I got about halfway through Windtalkers (2002) the other night and quit. It's a pity because it's about the Marine Corps Navajo Code Talkers - certainly a worthy subject for a film. It's a John Woo film; I'm told he's known for overdoing it with pyrotechnics. Yes... I drew the same conclusion. The main reason I quit is Nick Cage, doing a real bad Clint Eastwood imitation. Honestly, I don't how that guy gets work in Hollywood as a leading man. He makes me think of the kids at high school we used to throw against wall lockers. Another problem is Peter Stormare (the "Vee Dub in da haus" German automotive engineer in those great VW ads), who plays a Gunnery Sergeant - with an unlikely, thick Northern European dialect. (Stormare is a Swede.) This film is a mess.Much more fun was Circus of Horrors (1960), a British horror film which could have been called Circus of Cleavage. This one starred another icy Teuton, Anton Diffring. He shows up from time to time in productions where a severe blue-eyed German villain is called for. In other words, he's more or less a professional cinematic Nazi. So... was he in Germany during the war? No. Ironically, he fled Germany in 1939 for Canada.
Some the dialogue is funny. A scantily-clad circus performer is strapped to a revolving table, where a guy dressed like an Indian throws knives at her. Diffring's henchman interferes with the table's motor, which causes the Indian's aim to miss - and he strikes the woman in the throat with a knife, killing her (which is what Diffring intended). "Quick, get her to a doctor," he says, "And send ze clowns in." Hahaha! About a woman who was formerly a prostitute: "I must say, she's even better at soliciting applause than she was at soliciting men." Much more fun than John Woo making stuff explode.
On the drive into work this morning I listened to a collection of Judy Garland Capitol recordings. Yes, Garland was one of the most justly-celebrated talents in Hollywood; nobody approached her ability to impart meaning and drama into a song. (Exhibit A.) I could listen to her sing a random page out of a phonebook. But as I listened to Miss Garland's perfectly-modulated phrases and exquisitely-executed vibrato, it occurred to me: I'd sooner listen to a CD full of Julie London than Judy Garland. Julie London had what she called an "oversmoked voice"; not a belter like Garland, her style was more intimate, more closely-miked and whispered. (One of my favorite examples is Bye, Bye Blackbird - with an amazingly focused bassist.) She's my fave. But I like Judy Garland, too.
What about Doris Day? Doris Day?!? She had a notable cinematic moment doing a torch song, and it's a good one: Ten Cents a Dance. Funny quote: "I knew Doris Day before she was a virgin." - Oscar Levant.
I can't leave the subject of torch singers without mentioning one of my favorite scenes from film noir: Ida Lupino's cynical and worldwise rendition of "One for my Baby" from Road House (1948). Yes, yes, I know, Frank Sinatra owns this number. But Lupino personalizes it with cigarette burns on the piano.
Here comes the solar storm! Here comes the solar storm! I plan to check out the sky tonight; maybe we'll see some glow to the north. This last happened in Northern Virginia in 2001 (I think it was). I happened to notice an odd, unaccountable red glow in the northern sky, and called News Channel Eight, who confirmed that, yes, it was a very rare appearance of the Northern Lights and yes, we've been getting calls all night about it.
TSA detains a Senator. How silly! I don't know... I'm a pretty humble guy and reluctant to pull rank, but if I were Rand I think I would have come up with something like, "Look, I'm a United States Senator. There are only 100 of us in this nation of 300 million. I can call press conferences for fun. If you don't let me pass I'm going to give your boss, your bosses' boss, his boss and his boss some very bad publicity - not to mention a tough time in a Congressional hearing." Senator Rand allowed himself to be detained for two hours; which speaks very well for his sense of patience.
The Academy Award list has come out, yawn. We saw The Artist earlier this month. It was good. We liked it.
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