Most of the critics loved “Raw” but not my brood and I, that’s for sure.
by Sam Juliano
A blockbuster mid March nor’easter is nearing the New York City/northern New Jersey region, and practically all predictions are calling for 12 to 24 inches to be followed by several days of frigid temperatures that will hold the area in a winter grip, and will surely make traveling extremely difficult. This is one projected wide swath of a storm that is sure to drop as much blustery snow on our friends John and Pam (Grant) as it will on us in Fairview (just across the Hudson from Manhattan). This is no doubt the kind of event that makes former New Yorkers like John Greco grateful of the Florida re-location. But heck, we all do love the white stuff, no? Some are saying the number estimation is rather conservative, so who knows what is in store.
Our deepest condolences to my longtime dear friend, the erstwhile Voting Tabulator Angelo A. D’Arminio Jr., who lost his 64 year-old wife Kathy suddenly in her sleep this past week, after no known sickness. While Angelo had relocated this past year down in South Carolina, the wake and funeral will be held in Binghampton, New York Tuesday night (Kathy’s family lives there, and she lived nearly her entire life in that region) during the projected height of this ferocious blizzard. Lucille and I are planning to take the three-hour drive up there, but I am hearing from some that they think highways could well be shut down.
This past week we watched two films in theaters:
Raw ** (Angelika Film Center) Saturday night
King Kong: Skull Island ** (Secaucus multiplex) Friday night
Here is my brief social media report: Lucille, Sammy, Jeremy, Broadway Bob and I took in the wholly repellent French horror film “Raw” last night at the Angelika Film Center in Manhattan. I got all the metaphorical stuff and the coming of age arc. but found the film’s cannibal set pieces over-the-top distasteful. What were the critics thinking? It seems my brood were all unimpressed as well. I’d never want to lay eyes on this film ever again! “Original” is such a deceptive compliment. On Friday it was the “King Kong” remake in Secaucus, which I found barely passable. The others liked it more.
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I’m so very, very sorry to hear of Angelo’s loss. I’ve had no direct contact with him, but have always been very appreciative of his statistical work for the countdowns. Please give him my condolences.
We’re hoping the blizzard isn’t as bad as forecast. A concern is that I’m supposed to be guesting at a conference on Long Island beginning on Friday, and, if the disruption’s as major as some are predicting, this might be tricky! Fingernails already chewed down past the second knuckle . . .
Sad to hear you loathed Raw. I lost interest in King Kong: Skull Island when I found out it lacked a credit for my ol’ pal Joe DeVito’s book Kong: King Of Skull Island. I guess Joe will do well from resurgent sales in the book, but still.
All best to you and the gang.
John, thank you so much for your deeply appreciated words for Angelo at this worst of times. I will convey your heartfelt condolences to him. Like you I am hoping that the storm veers off ever so slightly, allowing for a far less apocalyptic scenario, but this morning forecasters are holding stead to their dire prognostications. As far as your Long Island conference on Friday I would think things will be in order by then. There is a big 700 person gathering for my youngest brother’s Chamber of Commerce “Man of the Year” dinner in Garfield on Thursday night, and I’m thinking THAT may be tricky. But Friday for you should work. I have my fingers crossed. That is strange that your friend’s book was not included in the credits for SKULL ISLAND. It would seem to have been a given. A very mediocre film to be sure, and RAW just completely repulsed me, metaphorically slanted or not.
Best to you and Pam. Let’s weather this storm together!
We’ve had about 20-24in (hard to tell for sure because my meter rule’s gone AWOL), so everything’s at a complete standstill around here. It’s the first heavy snowfall of a winter that’s seen really very little snow at all, so I guess we can’t complain.
John, I may have underestimated the actual snowfall here in Fairview by way of inches, but it definitely can’t match your total up there. 12 inches would appear to be the highest total it could have reached. I did know that your area did get socked big-time, as did Binghampton where the wake for Angelo’s wife was postponed until tomorrow. We traveled through a scary stretch on Route 17 all the way up in New York State on our way back, but eventually arrived home safely. true what you say though. We’ve had almost no snow at all this winter until today.
I’ve just been out there with a 1ft rule and am revising my estimate downward to about 18in. Still a lotta snow!
John, that 18 inch snowfall was indeed pretty extreme when you consider we haven’t had any all winter. I am hearing we received 14 here, so we weren’t far behind. Chaos is reigning supreme in Fairview today however as our school district is one of the only ones in this area to open its doors today. Parking is a complete disaster and parents have been up in arms.
I assure you that it was completely coincidental that I was giggling as I read about your Fairview chaos.
Here we’ve had more snow during the night and this morning — still falling, in fact.
John, you really did get walloped. Wow! We have some snow set to fall on Saturday too, though no more than an inch. Still…..
We didn’t get the full brunt of what the weather people predicted. But it still hasn’t been a party on the local streets.
No it has not Peter. Today we had more chaos in front of the school with all the snow removal vehicles. Ugh.
My deepest condolences to Angelo for his loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
I’m heading off for some summer sunshine Sam for 3 and half weeks of Indian heat, haven’t been there for 17 years.
I’m getting ready to go through a silent film season when I get back.
‘Kong’ looks likes a frivolous but empty summer blockbuster.
Bobby, thank you so much for your very kind words in behalf of Angelo, whom you surely remember well from all our countdowns. Angelo was a former Fairview Board of education Trustee in my home town, and over the years we attended many movies together. When he lived in town he always attended my weekly pasta night gatherings. He still tabulates all the FB polls I conduct regularly. Best wishes in India! Wow! What a trip! I’d love to be updated on your silent film plans, especially since we are doing the 1920’s polls at present on my FB page and I have ordered some titles on blu ray and DVD that have long eluded me. In this sense I have thought about Allan daily. If you are in New Jersey PLEASE let me know! I know you had mentioned you might be soon!
I am sorry for the loss you all experienced.
I did watch a movie on Prime this week THE DRESSMAKER. Australian and just right to break up the huge reads coming at me. Greg ILES’ has released his third book in his American epic. I could not put it down it is spectacular right to the last page Natchez Burning thru Mississippi Blood. Going to be made into a tv series is the last eat news. But three 700-800 page books in a row demands so lighter fair. We just had 2 days of no rain and buds are bursting through with finally warmer temperatures. The ground is a muddy mess and they are still expecting 2 feet of snow in the mountains. Quite a year. Been very busy with strategies to protect our public schools and the environment. A human wall of resistance. What a horrid time these scoundrel s are dishing up for people. Hard to fathom. Good week ahead stay warm and dry
Thank you so much for the very kind words, Patricia my friend! I will extend them to my friend tomorrow.
I have seen THE DRESSMAKER, and like it quite a bit! That Greg Iles’ trilogy really sound intriguing! But yes after that kind of massive endeavor in theme and size, you would indeed want to veer off to something lighter. Well those two feet of snow in your nearby mountains seems our own destiny here in the NYC area tomorrow! I like snow to an extent, but not when it is posed to cripple our lifestyle. Otherwise with the rain and flowers sprouting you are on the cusp there in your sublime Washington State surroundings. As far as your dire assessment of the political climate, I agree down the line my friend. Have a great week!
My sincere condolences to Angelo and his family.
Tony, thank you so very much for your compassionate words, which I will appraise Angelo of tomorrow. Such a sudden and tragic development. I can’t tell you to stay warm in the snow, but I can tell you that many of us wish we were Down Under with you this week! The best always my friend!
Sam, please send my condolences to Angelo at this terrible time. I am hearing some scary predictions on the snow, and am very concerned about your promise to make the trip. To urge you to be safe is the understatement of the year. I was surprised to read of your pan for “Raw” but I can see why this film might be so off-putting.
Frank my friend, thank you so much for the kind and considerate words. I will convey them to Angelo tomorrow. Yes mostly everyone is trying to talk me out of going on the trip, but we have a close friendship and I plan to leave no stone unturned before cancelling. I am playing things by ear presently. You may well think better of RAW, but I just didn’t buy into the angle it showcased. Have a great week, and hang in there on Tuesday! You know of course that school will be called off, and probably later today the announcement will be made.
I’ll be seeing RAW regardless, as it seems to be slightly more up my alley, as I’m reading notices giving it favorable comparisons to mid 2000 French Horror shockers like INSIDE and IN MY SKIN (two films I hold in very high regard, and I’m not sure how you feel about either, or if you’ve ever even seen them).
Angelo, I can’t really say much. It’s crippling and I hope he’s able to live within his grief as well as possible. I’m very sorry.
Jamie, the film is definitely up your alley -and as it turns out it appears to be the alley of about 90% or so of all the others. The issue here is clearly me and not the film. It had the effect of drilling into a tooth without Novocain for me, but even with my issues I can still attach the word “audacious” to the actual film making. I have indeed seen IN MY SKIN, but not INSIDE. I actually appreciated it more than I did RAW. I am also reminded in some ways of Masumura’s BLIND BEAST which is another difficult film that I still remember thinking was brilliantly made and conceived. Ah my friend, you know well what Angelo is going through. You suffered the worst loss imaginable. Thank you so much for your very kind words, which I will convey to Angelo.
Sam, I’d like to add my condolences to Angelo for his inconceivably tragic loss. I know you need to attend the service but the weather forecast sounds frightening. I’m certainly hoping that you have a safe trip.
Thanks so much for those very kind words for Angelo at this unconscionable time Duane. Much appreciated. I will of course pass them on my friend. I handled the situation differently. I drove up to Binghampton last night BEFORE the storm struck. I spent maybe two and half hours talking with Angelo in a diner (my wife and son Sammy came up too). It did take us nearly four hours to get back and we caught the beginning of the storm, but ultimately arrived safely. Some snow pockets were scary though. The scheduled wake for Kathy D’Arminio was moved to Wednesday now.
Condolences to Angelo over his loss. Sad news.
I was slightly considering seeing Kong at my local theater. The bad weather will probably prevent that, but your assessment is another strike against. Might just wait for it to appear on Netflix.
Thank you so much for your very kind words in Angelo’s behalf Maurizio. It was such a terrible shock and for Angelo an unconscionable loss barely a year after they relocated to SC after retirement. I am nearly certain you will find very little if anything to commend in the new Kong movie. I’d wager on it my friend. I think you are making the right decision.
Shocked and saddened to hear about Angelo’s wife. Sam, please pass our condolences to him and his family. At a loss for words..
Sachin my friend, thank you so very much. Yes it was quite a shock. She suffered a massive heart attack, sadly at a time where there wasn’t an opportunity to receive quick intervention. Angel is of course completely devastated and our hearts go out to him at this worst of times.
Sam, Holy Cannoli—another 12 to 24 inches of snow on top of what your neck of the woods as already received this year? Yikes!
My heart-felt condolences to Angelo A. D’Arminio Jr.
Thank you so very much for your kind words in behalf of Angelo my very good friend. We traveled to Binghampton last night to spend some time with him and caught the beginning of the storm on the return after midnight. We actually wound up getting less than they predicted. Maybe 8 to 10. The storm veered off slightly. They have already called for a delayed opening tomorrow so school will convene after the day off today.
Sam, I am assuming you plan to see the new Terrence Malick film over the coming weekend? The reviews have been brutal, but with this director none of that matters.
Peter, thank you. Yes, I will be seeing SONG TO SONG this weekend along with a second feature yet to be determined. Yes with Malick all bets are off when it comes to reviews!
I’m quite late, but hopefully, my sincere condolences to Angelo will still be in order. The suddenness of his wife’s passing without any kind of warning will make it especially difficult for him. Please let him know we’re all in his corner.
Marilyn, of course they will be in order, and Angelo will be very grateful to receive them. I will be let him know when I speak to him later tonight in fact. Your support and concern is so beautiful my friend. Yes it was a horrific experience for him, and I know it will be very difficult for him moving forward. Thanks again!!