Replies: 45 Unseemly Comments
If The Academy" chooses NOT to nominate Dennis Quaid for Best Supporting Actor for his finely textured work in FAR FROM HEAVEN; I hereby offer my shoulder to cry on and my home to seek consolation in.
Strange, but true, I was much more interested in his character's arc than in that of his fabulous leading lady, Julianne Moore. Ms. Moore just strike me as being far too intelligent for her character's stifled 1950's existence. I still believe that Ms. Moore is one of this generation's finest actresses, and that FAR FROM HEAVEN is indeed a fine film with dandy performances, but it is a Lana Turner role - one based NOT on the perception of the audience member of the actor.
The other thing that I noticed while watching FAR FROM HEAVEN was that it constantly reminded me of Rainer Werner Fassbinder's delirious QUERELLE: oversaturated colors, thematically resonating, good actors in the wrong roles (with the exceptions of Mr. Quaid and Mr. Haysbert) and normally indifferent actors giving great little performances (Miss Patricia Clarkson, who was so horrid in that TV remake of CARRIE, and Barbara Garrick as well as Celia Weston).
I appreciated FAR FROM HEAVEN more than I liked it, I still believe that SAFE is director Haynes best film.
Posted by td @ 02/09/2003 08:58 AM PST
Oh, lucky me! First post! (and gosh, was I long-winded)!
Posted by td @ 02/09/2003 08:59 AM PST
KINKOS - I've dealt a lot with Kinkos, as well as Staples, Office Depot and Copy Max. It's been my experience that the minute a NEW version of software comes out, Kinko's immediately updates theirs. I don't know how many times I created a document on my computer and then taken it to Kinko's to print out only to find that my fonts had been substituted by the newer software version. It took me the longest time to figure out that Kinko's can usually ADD the missing font to the program if you request it. Kinko's used to be the HIGH END of copy services. The employees were given extensive training and had to work up the ranks so they'd know how to use all the equipment and software. I believe their quality began to slip once the company was sold by the original owners. Almost overnight, the service went downhill. I just recently had an experience with some postcards I was doing for a cabaret artist. She lives in Holland and was coming to California to do a show. Because Kinko's is international, items can be emailed from Kinko's to Kinko's. Yet, when Kinko's here printed out a sample of the postcard, there were several things that didn't "translate." The fonts had been substituted and the layout was off because European paper sizes are different from ours. They expected me to accept the job as is without corrections, but I refused. It took some heavy negotiating for me to get them to right it at no charge. THEN when it came time to print the job, they were completely out of card stock! The young woman had to call the manager, who was off that night, and get permission to go out and get some paper from another Kinko's an hour's drive away. The manager wouldn't give her permission and told her to sell me AT EXTRA COST other paper in stock that wasn't the right weight, size or type. I told her to tell him that the customer said NO in no uncertain terms. He finally let her do it, but I didn't get everything until 11 o'clock that night, even though they had gotten the job three days previously. Oy! I found the best copy service to be my local Office Depot.
Posted by Donna - Cabaret West @ 02/09/2003 10:22 AM PST
Two count them two posts? And both from the same person? Um, I do believe some people better get off their collective butt cheeks and post before we have a merry group bitch-slapping session.
I agree about Dennis Quaid, who should be nominated and win for supporting actor. I have actually never responded to Julianne Moore before - I've admired her performances, but they've never "gotten" to me - until Far From Heaven.
Now, let's get some postin' goin' on, what say?
Posted by bk @ 02/09/2003 10:22 AM PST
I recently had a funny Kinko's encounter. I had been coming in frequently to have the libretto for my musical bound (not gagged). In redoing several sections, I had to return at least five or six times to have multiple copies de-bound, then re-bound. Finally after the fifth or sixth time, they just brought out the binding machine, gave me about 30 seconds of training, and let me do the whole megillah myself. I told them I wanted to learn the laminating machine next. They were not amused.
Posted by JMK @ 02/09/2003 10:26 AM PST
BK & others - Did you see Julianne Moore with Ralph Fiennes in THE END OF THE AFFAIR?
Posted by Donna - Cabaret West @ 02/09/2003 10:43 AM PST
Well my post will have to be short because I am about to watch the DVD "About A Boy" with Hugh Grant.
So today is the day after Trading Spaces. Both home owners seemed happy. And I almost laughed one the ones whose house Doug did said something like, "Oh Doug you did such a good job, I'm so sorry for all the bad stuff I've said about you". Too funny.
Doug's room was okay. Not exactly my taste. I was worried when the couple said they love earth tones and he did blue. But he sort of did this white wash, that made it look like pale blue sky. He did white and black curtains and painted the furniture white. I don't usually care for painted furniture. But it came out okay.
Then Gen did a kitchen. And the woman said she liked country. Well Gen doesn't do country. Not that I blame her.
She painted the cupboards cream with grey inside. I'm also not big on painting cupboards. I find it looks very fake. Then she did an olive green chalk board on the walls. Not bad. But not the best.
Anyone see this?
Posted by Jennifer @ 02/09/2003 10:44 AM PST
I hope the Academy does not ignore Far From Heaven's costume design...Julianne Moore's dresses were incredible: rich colors, fabrics, and all those crinolines! Sort of reminded me of Edith Head's glamorous togs.
I also hope Frida is not ignored, it was probably my favorite of the year: performances, story/script, art design, music, costumes/makeup, cinematography, direction--just total eye candy.
It's too bad that The Man From Elysian Fields was little-seen, also...it was a gem.
What's the lowest price My Big Fat is being advertised today in the papers, for Tuesday release? KMart and Circuit City are going for $14.99, Target and Best Buy $15.99.
Posted by KT @ 02/09/2003 10:44 AM PST
Last night, on the spur of the moment, I decided to go see CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, but when I got up to the box office the $9.00 admission stopped me. Even the $6.50 bargain matinee price makes me think twice about going out to the movies. My brother, who lives in Austin, Texas, doesn't ever go out to see a film. He waits till it comes out on video.
Do these higher admission prices bother any of you?
Posted by Donna again @ 02/09/2003 10:53 AM PST
Oh, Donna, indeed the high prices keep me away from the movies!
I can't do matinees due to work and rehearsal schedules, SO, if I'm gonna spend my TEN BUCKS on a movie, I tend to go to a showing that is as close to private as I can get: Monday nights or Tuesday nights, the later, the better. Of course, sometimes the wattage of the projector is lowered at these times, too, so I often check with the management beforehand.
There was a spell when I was waiting for video releases, but, I still so much love the experience of being in a movie theater, that lately I've just been movie-ing out!
We have a wonderful little renovated theater here which is showing mostly art house flicks, where the price is $5.00 per show, bargain days: $4.00. In addition, The Oaks Theater also has Monday Night Discussion Groups and there are niftey $8.00 double features such as last night's FAR FROM HEAVEN and SAFE.
I know that you're not in the area, but their website is quite interesting, just click on "td."
Posted by td @ 02/09/2003 11:06 AM PST
Yes, Donna, $10 dollars for a movie has kept me from seeing some things. There used to be off-price houses in Manhattan but now, except for the place in the basement of Virgin Records (or is it HMV, I forget) in Midtown, which has a second-run $4 ticket policy, there are none. The World Wide Plaza at 50th Street began, when it was built, as a first-run, full-price theatre, then switched to second run, $2, gradually moving up to I think $4, then it closed. The space is scheduled to be renovated and turned into a space housing more than one off-Broadway Theatre ( totally off-topic but interesting info, I thought).
I do see movies at matinee prices when I go to Long Island w/my Anthony. Otherwise, we wait for video or HBO or other sources. I know that some of the magic is gone but I would rather watch the movie on a small screen, fast forwarding through the endless promos than sit through commercials and trailers that give away half the movie or put the only good bits into the preview. And don't get me started on audiences and the fact that they seem to think they are sitting in their own living rooms! I know that watching it on a big screen is sometimes half the fun of seeing a movie, but as I said in one of my very early posts, I would rather pay even half-price TKTS prices for live theatre, even if it's not very good, than be suckered into paying $10 for a Hollywood extravaganza. There are certainly exceptionsf (lots of indie films and some Hollywood releases), but IMHO (in my humble opinion) the quality of Hollywood films released today is on the steep slide down.
I am now OFF my soapbox :-)
Posted by Ben @ 02/09/2003 12:17 PM PST
Well - I have been errant and truant from posting until now for a very good reason. And what was this very good reason? Ahh.. I shall not reveal that JUST yet, but if what distracted me from posting comes to fruition, then I know it will have been well worth it. Intrigued? I will hopefully have more to tell tomorrow morning...
I'll give you a hint tho - since it would be unseemly not to. What distracted me from posting until now was, in a roundabout way directly related to Bruce Kimmel...
Posted by Craig @ 02/09/2003 12:19 PM PST
Yes one of the disadvantages of NYC is the high price of movies. But with all the live theatre I usually wait for the DVD or Cable debut to see most films.
I enjoyed LITTLE FISH, the new Michael John LaChiusa musical I saw last night. First of all, it’s the most accessible LaChiusa score I’ve heard. The music is very good, not quite show tunes, not quite “pop”, but a good combination. His lyrics are also very good. Unlike many lyrics I’ve heard recently, you can’t figure out the next line before it is sung. And I really admire anyone who can rhyme “vacation” with “Ken-L-Ration” . I wish, though, that LaChiusa would write a score to someone else’s book, as there is a lot in the book that is rather weak. Just like his WILD PARTY came off better on CD than on stage, I think that will also be the case with LITTLE FISH.
The plot is about a girl who leaves her somewhat abusive (verbally, not physically) boyfriend and moves to New York. Several years later she gives up smoking and becomes very bitchy to her friends. Since much of the story is told in flashback, it is sometimes a little difficult to figure out if the scene being played is in the present or the past.
The cast --- which is what drew me to the show in the first place --- is first rate. Jennifer Laura Thompson (URINETOWN) is fine as the “little fish” in the big pond. Her two closest friends are played by Jesse Tyler Ferguson as the requisite gay friend of the straight girl and Marcy Harriell. Lea DeLaria makes the most of the poorly written part of Thompson’s first New York landlady and Hugh Panaro (sporting a new beard) is mostly wasted in the role of her ex-boyfriend.
Ricardo Hernandez has designed an attractive set that owes a lot to COMPANY (as does the whole show), but it is poorly lit by the usually very good Peggy Eisenhauer. When there are regular colored lights that keep changing for no reason on a regular basis then it becomes a show about lighting, not about character or plot. The Toni-Leslie James costumes are fine. And although the cast wore those annoying bugs hanging out of their hair, the show did not sound at all miked.
The whole thing is very New York, so I don’t know how much life it will have in regional theatre. Still, the good far outweighs the faults and I think the CD will be even better than the show.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 02/09/2003 12:24 PM PST
Re: movie prices
Don't you guys in NYC have cheap Tuesdays? Or discounted weekend matinees? Here in Montreal Tuesdays and Wednesdays are $5 Canadian. And Saturday and Sunday before 6pm is $5.75 (at many of the theatres).
Jennifer
Posted by Jennifer @ 02/09/2003 12:37 PM PST
What, what, what????
PASSION could not be made
into a film??
BUT it IS already a film!... and
an Italian one -- 1981 --
directed by Ettore Scola, with
French actors Jean-Louis
Trintignant -- A Man & A
Woman-- as Fosca's doctor,
Bernard Giraudeau -- terrific --
as Giorgio............and Laura
Antonelli (Clara) and Valeria
D'Obici (Fosca).
The title, PASSIONE D'AMORE.
Ah, l'amour, toujours!!
Hope you like 8 WOMEN, BK...
I thought it was VERY unkind
the "sexe faible" -- women --
as we say here......
Posted by François @ 02/09/2003 01:00 PM PST
Oops!
Read "unkind TO"....
Posted by François @ 02/09/2003 01:02 PM PST
Yes, Jennifer, both rooms were okay on TS last night. And Gen's experience with OVERNIGHT sounds a bit like Mr BK's at Kinko's. What an ordeal! JMK, I wondered if it seemed especially familiar to you re: STARCROSSED. 8-D
Dennis Quaid's performance in FFH is indeed outstanding...as is the writing, photography, music (especially), and the other performances and design are all "of a piece" that is outstanding and enjoyable. I had some of the reservations td has, but the film ultimately overcame them. As for Julianne's character being a bit too knowing or intelligent - watch some of those 1950's films again, td, it's there - but it is very subtle.
I think we missed a sentence in your post, td. Miss Lana Turner could be very good in outrageous stories (Imitation of Life & Madame X) but unless everything was in synch, it didn't work (Rains of Ranchipur).
I don't know if this is still the case BUT - it used to be that the split of the box office take between the studios and theatres was like 90/10 during the first few weeks of release - with the studio taking 90%. As a run went along, a greater percentage went to the theatre owner, thus the BIG tickets prices and the big push for an opening weekend....more $$$ for the studio/producer. This might not still be the case.
Wasn't Mr Sidney Lumet one of the Broadway Dead End kids?
td, according to the message board, my absence in SS this issue is unworthy of comment (except by me). Hmmmm.....oh well, at least at Epinions, I get read.
Elvis should have left the movies a few years earlier. FUN IN ACAPULCO and GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS and CHANGE OF HABIT are pretty bad. I like THE TROUBLE WITH GIRLS about 1920's Chatauqua, but he is really just a supporting character in that.
Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/09/2003 01:04 PM PST
Jennifer: nope, we don't have cheap Tuesdays, at least in Manhattan. I'm not sure about the other boroughs (Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island) or even upper Manhattan for that matter (things change once you cross 96th Street). The discount and afternoon matinees all out on Long Island and in Westchester and other places.
Posted by Ben @ 02/09/2003 01:16 PM PST
TD - I like your little theater. Sounds like a place I'd frequent.
JENNIFER - The shows before 6 p.m. in my area of California go for $6.50 or $7.00 where they used to be $4.00 & $5.00. The "cheap Tuesdays" are gone with the wind (oh, a Margaret Mitchell reference!).
Posted by Donna @ 02/09/2003 01:20 PM PST
Loved the film of "Passion" but I suspect it is too "European" in style and content to connect with a commercial USA audience. I think Jose and I are the only real fans of the musical out there. It is intense and requires much of its audience.
Today it it more LOTH TT day. - an upmarket 24 seat cinema experience - Gold class tickets from my last birthday last year.
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 02/09/2003 01:30 PM PST
I don't usually go to the movies on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. But I like having them at $5 all day. Like I said, if I go, I usually go on the weekends before 6pm. $5.75 is about all I want to pay for a movie.
That said I am looking forward to next week's Daredevil (love Jennifer Garner). And I do want to see How to lose a guy in 10 days.
Btw, re: 8 Women. I think it comes out in a week or two. I'm curious, is it French with English subtitles or is it dubbed? It's a musical, right? I can't wait to rent this. But I think I'll have to be careful. I suspect many of the versions here will be French only with no English subtitles (in Montreal).
Jennifer
Posted by Jennifer @ 02/09/2003 02:32 PM PST
In Manhattan there are no bargin matinees at all. In the other boros there are bargin matinees (at most theatres) before 5 on weekdays, the first show only on Saturday (but who goes to a movie at 11:00 in the morning?) and none on Sundays and Holidays. The AMC 25 on 42nd Street in Manhattan is the only AMC in the country without the bargin "twilight" show (and it's the only AMC in NYC period).
The first time I came to NYC in 1961 movies were $2.00 and Broadway shows about $9.50 for the best seats, so movies have only increased 5fold while Broadway has increased tenfold.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 02/09/2003 02:42 PM PST
By the way, for that $10.00 in NYC you get no short subjects, no cartoons, no newsreels. You do get paid advertisements that you would fast forward on video and previews of movies (usually of totally different genre than the feature you paid to see) that don't even open for six months to a year and will probably not even play that theatre (remember when Coming Attractions meant the film that would be at that theatre next?). You also get the lights turned on during the final credits so everyone will leave early and make it difficult for the people who want to read the credits to do so... when they don't just shut off the projector before the credits end.
Is it any wonder DVDs, VHS and pay cable have become so popular?
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 02/09/2003 02:54 PM PST
OK.. I need help! I have a quote stuck in my head but do not know where it comes from..
Spoken by a male: "Impossible relationships -- that's my gift to you"
and the female replies something like "you have other gifts..."
What movie is that from??? I search IMDB to no avail..
Posted by Craig @ 02/09/2003 02:56 PM PST
nevermind.. it's from Pretty Woman.. found it! thanks anyway
Posted by Craig @ 02/09/2003 02:59 PM PST
Another day, another 200 auditions. Still fun, fun, fun. The post-lunch period does get a little "logy", but we had some good auditions today. -And no mis-heard lyrics.
-Oh, and ladies - if you're going to sing something from Songs for a New World, and you don't belt, then don't...
-sorry, had to vent...
*Although I did have one woman who gave me a very hard to read manuscript that someone had written out for her. I had to lean into the music and squint to decipher some of the chord symbols. -And she probably wonders why her pianists always seem to "get it wrong".
**If you have to say, "I'm sorry this is so hard to read..." -then don't expect me to read it - ot play it.
As for movies, Richmond still has cheap matinees, and some of the regular prices are still in the $6.50-$7.50 range. I actually don't go to the movies that much - well, as much as I would like - but when I do - at least in Richmond, I don't mind the prices. -Yet...
Well, I'm off to the dance auditions... AH! Men in tights! :-)
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 02/09/2003 03:28 PM PST
Men in tights? Where? Where?
Posted by Robin Hood @ 02/09/2003 04:05 PM PST
I love dance auditions....
KT I would stick with Target...they have some great just-released-DVD prices. Next week:
FOUR FEATHERS & RULES OF ATTRACTION.
Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/09/2003 04:15 PM PST
4 boys and 4 girls?
Need any women?
Posted by Sheila @ 02/09/2003 04:17 PM PST
I liked the first 10 minutes or so of A CHORUS LINE the movie...with all the auditions. I liked right up until they stood with their headshots....then it all went wrong (a Les Miz reference).
Didn't believe Michael Douglas as a choreographer, but I liked Cameron English a LOT as Paul.
But I think you can see all the different versions the script went through as the story bumps and jumps along. AND the choice of director was just SO wrong.... Attenborough? Duh!
So see how easily good material can get screwed up? Maybe we'd better not hope a LOT of musicals get rushed into production....remember A CHORUS LINE.
Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/09/2003 04:24 PM PST
I just saw an ad for the new Bon Jovi CD. It's called "Bounce". Do you think they sing the title song from the new Sondheim show?
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 02/09/2003 04:26 PM PST
My annual question! Any suggestions out there for which songs will be nominated for an oscar this year. I collect them all and should start buying now if some are sill available on Cd singles (or whatever you call them).
At present I am listening to Lainie Kazan's "Body & Soul" (1995). It is wonderful.
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 02/09/2003 04:31 PM PST
The new Broadway Radio Show is up and running...this week we chat with Chicago cabaret star Tom Michael and listen to songs from his two CDs.....Enjoy!
Posted by Donald Feltham @ 02/09/2003 04:58 PM PST
Re: movies
The most aggravating thing to me is that it takes at least 20 minutes for the darn movie to start. Here at least, we have commercials and then probably 10 previews. I like a couple previews. But most of the time I end up being aggravated by the time the movie starts. So I started getting up when the commercials start. And the sad thing is if I go to the bathroom or whatever, I usually get back before the first preview has even started.
You'd think that for $10 we wouldn't have to sit through so much.
Is it just as bad in other cities?
Posted by Jennifer @ 02/09/2003 06:47 PM PST
Just returned from LOTR TT. Not a disappointing moment. What creative talent there is in beautiful New Zealand. Yes! I liked it even more than LOTR FOTR. More time for character development. Wonderful show and without seeing the conclusion of the trilogy, Jackson should be awarded a special oscar for his contribution to cinema. IMHO "Star Wars" never rise above the children's adventure genre (I enjoy them) and the characters are very "flat". LOTR TT sees its characters develop as they go on their journies.
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 02/09/2003 11:23 PM PST
Movies here in Las Vegas are $8.50, $5 for matinees (shows before 6pm); add another $7 for a small popcorn and Mr. Pibb (no Dr. Pepper). I am also annoyed by the many commercials--that's why I go to the cinema to escape them, but they've infiltrated that santuary anyway. I do like seeing the trailers, though.
Do you know that the movie theatres spray the lobbies with an aerosol popcorn scent, so that the minute you walk in, you crave the stuff. Works for me every time.
I do get a thrill when the lights go down in the theatre, and the Big Picture and Sound crank up; no home system can emulate that.
Posted by KT @ 02/10/2003 12:40 AM PST
Pardon me, my typo is showing: that's "sanctuary"....
Posted by KT @ 02/10/2003 12:41 AM PST
Sanctuary!!! Sanctuary!!!
Posted by Charles "Your Posture Isn't So Great Either" Laughton @ 02/10/2003 01:45 AM PST
Commercials at the movies. It is an intrusion on the experience and it can only be a matter of time before we have a set of commercials DURING the movie.
After thinking about it, I got out my A CHORUS LINE video to watch it - or the first part of it. I remembered again, why I think the movie failed for me...the choreography by Jeffrey Hornaday. Either they were auditioning for STAYIN' ALIVE or a music video because the dancing they did wasn't like Broadway dancing I have seen. Not that is was bad, but it was very THRILLER (choreographed by J. Hornaday).
Anyway...anybody seen any memorable choreography lately? I only get to see it at the Tony Awards - until shows tour - but I thought THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE looked like it had some good stuff...and I really liked CONTACT.
Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/10/2003 04:27 AM PST
Chaps who did taps aren't tapping any more - they're doing choreography.
Posted by Irving Berlin @ 02/10/2003 05:55 AM PST
Ain't it the truth.
Posted by Agnes DeMille @ 02/10/2003 06:18 AM PST
I'm painfully aware that movie theatre lobbies are sprayed with that horrible aerosol scent. Several years ago, I went to a movie and came out feeling nauseous. I thought it was because of the jerky camera movement (no, it wasn't the "Blair Witch Project"), but then it happened the next time I saw a movie, too. I began to suspect that I had an inner ear disorder, and that the movies were making me lose my equilibrium, which made me nauseous. Well, the next time I went to the movies I realized that I started to get nauseous the second I stepped into the lobby of the theatre. It was then that I realized that the pungent odour of the fake butter was making me sick.
That's when I stopped going to the movies. I only go now when there is something special that I really want to see on a big screen. The recent "Chicago" was one such exception to my rule, and I was so glad I went. Fortunately, the odour - though still present - was not as strong as it has been in the past, so it didn't interfere with my enjoyment of the movie.
Speaking of CHICAGO, I saw a *very* well-done local production of the show on the weekend, at Stagecrafters, in Royal Oak, Michigan. Modelled on the Encores! version, it was essentially a staged concert, but staged wonderfully. I don't have a programme in front of me, but the actress playing Roxie was fabulous!
Posted by Dave @ 02/10/2003 06:51 AM PST
I just discovered I was partially in error in my Saturday posting regarding the non-Equity OKLAHOMA! tour. Cameron MacIntosh is not producing the tour. He wanted to send out an Equity tour with a few concessions from Equity (a common thing with tours) but Equity refused so Mr. MacIntosh sold the rights to a company who specializes in non-Equity tours - although usually a third or fourth bus-and-truck tour, not the First National tour. I do not have the details of what concessions Mr. MacIntosh wanted that Equity would not grant so I don't know who was being unreasonable.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 02/10/2003 06:51 AM PST
I don't mind the butter/popcorn odor at a movie theatre as much as the odor from nachos, pizza, hot dog condiments and other food that is sold or snuck in.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 02/10/2003 06:55 AM PST
Re: the movies
I know I am probably the only person who will say this. But I actually would rather have the commercials in the middle of the movie (one 5 minute segment) than before.
Am I the only one who has a hard time sitting in one place for 2 1/2 hours? I get leg and neck cramps.
I am actually amazed that they allow commercials at the movies. With the prices going so high, you'd think that they would try to make the customers happier rather than aggravate them.
Posted by Jennifer @ 02/10/2003 07:10 AM PST
