continuing a "Star Wars" thread -- and RJG made an ignoble post of departure and left after a couple of days and a post or two more.
A martyr to the end. For a few days, some expressed sadness at the loss of his wit. But they got over it completely.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 07/21/2002 04:01 PM PST

Our BK on valium? How boring! How dull! How unseemly!!!
Posted by Laura @ 07/21/2002 04:28 PM PST

BK: Speaking of onion rings, have you ever had an Outback Steakhouse® Bloomin’ Onion®, which is deep-fried onion, but is not rings?
Speaking of Outback Steakhouse®, I wonder is there an Infront Meatlessoffice somewhere?
I did not post a response the other day—I was truant and errant—but Fahrenheit 451 and The Horror of Dracula are two favorite motion pictures, and British ones at that.
Posted by freedunit @ 07/21/2002 04:31 PM PST

Laura: Yes. But let us do allow Sheila to give Valium to the berserker lurker.
Posted by freedunit @ 07/21/2002 04:32 PM PST

Recently purchased five hard to find Bruce Kimmel albums.
Swing: If you are a fan of the big band era then I can highly recommend this album from The Buddy Bregman Band.
Sketches on Star Wars: This is another jazz recording from the Trotter Trio. What a great idea this was. Most people are familar with the scores played by symphonic orchestras, but here a smaller combo plays many of the familar themes from the first three films.
Out At the Movies: This is a collection of music from gay themed film. The arrangements beautifully realize by Grant Geissman who plays guitar and does a lot of "la-la-la-laing" on of the cuts. Also on this album is beautiful theme by our own Bruce Kimmel and Mr. Geissman. And I am not sure, it might be Jason Graae pictured on the inside photo. Am I right BK?
I also mentioned that I the other day I obtained Titanic: The Ultimate Collection. I especially liked some of the solo players. BK identified Terry Trotter played the solo piano version of My Heart Will Go On. I would also like to comment on the people who played the horn on some of the tracks and I think it is the Pan flute on another. The kind that Zamphir plays. Couldn't find out who were the musicians on this album.
Sherlock Holmes: Classic Themes From 221B Baker Street. These are themes used from various Holmes related film and tv projects. There is one song that is part of this collection. The Madam's Song from The 7% Solution. The song was later retitled as I Never Do Anything Twice. There is a wide range of composers such as Sondheim, Henry Mancini, Miklos Rosza, John Addison and others. It's a fun cd to listen to.
I also have in the mail on its way to me Cool & Classic - '70s Film Themes (Fred Karlin).
Looking forward to also getting Ragtime: Themes From the Hit and Musical, Ennio Morriconne: Once Upon A Time in the Cinema
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 07/21/2002 05:38 PM PST

The commentary track on "City of Lost Children" is very funny.
Posted by JMK @ 07/21/2002 05:41 PM PST

Yes, I'm sure that some newsgroups can be mean, but this one is always lovely and decorous. I would also highly recommend Sondheim. hijinksdesign.com, also designed by the revered Mark Bakalor, and also a highly respectful and intelligent chat group. Having been a fan of "The Real A" Mark directed me to this site, and I have been happily Bruceing my days ever since. Bruce's sublime babble brings great joy to my life.
By the way, am I the only person who dislikes Terry Gilliam? I find his films to be highly disturbing and unpleasant experiences, and am shocked that he came from Monty Python, the other members of whom have talent.
Posted by Hapgood @ 07/21/2002 07:26 PM PST

I must say this about this Unseemly Message Board:
It's the one place I truly look forward to visiting.
It's also one place I enjoy reading about music I love -- learning about things I don't know, sharing about things I do, and being able to disagree with someone without being called names.
I enjoy kidding around with folks the way others do with each other.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 07/21/2002 08:26 PM PST

Well, let me blabber for a while, too!
I took up a recent suggestion from BK's Notes, and acquired (on dvd) the delicious CLIFF RICHARD COLLECTION, and I have been happily entranced for the past few evenings watching these magnificent movies: THE YOUNG ONES, SUMMER HOLIDAY and WONDERFUL LIFE.
I might as well blabber here, since I don't know if I'll be reviewing them online or not.
If anyone hasn't seen these movies, and I will admit that all I knew of Cliff Richard was his duet with ONJ ("Suddenly") and the drama with music, EXPRESSO BONGO (which I must buy soon, even if it is missing three musical numbers), I urge you to give them a view! These are primarily pre-British Invasion pop/rock movies with little plot, but lots of songs, dance and MAJOR production numbers! Richard is quite talented, cute as a button, too! He even sings once about "my cayuse and I!" Most of the production numbers were supervised by the late Herbert Ross - a name well known later in his career for FUNNY GIRL & LADY, THE TURNING POINT and GOODBYE MISTER CHIPS - and are always top-rate! A lengthy sequence in WONDERFUL LIFE tracks the history of movies from the silents to James Bond, while tossing in an in-joke with an instrumental version of THE YOUNG ONE's theme song! Musical theater mavens won't be disappointed either, for many other familiar names and faces appear: Lauri Peters (B'way's SOM), Susan Hampshire, Robert Morely, Carole Gray (London's WSS & THE BOY FRIEND) and ole Fagin hisself, Ron Moody!
Forgive my blabbering, but, these films are so joyful, so tuneful, and so watchable (re-watchable, too) that I had to let myself go on a free-for-all Sunday night!
Posted by td @ 07/21/2002 08:31 PM PST

Dear Donna: As a home chef, and the owner of a rotissarie on our outdoor grill, I would personally LOVE to know everything you have to say on the spitting of hares!
Posted by S. Woody White @ 07/21/2002 08:39 PM PST

Hapgood: With regard to Terry Gilliam as director, you are not alone. However, I did like two (2) of his motion pictures, Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) and Brazil (1985). Still, I was indifferent to Twelve Monkeys (1995). I disliked The Fisher King (1991) and was surprised by its A.M.P.A.S. nominations. I walked out of Time Bandits (1981) and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988) and even obtained refunds. I hated Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life [The Crimson Permanent Assurance] (1983) and found spending time in the lobby to be more enjoyable than sitting in the dark with the film unspooling. I have not seen And Now for Something Completely Different (1971); Jabberwocky (1977); or Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998), and have no interest in doing so.
I strongly object to the splitting of hares, but feel free to split as many hairs as you can.
Posted by freedunit @ 07/21/2002 10:06 PM PST

The flutist on the Titanic album is our wonderful reed player, Phil Feather. Also, if you haven't picked up Sax and Violence (music from films noir) you must - it's really delicious.
Posted by bk @ 07/21/2002 10:16 PM PST

Thanks BK. Yes. Tom from Australia. Why Oz? It is from our accent. Oztraylia. The 60's magazine OZ which had the good fortune to be banned and have criminal charges against it in the 1960's (Brit readers will remember)is also nothing to do with Toto. Many of us of course know Dorothy quite well.
Cliff Richard - I have always been a fan and of course a fan of "The Young Ones" on TV. Has anyone suffered through the video (or the musical on stage) of "Heathcliff"? It makes "Jekyll & Hyde" and "Victor Victoria" look good. (OK Maybe not VV). The Cd of Heathcliff (live) does not mention the composers - Tim Rice and John Farrar I think.
I watched the DVD of "The Shipping News" again. It is wonderful. Great acting performances from a wonderful cast.
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 07/22/2002 01:30 AM PST

Tom: It would be just like them to remember all the criminal charges of Oz. They probably think that is how things got started Down Under.
For some reason Cliff Richard reminds me of David Essex. I do not know why. I saw Essex in Mutiny!, a musical version, complete with dancing ship, of Mutiny on the Bounty. It was one of the worst things I have ever seen in a theatre—not the ship, of course, but the musical.
Pain au chocolat? It is too early for cake. Or is it? Can it ever really be too early for cake?
Posted by freedunit @ 07/22/2002 05:49 AM PST

All right, I will jump to Mr. Gilliam's defense by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed "Twelve Monkeys" and rate it among my top 10 of the past decade. And how could anyone be a Python fan and not enjoy the films - "Search for the Holy Grail", "Meaning of Life" - my God, I thought I would die laughing...
With that said, I'm not a fan of "Fisher King", either, and some of the other films leave me cold.
Also, it needs to be said that only a miracle would make VICTOR/VICTORIA look good!
Posted by Dave @ 07/22/2002 08:23 AM PST

Not that anyone said I was, but I, for one, never claimed to be a fan of Monty Python. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) was a good movie, whereas Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life (1983) was not. The latter was laugh-free, but pain-inducing. I am a fan of John Cleese and consider Michael Frayns’s Clockwise (1986) to be under-viewed and under-rated. Victor/Victoria (1982) is an amusing motion picture that became a miserable stage show that could not be saved by Julie Andrews, and that later could not save Liza Minnelli.
Posted by freedunit @ 07/22/2002 09:42 AM PST

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