A Road Trip, But With A Lynchian Sense!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

                                  I remember first seeing "Wild At Heart" in 1990.  That was 36 years ago, I was 35, and took the day off to do so, because, with David Lynch at the helm, I was expecting the next "Blue Velvet."  Instead, I couldn't understand what the hell was going on.  The one thing my memory retained was of an unconscious Nicolas Cage lying on the ground, while a bubble enclosed Glinda type hovers above him.

                                     But that was then, and this is now.  If David Lynch in "Blue Velvet," exposed the seamy underside of Middle America, with "Wild At Heart" he lets the White Trashiness of Cape Fear, North Carolina and Big Tuna Texas hang out their dirty laundry in all their trashiness.

                                         Laura Dern and Nicolas Caage play Lula Pate Ridley, and he Sailor Ridley, two overaged White Trash kids who are simply sex, drug, crime and murder crazed.  Isabella Rossellinni turns up as a prostitute of sorts and is just as compelling as she was in "Blue Velvet" but gets less screen time here, unfortunately.  Willem Dafoe does his usual Willem Dafoe thing; the same goes for Jack Nance, and both are terrific.

                                             "Wild At Heart" has a wild visual quality; the viewer can look at it and admire it sequence by sequence because it is brilliantly made, yet, in the end, like me, may not like it all that much.  Hey, if you are exploring Lynch's work it is required, but I would not run out and see this again.

                                               As I mentioned earlier about Glinda, Lynch inserts several "Wizard Of Oz" references in here.  Diane Ladd, as Lula's mother, just about steals the show, and livens every scene she is in, from putting lipstick over her face to occasional glimpses of her riding on a broomstick like the Wicked Witch Of The West.  Jank Nance mentions Toto, and in frustration, Laura Dern, alone in a motel room, clicks her red shoes three times.  I was more aware of all this now, and don't forget Rossellini's character in "Blue Velvet" was named Dorothy.

                                                 Lynch's sizzling hot visuals lend an atmosphere to a film short on narrative.  The strip mall trashiness of Big Tuna is shown in all its glory, and the end, with Laura Dern finally dressed in a bargain basement dress instead of the slut wardrobe she wears throughout the rest of the film demonstrates an actress waiting to break through, if only this film gave her a chance.

                                                     Oh, and the sex scenes!  Nicolas Cage still looked good here; today no one would do scenes as brazen as these with him.  And while Ladd livens things up, Louise Fletcher, Grayson Hall, or Sylvia Miles could easily have done her part.

                                                        I got more out of "Wild At Heart" with age and a second viewing.

                                                        But I am none too eager to experience a return viewing soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What A Week! First Shelley, Then Dolly, And Now Tim Curry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            Yes, darlings, Tim Curry, the one and only Dr. Frank N. Furter, who was just a "Sweet Transvestite' From 'Transexual-vania'" has passed at the age of 80   And just a day after Dolly!  Both the same age--80!  Will that become the age to die now???????????

                               Tim Curry will always live on in "The Rocky Horror Show," and I hope the current cast, especially at today's performances pay him respect.

                                 The role brought him instant fame but was not the only role he did.  He was the original Pennywise The Clown, in 1980's "IT," and was in some of the "Scream" films and "Home Alone 2."  He was even in the film version of the musical "Annie."  Predictably, he played Miss Hannigan's brother, Rooster.

                                     No cause of death has been released, but in 2012 he suffered a severe stroke, and experienced health issues ever since.  All this likely had to do with his death.

                                       Farewell, Tim Curry.  As long as anyone watches the film, sees a live stage version, or does the "Time Warp," you will be remembered.

                                          Rest In Peace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How Sad To Say Goodbye To Dolly Parton!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           Even before I knew who Dolly Parton was, I loved the song "Jolene," and the voice that sang it.

                             As her career climbed, I discovered that, aside from her non-financial assets, she was a wonderfully comedic actress, a smart businesswoman, a humanitarian and a gracious human being.  This and being one of the top C and W stars in Nashville, and the world.

                              Her husband, Carl Dean, died only seventeen months ago.  It is said when one love dies, another soon joins it. Having been married for 60 years, I am sure Dolly and Carl are together again, and I am happy for them.

                                But her presence and talent on Earth shall be deeply missed.

                                 For me, the saddest thing, aside from the departure of these great talents, is that no one seems to be coming up the ranks to replace them.  Taylor Swift may be hot now, but will she be mentioned twenty years from now?  I am not so sure.

                                     Rest In Peace, Dolly.  Songs, movies, charities, you did it all.

                                      Never to be forgotten!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Sad Farewell To Shelley Fabares!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             As a member of the Baby Boomer Generation, I cannot believe Shelley Fabares is gone.  Or that she was 82.

                               To us of a certain age, she will always be Mary Stone on "The Donna Reed Show," but she was so much more.

                                 She was the wife on "Coach," gave a moving performance as James Caan's wife in the TV movie "Brian's Song," and my favorite portrayal of hers was the lovably obnoxious Francine Webster on "One Day At A Time."  One could tell she was having such fun in that role.

                                  And then there was "Johnny Angel."  She may not have had the greatest voice, but somehow, it became one of if not THE top song(s) of 1961.

                                   She was married to "M*A*S*H*" actor Mike Farrell. She had no children except a stepson and stepdaughter from a previous Farrell marriage.

                                     How Shelley will be missed but remembered.  And don't forget, she was Nanette Fabray's niece!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    The Circle Of Time is closing in on the Baby Boomer Generation.

At The Age Of 71, I Finally Got To See "2001: A Space Odyssey" On The Screen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         First of all, darlings, there is no other way to see it.  Second, how the hell do I write about this film?  If I thought covering "The Wizard Of Oz" was a challenge, this is an even bigger one.  I haven't the background for the scientific aspects explored in this film.  Fortunately, my movie friend Chris was on hand to give me an idea--that it is about how intelligence came to mankind.

                                            That was good enough for me to go on, but what I decided was to look at it as though watching a foreign film--as a series of beautiful, patterned images set to simply gorgeous music, including "The Blue Danube," by Johann Strauss and my favorite, "Thus Spoke Zarathustra," which is repeated several times,

                                                One could get drunk on the imagery in this film; it is so intoxicating.  Not to mention two attractive astronauts played by Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood.  The latter played Alan Tuttle, known as "Toots," in Natalie Wood's 1961 triumph "Splendor In The Grass."  They are on a mission to Jupiter with a computer named HAL--but are they really?  Because after witnessing "The Dawn Of Man," one of the best sequences in the film, for imagery, cinematography and art direction, the narrative takes a turn when Dullea is alone on the ship with a deranged HAL.  This, in the second half, is followed by a cacophony of multi-colored, but beautiful imagery, suggesting one is on an LSD trip.  I loved it, but this segment could have been cut a little.  But then, who am I to say this about Stanley Kubrick, who, though not a director I consciously follow, cannot be ignored for having supplied us with this masterpiece??????????????

                                                 Kubrick was nominated for Best Director but did not win.  I would be shocked if this did not pick up some technical awards; it was clearly the most advanced film of the day. And still seems that way. Being released by MGM was a big deal for the film, which was initially shown in CINERAMA.  How I wish there was one CINERAMA theater in each major city so that we could see this and other films the way they were intended.

                                                   Of course, watching it today there are some references--"Forbidden Panet," "Invaders From Mars," and "The Wizard Of Oz" were some I spotted.  Not to mention "Close Encounters Of The Third Kind."  Others may find more.

                                                       Yes, good things come to those who wait, and I was so glad for the opportunity to see this iconic film.

                                                        But I am telling you, darlings, the truth is still out there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                   

Can You Believe It, Girls????????????????? A One-Night Stand At The Algonquin????????????????????????????

                            Darlings, I thought I was done with one-nighters after my early youth.

                           But yesterday David got the idea for us to go into the city and spend the night at The Algonquin.  All because we were seeing a 5:45 PM screening of "2001: A Space Odyssey," with our friend, Chris.  Who is the one I go to when I need to talk about movies, because what I do not know, he certainly does.

                              I was dead set against the one-nighter.  But I have to say it worked out just fine.  I even forgot it was a Sunday night, I thought we were in Manhattan on a Saturday night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             Unfortunately, a new Hamlet has not yet been chosen.  Our room was lovely, though there was a problem with a flickering light above the shower.  It was remedied.

                                The service was lovely, the breakfast luscious, as was our late dinner, which all three of us enjoyed.  Next week we are staying over because of a birthday event this coming Sunday, and I am told we are getting a suite!!!!!!!!!!!  Darlings, I cannot wait to tell you.

                                   Who thought that, at this age, a one-night stand could be so much fun???????????

I Had A Playdate With Bova!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 A block away from David and I, on the corner of Ridge Boulevard and 76th Street, lives a retired surgeon.  His daughter, Bethany, often comes to visit on weekends, and when she does, she brings her lovable German Shepherd dog, Bova.  I just love Bova.  He is so strong, proud and handsome. He is also very lovable, and he and I have become good friends.

'                                  Yesterday, David got a crazy idea, which I will post about next.  Had it not been for the idea, I would have not seen Bova, if we had stayed at home.  But when we passed the house enroute to the subway, there was Bova, and he came running over, bringing his ball, meaning he wanted to play catch with me.

                                      His owner, Bethany, was there, and we had a nice chat with her, while I threw the ball back and forth for Bova to catch.  This picture is not Bova himself but looks exactly like him. He is four years old and has so much energy.

                                         After hearing of the passing of Dexter last week, it was a surprise and a pleasure to have so much fun with Bova.  I look forward to seeing him again.

                                          Love to you, Bova!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!