A little bit of everything...from favorite movies, plays, songs, books, places, thoughts...the things that are near and dear to our hearts and imagination; to inspire the curious.
Upon the recommendation of a friend, I purchased this film. I am glad I did. What does happen to celebrities that once bathed in the limelight and are forced, due to illness or other things, retire in a home? That is basically the story of QUARTET.
My favorite British actress, Maggie Smith, is wonderful as Jean Horton, former opera diva. Unbeknownst to her, her former husband is also a resident. He does not want anything to do with her and she is ready to apologize. Tom Courtenay portrays her ex, Reginald. He does have a wonderful scene with young students who come to hear a lecture about opera. He tries to explain opera; he even does research on rap and hip-hop. He explains that in opera, the character is stabbed in the back with a knife, then sings about the betrayal before dying. The young student also tries to explain rap to the opera singer by rapping a comparison of opera and rap. It's a clever scene.
Billy Connolly and Pauline Collins round out the quartet. Billy loves to flirt with the director of the home who is married. Pauline Collins, also a former diva, is beginning to show signs of dementia and her character is very childlike and innocent. Their goal is to have Jean join them in the Quartet from "Rigoletto." Do they succeed?
What brought me to tears is the fact that the elderly are an aspect of society that we forget about. The residents of the home were famous in their heyday, and now they are forgotten or are voices on recordings recalling their glory days. Makes me think of contemporary singers and how they will live their lives when they are past 60.
It is a bittersweet comedy to be thoroughly enjoyed. The opening song is "Brindisi" from LA TRAVIATA, I believe. My knowledge of opera is non-existent, as my knowledge of musical theatre is
existent. I believe this film has opened up my curiosity into the world of opera. Enjoy!
Recently I purchased The Cecil B. DeMille Collection of DVDs. One of the films in this set is The Sign of the Cross. I had seen this film many years ago on TV and always wanted to have this in my collection. I would say it was the Quo Vadis? of the early 1930s. In fact, I found it a tad better than the technicolor spectacle of the early 1950s.
This film was made before the notorious Hollywood Production Code existed, therefore the scenes were very racy, to say the least, and provacative. Example: Claudette Colbert as the villainous empress Poppeaea is introduced bathing in the milk of donkeys. And in her bathing pool you could see her rather seductive curves being caressed by said milk. There is a scene later in the film depicting a Roman "orgy" that has subtle lesbian hints! Quite a risk taker that Mr. De Mille!!
The plot of the film is Roman military officer, Marcus Superbus, meets young Christian woman, Mercia, and it's love at first sight.
Nero is portrayed by Charles Laughton. He seems bored with his job as emperor and would rather be delving into the arts. Perfect casting. I wish he had more scenes, but his portrayal of Nero is decadent, much like Peter Ustinov in later years. Claudette Colbert's Poppeaea is sensuous; her costumes are ever so Hollywood "Roman."
The scenes depicting the games, where gladiators and martyrs meet, are pretty racy for the time. Gladiator battles depicted are gory, by 1930s standards. The demise of women martyrs, scantily clad, leads me to believe the Romans loved to add sex to people about to die. Kind of scary since today we have crowds cheering at events where women, and even men, are in skin tight clothing and ready to do battle be it at wresting or some other athletic event. These arena scenes are probably the closest Roman recreation of the debauchery that was Rome.
Of course, the Christians sing hymns on their way to martyrdom. The closing scene is very reminiscent of 1953s The Robe. I did shed a tear or two.
Overall, an excellent retelling of ancient Rome. Watch it with an open mind and realize it is the product of an era where film making was still a novel art. Cecil B. De Mille was a pioneer at directing films with casts of thousands. It's easy to day, with technology and CGIs to recreate any epoch of history; but there is nothing like watching films where the only technology was the camera. Films of this type would be an expensive undertaking today!
Today is the ceremonial start of this incredible 1000 mile race across the wilderness and scenic beauty that is the grand state of Alaska. Sunday the 3rd of March the race begins. Over 60 mushers and their sleds and amazing canines.
This past week and the upcoming week my students have been doing research on Alaska, picked a musher to follow and have started to record the Alaskan weather to later create a weather bar graph. My students have also researched hypothermia and how it may affect both human and canine contestants. They have been very receptive and happy we've put our traditional subjects to the side for a few weeks. Fear not! They will be reading, writing and solving math problems...but with an Iditarod theme! On Friday the 8th of March, we will have a school assembly with three huskies that have raced the Iditarod and their owners. I am looking forward to this a lot! Will keep you updated this week...hopefully!!
Today I saw the incredible film version of Les Misérables. What words can I use with what is already being described as the best musical ever made?
My involvement with this musical started back in the mid 1980s when the Original London Cast album came out with Colm Wilkison (Valjean), Patti LuPone (Fantine), and Frances Ruffelle (Eponine). In 1987 I was able to see Les Miz on Broadway with country singer Gary Morris as "Valjean." The staging and lighting on stage were remarkable and innovative. Of course, the orchestrations and lyrics were adapted from its British cousin. Of course, over the years I've collected the various international versions...Hungarian, Spanish, Danish, Dutch, German, Swedish, Japanese, Israeli, Paris cast and the original concept album.
When the opening notes of the score were heard in the film, I felt nostalgia...excitement...joy...and ready to compare former orchestrations. The film, luckily, eschewed the rock opera element and the film flowed more as a traditional opera...orchestration wise. The film's orchestrations are literally sweeping and epic in nature. Tom Hooper, the director, filmed the actors singing live rather than lip syncing.
Hugh Jackman is "Valjean" He is such the versatile actor with a great voice. And he demonstrated physical strength for the role, aside from the vocal strength, especially in the songs where the notes hit the high parts.
Anne Hathaway's "Fantine" is full of a mother in anguish; a mother that will do anything to help her child survive. She lost weight for the role and has her beautiful hair shaved on screen. She turns to prostitution and the song "Lovely Ladies" becomes a dark, grisly and filthy depiction of the street walkers. Her "I Dreamed A Dream" is a tear-provoking anthem to all those dreams that do not become a reality. Again, she sang it live while filming. I think if she had sung it in a recording studio, it would have been embellished and it would have sounded "nice." Come to think of it, it was an angry and bittersweet interpretation.
Russell Crowe as Javert. Hmmm, interesting casting. he has a rough voice, just like what a police inspector with his past would sound like. His interpretation- ruthless; a man with a purpose, as he lives for the law and he wants everyone to live by the law, no matter how cruel the outcomes. I am not a big fan of his vocal capabilities, but he did become the villain of the piece.
Speaking of villains, the "Thenardiers" were brutally interpreted by Helena Bonham-Carter and Sascha Baron Cohen. Intended as comic relief, the Thenardiers are the caretakers of Fantine's daughter, Cosette. Valjean promises Fantine on her deathbed that he will rescue and take care of Cosette; raise her as both mother and father. The Thenardiers are the ultimate con artists and thieves. Literally can pickpocket you without you noticing. Cosette is treated more as a Cinderella whilst their own daughter Eponine is a little princess. "Master of the House" is a tad more graphic than the stage version; film lets you get away with many things visually. It is still a funny scene but not an establishment I would frequent!
Amanda Seyfried (Mamma Mia) and Eddie Redmayne (My Week With Marilyn) were refreshing and quite innocent in the roles of "Cosette" and "Marius." Love at first sight when they meet that Marius ignores the young woman who is in love with him, Eponine. "Eponine" is portrayed by Samantha Barks. She portrays Eponine with a sadness remembering that she and Cosette were young waifs. How the tables have turned! Her song "On My Own" is gut wrenching, perhaps the best interpretation to date.
Visually it is a beautiful film...this goes for the costumes, the art direction and the computer enhanced visuals. As they say, acting can be difficult, but when an actor must also sing while creating a character! Anne Hathaway, I believe, demonstrated this in her Fantine. Tears were shed during her song.
Les Misérables is a film that is very contemporary. As MSNBC host Chris Matthews stated, the film is about how current society views the poor/homeless. The rich just bypass the poor, as was evident in the scene where we meet the urchin Gavroche. Ironically, in the film, the people who got rid of the royal family in the late 1700s once more must deal with another king who does what the previous monarchs have done. (Let them eat cake?!)
It is a film you must see and I believe it is one of the best musicals ever made for the screen. Some people cannot endure and enjoy a musical due to the constant singing. But, to hear glorious music and song and in some cases, wonderful choreography, musicals are a wonderful form of entertainment. And musicals do not have to be light and frothy. Les Misérables is a dramatic musical and is worth viewing. Don't wait for the DVD as it must be appreciated on the large screen.
I had a wonderful weekend and splurged on three movies. The first was The Hunger Games which I thoroughly enjoyed. I am getting into the awful habit of not reading a book upon which a movie is based on. The trilogy is a hit with young readers. The Hunger Games,by Suzanne Collins,is the first of the trilogy.
It is the story of a nation set in a post-apocalyptic era. It was once known as the United States, but it has evolved into 12 districts and one Capitol. Apparently each year for the entertainment of the spoiled citizenry of the Capitol, 24 youngsters (ages 12-18) must fight to the death to remind the nation of the war that led to the new society. The children are picked at an event called "the Reaping." Once chosen, the children are whisked off to the capital and trained for this ritual. The premise seems barbaric...children killing children whilst a beyond spoiled population watches and bets as to who shall be victorious.
The film was directed by Gary Ross and his vision for the film was spectacular. I'd classify the film as a social science fiction film...no aliens, ufos, monsters. The film could have gone the uber violent way, but the violence directed towards the children was easy to watch and not gut wrenching. There is a story to be told and the violent ritual of the Hunger Games comes second. The idea of televising the games is not new. We have reality TV today (even though that is scripted) and that no doubt was in the mind of the author of the novel. The control room in the film could be the place of the future where the director can "script" as the game players try to survive.
The young actors portraying the characters are vibrant, energetic and have a promising career in the entertainment field, notably Jennifer Lawrence (our heroine) Katniss Everdeen and Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mullark. The adults in the cast are seasoned veterans...Donald Sutherland, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harleson, Stanley Tucci and Lenny Kravitz.
The novel, as I understand, is told in the 1st person so for a film adaptation there are going to be changes. Apparently the changes were good ones and the fans approved. The sequel comes out in November 2013. I must read the trilogy before then.
Last June the new Broadway cast
recording of EVITA became a reality. After a massive letter writing
campaign for a complete recording of the score, the powers that be said
"yes" and a new recording came to be. Along with Elaine Paige,
Patti Lupone, Paloma San Basilo, Michelle Breeze, Claudia, and others a new
Evita joins the list, Elena Roger, a native Argentinian. She played the
role in London back in 2006 and a highlights recording was released. The
orchestrations are a tad more Latin and an enhancement to the original orchestrations
of the late 1970s.
Ricky Martin is "Che"
the Argentine Everyman who narrates the proceedings. No longer the
"Che Guevara" of the original production. Michael Cereveris is
"Juan Peron." Michael was the title role in The Who's Broadway
version of TOMMY.
The orchestra includes an
accordion, and not the more tango sounding bandoneon that is wonderfully used
in the Madrid recording. But it does the trick. The song
"Buenos Aires" really got a makeover and gets you going. The
percussion is electrifying to say the least. "Dangerous Jade"
no longer has the drum riffs during the song, but it is saved for the last
section.
The song "You Must Love
Me" from the 1996 movie/Madonna version is included right after the
"Waltz for Eva and Che." The "Montage" is very
dissonant and haunting, a major improvement from the original.
There have been criticisms about
Elena's voice being shrill or not Broadway worthy. I ask the listener to
listen to the voice of the real Eva Peron...shrill and penetrating...a voice
trying to make a point. Elena even looks like her when she is in costume.
I think she is an amazing singer/actress.
So listen to the new recording
and don't cry for Elena. You will come to discover how surprisingly good it is!
Tuesday the 28th of August was a normal day. It was to be our first full day of school. At 10:15 AM my 8th grade social studies class came in and were told to continue to work on their maps of California. These maps are hand drawn, an art that is being lost, I think, in schools. They complain but their maps turn out to be great works of art. But, I digress. Around 10:45 AM one of my students wanted to know if a pipe broke because water was coming in quickly in the patio. Sure enough, it was gushing forth as a raging river would. Mrs. Ellison walked in and said to make sure my sliding door was closed because the other classroom got lots of water. One of my students asked, "Is this a tsunami?" We made sure the door was closed, but some water did come in and ruined the corner where my desk is.
Well, the water kept gushing at an enormous pace that the 4 picnic tables were carried by the current. The water level reached about a little over knee high and the pressure could probably break the class. My principal told me to send the kids to the kindergarten room to be with their buddies. Water did come into my room from the sliding door and from a window in the back where it was seeping slowly.
Told the kids to put boxes from the floor on top of desks. I went to get my 6th graders and escorted them to get their backpacks.
Meanwhile, outside, apparently a pipe at the intersection exploded and caused the street to open up creating a giant sink hole. This caused the gushing forth of water. Words cannot explain nor describe the scene...it had to be seen to be believed. We came to learn that the parish hall and the convent also got flooded...the convent big time, so the sisters that live there will be at other convents for at least three weeks.
A little after noon we were ordered to evacuate and under the guidance of the San Francisco Fire Department and Police Department, over 250 students, teachers and staff made a mass exodus to the nearby Visitacion Valley Park where parent would pick up their children.
It was there that Univision 14 was trying to find the Spanish speaking teacher for a first hand account. Yours truly made his debut on TV.
As of today, school is still closed but we are reopening on Tuesday, the day after Labor Day. Unexpected extra vacation, but I do miss my students!
This film upon viewing was a pleasant discovery. Had heard all the buzz and knew it would be up for several Academy Awards. The other day I revisited the hilarious comedy from the late 90s, Dick, starring Kirstin Dunst and Michelle Williams. I kept trying to remember where I had heard and seen Michelle Williams until...duh!...she was the star of My Week With Marilyn.
The story is about the filming of The Prince and the Showgirl in which she would be working with Laurence Olivier. She arrives in London amidst the fanfare and flash photo ops with her husband of the time, Arthur Miller. But the story revolves around a young man who wants to get into the motion picture industry, Colin Clark. He wrote about this week with Marilyn whilst Arthur Miller left London for a week. Colin is to get Marilyn a place to stay and just take orders from the higher-ups.
Colin meets Marilyn and eventually becomes her friend. She sees a side of Marilyn that few have seen...a young woman who just wants to live a nice life away from the glamour and glitz. The featurette on the DVD mentions that Marilyn Monroe was a character...and I believe that- how she would play with the camera and the adoring fans. The real Marilyn wanted a family. She is, I think, a sympathetic character. Hollywood just dictated what she should do and be. The week Colin and Marilyn spent they did things as friends would; I'm sure love was blooming as well.
Meanwhile, London is getting a taste of the actress as she arrives late on the set. Vivian Leigh, Olivier's wife, is jealous; Judi Dench's character is that of an established British actress who sees in Marilyn a star wanting to become an actress. Colin has a young girlfriend who works in wardrobe. She feels that Colin is slowly headed towards Marilyn.
Needless to say, it is an engaging work of cinema. It was nice to see it in the privacy of my home and "being" with the characters. Marilyn Monroe is an icon; as Elton John sang in his song, "you seemed to live your life like a candle in the wind." And the week demonstrated that. It's a shame she died so young. Composer Alexander Desplat wrote a beautiful theme for Marilyn- it tugs at your heart.
See it and learn more about this wonderful week that I am sure Marilyn treasured till the day she died.
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