Jimmy Webb concert; tumultuous Oscar show; King Richard and final 2021 ‘Best of’ movie list on Monday Morning Diary (March 28)

by Sam Juliano

The Films of India polling was extended one final time until Friday, April 1st at 5:00 P.M.  This coming Wednesday, I will be hosting my very first book signing and presentation, and it will be staged at the Fairview Public Library on Anderson Avenue.  Meanwhile, I have returned to my manuscript for Irish Jesus in Fairview, which I will speak about on Wednesday at the event.  Wishing our great friend Bill Kamberger emotional support on Tuesday, the day of the Florida service for his soulmate Dr. Guy Wolf.

Lucille and I attended a fabulous Sunday afternoon concert at the Avanel Performing Arts Center, near Woodbridge, where we again saw and heard Jimmy Webb sing and musically perform some of his signature numbers around humorous anecdotes, an opening act by young singer Pete Mancini and a brief tribute to Ukraine. “Didn’t We”, “Up and Away”, “Galveston”, “Witchita Lineman”, all received spirited ovations, though as always it was “MacArthur Park” that brought the house down. Webb explains that every show has a slightly different line-up, hence, two of his classics were MIA today – “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” and “Worst That Could Happen.” This is the third time we witnessed Webb in the last four years.

The Oscar show resulted in not a single surprise or upset (not even one!), but of course was upstaged by that horrific physical altercation between Will Smith and Chris Rock, which left millions of viewers shocked.

We finally watched King Richard, via streaming.  Will Smith was quite good, but the film as a whole for me was “average.”

I finally posted my 2021 Best Films list this past week on FB.  Here it is:

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Production of “Cats” and India films polling on Monday Morning Diary (March 21)

 

by Sam Juliano

Spring is being ushered in with excellent weather in the Metropolitan region.  Meanwhile the world remains in the grip of barbarism in the Ukraine, an unconscionable affront to humanity that has many of us on daily vigilance.  Lucille and I express our deepest condolences to Bill Kamberger, our dear friend and brilliant editor of Paradise Atop the Hudson on the loss of his soulmate Guy Wolf, who passed this week.  Bill also tabulates our international film pollings. We met the charismatic, larger-than-life, positive energy-purveyor Guy in Manhattan last year and had an unforgettable time. Our heart is breaking for Bill. He was truly blessed with his classic relationship. R.I.P. Guy.

The Films of India polling, which has attracted limited participation has been extended, dure to Bill’s loss and the hop more people will cast ballots.

I just have not been able to get moving on Irish Jesus in Fairview, as so much has been going on, and I am preparing for the local library presentation and signing for Paradise on Wednesday, March 30th.  I must heed the encouraging words of my great friend and muse Valerie Clark in getting back in the saddle!

Cats at State Theater in New Brunswick!

Lucille and I attended a Broadway-level production of the iconic stage musical Cats Saturday night at the State Theater in New Brunswick, where our extraordinarily-talented nephew, Eric Lampmann was the solo flutist, tenor sax and clarinet player for a production that has been traveling around the country for over eight months. Once again we were reminded what a great score this show boasts, and no degree of “nose in the air” dismissal will ever convince me otherwise. Eric is a young man with quite a future ahead of him! (He is shown with Lucille and her sister, Elaine Lampmann, Eric’s mom).

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Cyrano and Dog on Monday Morning Diary (March 14)

 

by Sam Juliano

The war in Ukraine, perpetrated by the evil dictator of Russia continues to outrage the world, but daily the horrors continue to show no manner of relenting.  For nearly all of us, the mounting list of casualties has put our lives on hold, as we find it difficult to pay any mind to anything aside from this human calamity.  Still we manage to escape for a few hours weekly to get on with our lives.

The Best Films of India polling has been officially extended until Saturday, March 26th, as so far attendance has been scant.  This past week film essayist extraordinaire Jim Clark post a marvelous piece on Federico Fellini’s Ginger and Fred, as part of his continuing series on the iconic Italian director.

I am still searching for my muse to return, so I can get totally serious in getting Irish Jesus in Fairview completed.  Though I am close to 50,000 words, I do need a mental push to get this sequel to Paradise Atop the Hudson completed, so I can get it edited and published in the coming months.  Meanwhile, a book presentation/reading/signing is all set up for Wednesday, March 30th at the Fairview library.  Invitations have been sent out this past week.

Captivating Musical “Cyrano” a dazzling revision of Edmond Rostand’s celebrated play!

British director Joe Wright has brought together alluring visuals and an irresistible aural mix in a new transcription of Cyrano de Bergerac that in its own way forges a successful path into the Rostand literature. Peter Dinklage may not be a singer, but it seemed to me that matter was insignificant, as Aaron and Bryce Dessner’s songs exerted their own magic throughout, and the final credits number “Somebody Desperate” is truly magnificent. Dinklage as actor was splendid as were Haley Bennett as Rozanne and Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Christian. Cyrano de Bergerac is one of my favorite plays of all-time, but I won’t let that bias in any way compromise my love for this particular version. Sad that the ravishing costume design was the film’s only nomination. 4.5 of 5.0.

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FEDERICO FELLINI and TONINO GUERRA’S ‘GINGER AND FRED’ “She said I’d win big”

© 2022 James Clark

 

Though it may seem strange, this film today, namely, Ginger and Fred (1985), by filmmaker, Federico Fellini (sort of), needs to show a bit of the early Fellini film, The White Sheik (1952). There, a young woman, about to be married that day, races away from the proceedings in order to be close to a film actor    on the set. That bit of rare flamboyance comes back to us here. Fellini’s early comedy becomes a ribald joke, for those not quite charmed by nuptials.

Today’s bid, driven by the great wit, poet and film writer, Tonino Guerra, does much more than send a laugh. Those fast friends, Fellini and Guerra, were far apart on many scores. With Guerra in control (happily), a very different involvement comes to pass. Today, we’ll see something far from a lark:  a challenge, requiring everything we’ve got. Before that, however, we have in play the true Fred Astaire and the true Ginger Rogers (with all their balance, grace and power), who would have presented a brilliant moment for us.

The format of Guerra’s reflections involves that excrescence, the television variety show (beamed to target a catholic audience). Into this Black Hole, there was one Christmas time a couple of long-retired jazz dancers who could not resist rushing into that supposed limelight. What was the attraction? (Recall that daring bride, and her risking becoming a pariah.) Here there was a feeble excuse, on the part of Amelia, to thrill her granddaughters in prime time. Her former partner, Pippo (having no connection with her for thirty years), was a swarm of motives. The twist of this mountain involved the partners having been, for many years, imitators of those famous dancers. Was imitation enough? Or would our protagonists, in one way or another, had developed a need for the profound.

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Ukraine, The Batman and India film polling on Monday Morning Diary (March 7)

 

by Sam Juliano

The horror in Ukraine has held many of us prisoners to the hourly reports.  This is surely one of the scariest of times for so many reasons.  We pledge our support to the yellow and blue and pray for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the barbarism.  President Zelensky will go down as a global hero.

Though I did not myself join them, my family attended a Saturday screening of The Batman, and all has positive responses.  Just ain’t my cup of tea (superhero movies), so I’ll wait for an eventual streaming option.  Three hours is a large block of time to kill, especially as I prepare for the Fairview/Cliffside Park library presentation of Paradise Atop the Hudson on Wednesday, March 30th.

We are hoping the Cinema of India polling now underway will get more attention moving forward.  Many thanks to those who have participated so far.

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The Cinema of India

No country produces more films annually, and with a rich tradition including Bollywood and the world-class work of Ray, Ghatek and so many more, this is one of the world’s most celebrated international output. My own knowledge and command is not remotely impressive, and I am deferring to a few who I know will bring expertise to the project. My own list is alphabetical. Note that the three films of the Apu Trilogy will count as separate works. As always, Bill Kamberger will determine eligibility, and polling will run until Wednesday, March 16th at 5:00 P.M. Each person gets 20 choices to be listed chronologically, alphabetically or in ranked order.

Anand (H. Mukherjee) 1971

Aparajito (S. Ray) 1956

The Big City (S. Ray) 1963

Charulata (S. Ray) 1964

Chaudhvin Ka Chand (M. Sadiq) 1960

The Cloud-Capped Star (R. Ghatak) 1960

Days and Nights in the Forest (S. Ray) 1970

Devi (S. Ray) 1960

Gulaal (A. Kashyap) 2009

Lagaan (A. Gowariker) 2001

Mother India (M. Khan) 1957

The Music Room (S. Ray) 1958

Pather Panchali (S. Ray)

Pyassa (G. Dutt) 1957

The Rat-Trap (A. Gopalakrishnan) 1981

A River Called Titas (R. Ghatek) 1973

Shakespeare Wallah (Ivory) 1965

Sholay (R. Sippy) 1975

The World of Apu (S. Ray)

Two Acres of Land (B. Roy) 1953

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