by Sam Juliano
Happy Turkey Day 2016 to all our friends and readers stateside. For some a time to catch up with music, films, theater and literature, for others a time to unwind and meditate. Sports fans have the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day and those preferring to take advantage of the extra time have a plethora of quality new film releases in the theaters. We at Wonders in the Dark would like to wish everyone stateside a happy and healthy Thanksgiving and those overseas a great week in every regard.
On Sunday at the Bank Street Bookstore in Manhattan Lucille, Sammy, Jeremy and I met up with esteemed author Heather Lang and famed illustrator Raul Colon to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Ruth Law’s record-breaking plane flight. The duo treated an impressive gathering to a theatrical book reading of the masterful FEARLESS FLYER (a Caldecott Contender series review was posted on it weeks back at WitD) along with some original sketch drawings by Colon for the audience to enjoy. On Friday night Lucille, Sammy and I attended the first concert of the 2016-17 season by the Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra on Friday night at the West Side Presbyterian Church on S. Monroe Street. Under the baton of Conductor Diane Wittry, the ensemble performed spirited readings of Tchaikovsky’s celebrated Fifth Symphony and Violin Concerto (on original instrument) and Rimsky-Korsakov’s seminal “Russian Easter Overture”.
Lucille, Jeremy, Broadway Bob and I saw an American film masterpiece Saturday night at the Angelika in Manhattan and even got to briefly chat with stars Casey Affleck and Lucas Hedges in the lobby after their Q & A with director Kenneth Lonergan in the multiplex’s lobby. “Manchester by the Sea” makes a strong case as film of the year.
Manchester by the Sea ***** (Saturday night) Angelika Film Center
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Another amazing week Sam. Looks like you covered all bases in music, film and children’s lit. Happy Thanksgiving to you, Lucille and the family.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and the family Frank! Thank you my friend.
Hi Sam!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family and all those here at WiTD! You had a well rounded week as usual it appears with books, music and movies. Manchester By the Sea looks tremendous. You know I’m a huge fan of Michelle Williams, and although I’m sure she doesn’t have a great deal of screentime, no doubt it’s good to see her on the bigscreen again. I’m sure Affleck gives a great performance though as well. My wife and I are looking forward to this one.
We were going to see Arrival on Friday but when we got to the theatre it was sold out. So, we hopped into Moonlight instead. Wow! A flat out masterpiece. Both my wife and I were totally in love with it from the get go. Kudos to the actors who played Chiron, who all were very much in sync and delivered the goods with great continuity. It’s just a very affecting film. Beautiful stuff.
I also watched the new Criterion disk of The Executioner, which was darkly funny, but not quite the masterpiece I was hoping for.
As you know, the girls and I went to see Patricia Polacco in Kalamazoo. She gave a talk about her life and career and then did a reading of her newest, “Because of Thursday”. She is a very inspiring lady, who went into her background of not being able to read until age 14, and how she was teased and bullied and how she rebounded from that and didn’t give up. She was really great to listen to and girls really enjoyed meeting her, as did I.
Well we hope you have a great week Sam and enjoy time with family!
Thanks so much Jon! Yes a rather diverse week indeed, and of course you had a whale of a time with the girls seeing the renowned children’s book author-illustrator Patricia Polacco. I have seen BECAUSE OF THURSDAY and agree it is a lovely work. I didn’t know those aspects of Polacco’s life, so I am very appreciative to have you note this here. So thrilling for the girls to meet her! I’ve always wanted to see her myself. Thrilled to hear of that masterpiece framing for MOONLIGHT, which I completely concur on. Deeply moving film, no doubt headed for a number of various year-end awards, I’d reckon. Yes MANCHESTER BY THE SEA and THE ARRIVAL are films you would normally rate highly. Looking to compare notes.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and the family!!
Happy Thanksgiving, Sam – to you, your family and all the WITD regulars!
I’ve reached that time of year where I suddenly get very motivated to “catch up” on the years finest films. In the past few weeks, I’ve seen Terrence Davies’ lovely, melancholy SUNSET SONG, John Carney’s sweet and joyous SING STREET, the fine dramedy OTHER PEOPLE, and Barry Jenkin’s sad/beautiful/poetic/emotionally shattering MOONLIGHT – the last of these which I believe may be the best film of the year. But your glowing praise of MANCHESTER BY THE SEA tells me I should hold off on bestowing that accolade. I’m a huge fun of Kenneth Lonnergan’s work and have been eagerly awaiting this one; it opens here in Chicago next weekend at a select group of art house theatres, and I think I may need to make a concerted effort to see it then.
HOWEVER, the cultural highlight of my week has surely been seeing HAMILTON in its Chicago production. It more than lives up to every last syllable of hype – performed, staged and acted impeccably with a terrific score, and (more importantly) a story that feels especially relevant and urgent in these troubled times. In the process of getting to the theatre, I passed an anti-Trump protest march and a number of people handing out political leaflets not to mention being surrounded by people commenting on the day’s activities from both sides of the political fence. It was an interesting milieu in which to experience HAMILTON.
Thanks so much for the Thanksgiving greetings Pat! The very best to you and your kin as well my friend!
Pat, were you sitting next to Vice-President-Elect Mike Pence while you took in HAMILTON? Ha! Just kidding. I know you saw it in Chicago, not in Gotham. I can’t wait to see it, and your fantastic appraisal only enhances that! Yes I would say that story is especially relevant now. And then to walk in on a demonstration. Wow! What a night that was! I look forward to comparing notes with you after I see it. There is little question that MOONLIGHT is either the best film of the year or one of the best films of the year. Completely agree with your highest praise for it. I need to see SUNSET SONG and SING STREET as soon as possible.
Pat the advance word is that both LA LA LAND and FENCES are sensational. Well we will see soon enough. Thanks again!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family Sam! The film Manchester by the Sea definitely will go on my “must watch” list. We have settled in the deep greys of winter with a surprising brief moments of sun now and again. But all is good and we are healthy and enjoying the quiet. All the best!
Terrill—I wish you and David a wonderful weekend. There is no question in my mind that you will REALLY love MANCHESTER BY THE SEA. I think I have your taste down pat, though I say that in the very best sense. So winter has set in by you now, even though you are having the sun out? Over here we are now having some very frigid days. They are calling for something like 48 for Thanksgiving. Thanks again my friend!
Sammy has you may known Turkey Day is one of my favorite days of the year and I’m going to be hopping between three different gatherings in my community here in Florida but I’m surprised at you really that now you’re ignoring the election and what happened to Pence at the theater during Hamilton. That was a very disrespectful thing that people did. The man is the vice president elect and you have people booing him and then the cast to single him out and humiliate him with accusations afterward. I saw the video and it was horrifying especially since we know politicians have had bad luck in theaters since Lincoln. Now people are gonna boycott the show and I don’t blame them. People are sick of everyone being able to say and do whatever they want, that’s why the voted for Trump. He’s gonna change the laws so we can have a civilized society again. Americans don’t wanna see people protesting in the streets, they don’t wanna see their president played by an actor on Saturday Night so he looks like a jerk, they want it to be like the fifties when people were nice and that’s what’s gonna happen because Trump has control of the laws now like it or not and these people are going to start getting sued, getting into big trouble, you mark my words. I went to the movies the other day and I saw a great movie, Chainsaw Mountain, did you like that? The guy who played the main guy was terrific and Mel Gibson made the explosions look and feel like you were right there on the battlefield. He’s one of the greatest directors around. Remember when we saw Braveheart and you started shopping for kilts online? I think if Trump sees Chainsaw we might even see Mel on stage on Oscar Night, what do you think?
DFTT
Well Jack, I can’t blame Jamie for his advice here at all. You are and have always been quite the character. You will find in time that Trump will be getting opposition from the Republicans in the House and Senate.
Oh, and it is Hacksaw Ridge.
Wow, Mr. Marsh is back I see.
I can’t wait to see Manchester by the Sea! Great that you got to meet Affleck and the others.
I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! Best to you and the family Sam.
Peter, I am certain you will absolutely LOVE Manchester by the Sea. You should get a crack at it very soon, perhaps it is will be in Jersey by Friday.
I wish a wonderful Thanksgiving to you and Carol, my very good friend.
Happy Thanksgiving, Sam, to you and everyone as we try to make it through this best of times amid this worst of times. Manchester by the Sea moves to the front of my watchlist upon your recommendation. Kelly Reichardt’s Certain Women is the best film I’ve seen this year but I still haven’t seen Moonlight, Arrival, Loving to name a few. It looks like this should be a pretty good year for film when all is said and done.
Happy Thanksgiving Duane!! Thank you so much my friend! I haven’t yet seen the Reichardt film, but my site colleague Jamie Uhler has and has come in with a favorable response. I do planning on checking it out at first opportunity. I strongly recommend MOONLIGHT and THE ARRIVAL and am presently plotting out my itinerary fro the weekend. NOCTURNAL ANIMALS will be one for sure. Yes the year is really turning out to be memorable as a result of the strong finish.
I hope everyone had a great day on Thursday.
Thank you Tim! We had a wonderful day indeed, i trust the same for you my friend!