The Midwest Clinic (or "Band Freak Heaven")

The Midwest Clinic or, as I'm referring to it - "Band Freak Heaven", runs annually in Chicago.  You can read more about it here.  It is a non-stop explosion of concerts, performances, presentations, exhibitions - all to do with band and orchestra directing.  For a musician, especially a teacher, this is once-in-a-lifetime kinda stuff and I feel  especially privileged to have been able to attend twice now.  There were approximately 15,000 people in attendance - all held in the West Building at McCormick Place in Chicago.

Worth mentioning - McCormick Place is enormous.  It's the size of, literally, one billion Brisbane Convention Centres.  An aerial view looks like this:

McCormick Place, Chicago

Note that the building on the left of that image is massive and, notably, separate from the other buildings.  This is the East wing.  The West wing, where the conference is held, is on the right of that image.  They are not close together.  Some advice:  when the taxi driver asks you which wing you want to go to, say "West", not East.  As I am now aware, the walk from one side of this building to the other requires fitness, patience, good walking shoes, an overnight duffle bag (with an array of necessary toiletries) and a camel.  We all make silly mistakes (and, believe me, it only happened once), but I'm sure I looked like this when I arrived at the conference on the 2nd day:

It was a pretty special conference - allow me to share some amazing highlights:

Atascocita High School Chamber Strings

Amazing 25-piece String Orchestra.  Incredible intonation and control of baroque style.

Concerto a quarttro da chiesa, Op.2, No. 5 - Evaristo Felice dall'Abaco
Little Suite for Strings in A minor, Op. 1 - Carl August Nielsen

Kiski Area High School Jazz Ensemble

Amazing young soloists - such confidence!  Super-tight ensemble.
Gumbo Street - Gordon Goodwin
Even More Blues (But My Abscessed Tooth Is Fine Now...Thanks) - Matt Catingub

Jodie Blackshaw - Presentation

Jodie is a champion.  Her presentation was inspiring and engaging.  The ideas she shared about beginning band and developing musicianship are smart, exciting and totally achievable.  She has a huge future ahead of her as a composer and teacher. Watch out Year 5s, here I come!

Leonard Slatkin - Conductor

The great Leonard Slatkin was in the house.  I saw him rehearse the Evanston Township High School Symphony Orchestra (they played Tchaikovsky's The Nutrcacker Suite - the real one.  Kids.  Incredible.) and later conduct in concert, in what was a totally marvelous performance, The Lone Star Wind Orchestra from Texas.  The maturity he was able to glean from the students was extraordinary.

Lone Star Wind Orchestra

Possibly the finest school band I have ever heard.  They perform with great technical mastery and profound musical maturity.  Totally sublime.  This group received three standing ovations (two during, and one at the conclusion), all totally deserved.

Stubernic Fantasy: Concerto for Three Marimbists and Wind Ensemble - Mark Ford

Double Play, mvt II: Tempus Fugit - Cindy McTee

Pines of Rome, mvts I, II & IV - Respighi arr. Yoshihiro Kimura

Pines of Rome, conducted by Slatkin, was totally astounding.  Breathtaking stuff.

Wynton Marsalis

Wynton Marsalis took part in an open rehearsal with the Dillard Center for the Arts Jazz Ensemble and then, later in the evening, delivered a keynote address.  He changed kids' lives in front of us during the open rehearsal - there were tears from the students and from the observing audience.  A genius at work.  His keynote address was truly empowering.  I believe that music in schools is essential in so many ways yet, in the end, it's not actually about music-making.  It's about providing the students with an opportunity to:

- build self-confidence and self-worth, 

- value teamwork and the individual contributions within this, 

- achieve personal and communal goals, 

- develop true discipline and determination,

and heaps more - I could go on but won't (you're welcome).

Hearing a living legend like Wynton Marsalis speak about these things is totally inspiring and validating on so many levels - personal and professional.  Amazing.

Wheaton Municipal Band

Community music at its very best.  This ensemble is tremendous and, obviously, totally dedicated to their art.

La Fiesta Mexicana - H. Owen Reed

The Maker's Mark Overture for Band - Ryan Nowlin

Marcus High School Wind Symphony

Another superb school ensemble.  The repertoire that this group played was well-selected and, of all the school ensembles I heard play, they were the most musical.  The students played with such maturity - a performance full of true moments of magic, stunning to hear and see.  As conducted by John Whitwell, their performance of the Bach Fantastia in G was perfect.

Vanity Fair - Percy Fletcher, arr. Brant Karrick

American Journey - John Williams, arr. Paul Lavender

Fantasia in G - Bach

Within the Castle Walls - Brian Balmages

I may have some things to sort through when I get home...

The conference only lasted three and a half days, but it has filled me with years of inspiration and ideas.  As hoped, I have a renewed determination and passion for ensemble music-making.  Dear Midwest Clinic, See you next year.  From David.

The Hobbit, or The Lord of the Rings, Episode I: The Projection Menace

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (dir. Peter Jackson) ***

Look, the deal was that if I see The Hobbit (you know, that movie with the posters all over 42nd street station in NYC), I wanted the full-Peter-Jackson-approved viewing conditions.  Only one New York cinema was playing it - I saw The Hobbit in (1) IMAX, (2) 3D and (3) HFR.  Oh boy - quite a lot to deal with there, right?

(Note:  It still only cost me $13 - cheaper than Brisbane.  All I'm saying about that.)

We all know what IMAX and 3D are, but you may not know about HFR yet.  Currently, the movies that you see in cinemas are projected at 24 frames per second.  HFR (which I'm pretty sure stands for High Frame Rate) means that you see 48 frames per second instead.  This is something that Peter Jackson has been strongly championing over the last few months (maybe years).  It is a much crisper, cleaner image and gives you more choice as a 3D viewer.  I have found that watching films in 3D previously, that I can only see one part of the frame in focus.  Here, I can see the whole frame (i.e. if I want to look past the main actor, I can notice the pretty little Ogre in the background).

Ultimately, I didn't like it.  To me, it looks like a home video with incredibly impressive special effects.  It's really disconcerting, actually.  Sure, the image is very crisp, but there is something about it that just doesn't feel right.  I had 2 hours and 40 minutes to consider this, but I still couldn't put my finger on what is wrong with it.  Maybe it isn't 'cinematic' enough?  Or maybe this is the future of cinema and I'm not 'open-minded' enough?  Who knows, really.

In the end this time, it doesn't really matter because I found the film itself notably underwhelming.  It is quite the disappointment.  Don't get me wrong, the film has some incredible special effects and, actually, the costumes and make-up are all pretty awesome, too.  There are some undeniably outstanding and exciting moments but sticking with it was, at times, a real chore.  Everything is so unbalanced.  The pacing is all over the place (I know it's the first part of a trilogy, but the exposition seemed to last forever) as is, sadly, the acting.  Ian McKellen as Gandalf was terrific - he's so good in this role - but the other members of the enormous ensemble just seem to be 'on set' doing their thing.  Maybe they were too in awe of this great actor and his ability to give such gravitas to the most trivial of moments.  Maybe they couldn't focus on their work because they kept considering how brilliant he was in Bill Condon's Gods and Monsters, one of the best films of 1998.  An unlikely scenario, but one that I am choosing to imagine here.  Andy Serkis was also good as Gollum/Smeagol.  Sadly, I found Martin Freeman particularly annoying and far too contemporary.  Howard Shore's score disappoints, also.  His revisiting of the original themes and melodies felt obvious and, at times, clumsy.  The whole production amounts to very little but I do give credit to Peter Jackson for staging some really impressive action set-pieces and Guillermo Del Toro (who you might know as the director of the far superior Pan's Labyrinth) for creating a really cool Jabba-the-Hutt-esque character with the most spellbinding double chin I have ever seen on film.  Ever.  Now that, in (1) IMAX, (2) 3D and (3) HFR, was spectacular.

Sir Ian McKellen - the best thing about Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey'.

The Little Tramp vs. The Duke

Chaplin - a new musical!

Rob McClure as Charlie Chaplin

Let me be completely honest here: the only reason I saw the new musical, Chaplin, is because I had a friend playing in the band.  There, I said it.  I was pretty sure I wasn't going to enjoy it because, as you will know, the reviews weren't kind.  But I queued up at TKTS and got myself a pretty good seat in row L of the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, sculled a coffee and prepared myself for something ordinary.

You can imagine how surprised I was to be standing and cheering in the curtain-calls.

You know what? It's a good show.  It's not a great show - the 'commy' stuff in Act Two feels a bit out of place, although it's important, and some of the book is a bit hammy for my taste (it is essentially a 'rags to riches' musical - can it be done without ham?) - but there are definitely some catchy show-tunes amongst it all and, I'm sure, this is a musical which will have a long life in regional and amateur theater.  This production is well-sung, the pacing is good (for the most part) and the ensemble is very fine.  I must make special mention of Erin Mackey as Oona O'Neill - when she turns up in Act 2, she breathes great life into the proceedings.  She has an amazing voice.

But it is Rob McClure as Charlie Chaplin who had me cheering.  His performance is remarkable - I think it's much more than a mere impersonation, too.  Although there are great moments of comedy - the discovery of his 'Little Tramp' is inspired - there is real depth and sadness to his Charlie, too.  It's a powerful and thoughtful  piece of work and I genuinely hope he is remembered when the Tony nominations roll around in July.

Unfortunately, this show has only had a four-month run.  It closes in January.  I believe that the all-powerful New York theater critics killed this show, which is a shame.  The audience I saw it with absolutely loved it and I was certainly won over, too.

The Searchers (dir, John Ford, 1956) *****

It's always a special treat to see classic movies on the big screen.  The IFC Center on West Third Street plays weekend classics and I, by chance, had one of those moments where I could either see a new movie, or an old movie that I'd been wanting to see for some time.  I'm so glad I chose the latter.

The Searchers

John Ford's 'The Searchers' is a great western.  Some say it's the greatest of them all - I'm yet to decide (I still love Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven from 1992) but it is certainly a cinematic masterwork.  Surprisingly understated, Ford's epic deals with unusually heavy themes in the most fascinating yet minimal way.  The film is compelling through how little is said between the main characters - but somehow, everything is perfectly clear.  It is far more than just the story of a man searching for his niece, it is a character study of determination and commitment in the most difficult and heartbreaking of circumstances.  Throughout, extreme violence is only suggested and this makes the film so much stronger, especially perhaps in contemporary times; our imaginations are scary places to visit.  

Make sure you watch this film - it's a true 'classic'.  Plus, John Wayne is one cool dude duke.

At the end of the movie, even though there were only 10 of us there, we all clapped and the man in front of me stood up and said, "They don't make them like they used to, do they?"  For the record, I actually don't agree with that - I think there were both good and bad films then as there are now.  You just have to go searching for them.

Finally, and this is particularly important, if you're going to go to a costume party as someone from a western, make sure you remember to pull your pants up really high.  Several times during the film, it occurred to me that this shocking general-public costuming oversight needs to be immediately addressed.  You must get those pants right up to or, preferably, above your belly-button.  When else are you going to get the chance to be a Harry Highpants?  Wear your western pants properly or not at all.  I'm so glad we cleared that up.

(from L-R) - 1. Not quite high enough, 2. very good, 3. excellent, 4. oh, come on, you're not even trying.

Being Alvin Ailey & Laurie Metcalf

Alvin Ailey - A Revelation.

The opportunity to see truly great art doesn't come along very often and when it does, oh boy, what a joy.  The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is "dedicated to enriching the American modern dance heritage and preserving the uniqueness of the African-American cultural experience", and from what I sensed on Friday night, that couldn't be more true.  It was electric and I think the instantaneous standing ovation and cheering which closed the evening would support my statement.  Great art by great artists.

Three very different pieces were presented:

I - "Grace", choreographed by Ronald K. Brown

II - "Petite Mort", choreographed by Jiří Kylián

III - 'Revelations", choreographed by Alvin Ailey

From what I can gather, the first two 'movements' of the evening are both new works.  Brown's "Grace" is rigorous, colourful and highly-spirited while Kylián's "Petite Mort" is more classical, but never old-fashioned; in fact, many moments were quite humorous, although delicate.  It was all completely captivating.

The final work, "Revelations", is considered an 'Alvin Ailey classic' and is choreographed by Ailey himself.  The original premiere of this work was in 1960, so seeing it 52 years later is not only remarkable, but a great treat.  It is a profound piece of work and tonight's performance was accompanied by a live band and SATB choir.  Seriously goosebump-inducing and so joyous that I was almost moved to tears.  This is said to be one of the favourites of the performers (who, I have to say, were totally exquisite), and it is easy to see why.  The choreography is sublime.

It was a moving and electric evening of exquisite dance.

Some samples of each work below:

I - "Grace", choreographed by Ronald K. Brown

 

II - "Petite Mort", choreographed by Jiří Kylián

III - 'Revelations", choreographed by Alvin Ailey

Laurie Metcalf in The Other Place

This is a really smart play.  It had successful Off-Broadway and inter-state runs and now Manhattan Theatre Club have put it into the Samuel J. Friedman Theater as a Broadway production.  I was lucky enough to see the incredible Cynthia Nixon nail Wit last year in the same space and, while watching The Other Place, I was surprised by the similarities - minimal set, one single act, themes of isolation and ill-health, etc. - but above all, they both feature totally compelling lead actress performances.  Laurie Metcalf deserves a Tony nomination for her work here.

MTC is playing The Other Place in publicity as a 'thriller', but I really feel this cheapens the work.  In fact, I nearly didn't see this play because I thought it was a 'thriller'. I'm sure other people feel the same way.  I don't want to see a 'thriller' on Broadway.  Is that wrong?  If I want a 'thriller', I will watch Homeland or CSI: Boringville or whatever.  In fact, aside from Homeland, are there any good thrillers on TV? Is Homeland a thriller or a drama?

This is the same question I ask of Sharr White's 'The Other Place' and I have decided that it is a 'drama'.  As  such,  it totally succeeds.  It is a pretty sad tale about a family and their life falling apart in many ways.  Another question: Are crumbling families the 'new black' on Broadway?  Next to Normal, August: Osage County, Other Desert Cities, etc.  Who cares - it makes for compelling, often funny, storytelling. The 'thriller' part of the advertising obviously refer to the interesting non-linear structure and the many surprises that are revealed as the play unfolds.  I loved this aspect of the work, but not in a cheap 'thriller' kind-of way.  Don't most playwrights like to surprise the audience? - the best ones do.

MTC Preview - The Other Place by Sharr White

Laurie Metcalf is terrific.  As Juliana, she is strong, determined and there is a lovely confidence to her work.  The palette of White's script gives her many colours to play with and it she nails all of them.  Of the other cast members, Zoe Perry was the standout, particularly in the final scenes of the play.  Joe Mantello has infused the piece with good energy and pace, and Eugene Lee's clever, econominal set feels just right.

But really, they all support Metcalf and it works.  It is a 'thrilling' performance.

Oh Yeah?  Starbuck this.

Let's deal with it - you only get $20s and $50s when you make a withdrawal at an ATM.  I would like to be able to choose $10s and $5s, too, but you can't.  Let's just suck that right on up and move on.

A sincere thank you to the surly Starbucks man who found it so difficult to accept my $50 note today.  As I passed the $50 to him (and I apologised - 'sorry, this is all I have') he reacted as if I had told him that I ran over his pet kitten.  What is wrong with people?  You work at Starbucks, for crying out loud, and it wasn't even that busy.  Oh, I really appreciate that you gave me my change in $5 notes and quarters.  Please, I know there were $10s and $20s in the register - I looked.  Thank you so much for keeping those from me.  

Next time I see you, I am going to deliberately give you $100 and see how you cope with that.

What was I doing in Starbucks?  Purchasing an Egg Nog Latte, that's what.  The, like, best drink in the, like, whole entire world, like, ever.  Omnomnomnom or Ugglugglugglug.

70th Golden Globe Nominations

John Williams in the running for yet another award.  Legend.

To begin, as usual, I LOL @ the HFPA.  What a fascinating and entertaining little group they are - and boy, do they have their favourites.  The nominations this year are an interesting mix of surprises and disappointments, as usual.

Best Picture, Drama
Argo
Django Unchained
Life of Pi
Lincoln
Zero Dark Thirty

Django sneaking in here is a nice surprise, but it does have the Weinstein machine behind it.  Where is The Master, though?  It should be here.

Best Picture, Musical or Comedy
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Les Misérables
Moonrise Kindgom
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Silver Linings Playbook

Oh, bah hahahhaha.  Hahaha.  Sorry, that was just the sound of me laughing as I remembered how side-splittingly funny The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Salmon Fishing in the Yemen were.  Obviously, this is ridiculous.  As I have said, TBEMH is an ok movie with nice performances but SFitY is actually so racist, it's offensive.  Not cool.

Best Director
Ben Affleck, Argo
Kathryn Bigelow, Zero Dark Thirty
Ang Lee, Life of Pi
Steven Spielberg, Lincoln
Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained

Yeah, cool list.  Oh Woah, wait a second...where is Tom Hooper (Les Misérables)?  I expect him to make the Oscars, so who will miss out from the above list?  This category is insane this year, which is exciting.

Best Actor, Musical or Comedy
Jack Black, Bernie
Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook
Hugh Jackman, Les Miserables
Ewan McGregor, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Bill Murray, Hyde Park on Hudson

I really thought Tommy Lee Jones would be here for Hope Springs.  They nominated Meryl for it, so it's a bit mean to leave him out.  At least he got his Lincoln nomination in supporting.

Best Actress, Musical or Comedy
Emily Blunt, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Judi Dench, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
Maggie Smith, Quartet
Meryl Streep, Hope Springs

I thought Leslie Mann would be here for sure for This is 40.  Jennifer Lawrence has this in the bag.

Best Actress, Drama
Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty
Marian Cotillard, Rust and Bone
Helen Mirren, Hitchcock
Naomi Watts, The Impossible
Rachel Weisz, The Deep Blue Sea

Um, excuse me, where is Emmanuelle Riva for Amour?  Her shocking omission here is really sad - I still think she could make the Oscars, though.  I'm not giving up hope.

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, The Master
Sally Field, Lincoln
Anne Hathaway, Les Misérables
Helen Hunt, The Sessions
Nicole Kidman, The Paperboy

Nicole got a SAG nomination for The Paperboy, too.  It's a total surprise - but good on her.  I like that she takes chances and, you know what, I think she's excellent.  Good on her.

Best Supporting Actor
Alan Arkin, Argo
Leonardo DiCaprio, Django Unchained
Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Master
Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln
Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained

Major snub: Robert DeNiro in Silver Linings Playbook.  From memory, and I can't remember the details, he made a teeny-tiny rude remark about the HFPA a few years ago.  I bet they are punishing him.  Pfft.

Best Screenplay
Mark Boal, Zero Dark Thirty
Tony Kushner, Lincoln
David O’Russell, Silver Linings Playbook
Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained
Chris Terrio, Argo

Impressive.  I can't really complain about that list at all.

Foreign Language Film
Amour
A Royal Affair
The Intouchables
Kon-Tiki
Rust and Bone

I HATED The Intouchables.  It is racist, offensive, lowest-common-denominator drivel.  It truly is.  I can't believe people would consider it one of the best films of the year.  That is seriously outrageous.  Also, is Europe the only place where foreign films are being made now?  I think the HFPA need to see more films from around the world, especially if they are the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.  It wouldn't surprise me if these were the only five foreign films they actually saw this year, to be honest.  Having said that, Amour is a masterwork, so I'm glad it's up there.  If it doesn't win, I'd stay away from me for a few days.

Animated Feature

Brave

Frankenweenie

Hotel Transylvania

Rise of the Guardians

Wreck-It Ralph

I want to say that 2012 has been a weak year for animation.  I have only seen two of those 5, so I won't, but I will say that once I have had a chance to see the other 3.

Original Score

Mychael Danna, Life of Pi

Alexandre Desplat, Argo

Dario Marianelli, Anna Karenina

Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek & Reinhold Heil, Cloud Atlas

John Williams, Lincoln

The winner in this category is always a surprise.  I expect Dario Marianelli to win it this year, which means someone else probably will.

Original Song

'For You' from Act of Valor

Music and Lyrics by: Monty Powell & Keith Urban

'Not Running Anymore' from Stand Up Guys

Music and Lyrics by: Jon Bon Jovi

'Safe & Sound' from The Hunger Games

Music and Lyrics by Taylor Swift, John Paul White, Joy Williams & T Bone Burnett

'Skyfall' from Skyfall

Music and Lyrics by Adele & Paul Epworth

'Suddenly' from Les Misérables

Music by Claude-Michel Schonberg, Lyrcics by Herbert Kretzmer & Alain Boublil

Isn't that nice?  Nicole and Keith can both come to the HFPA party together?  As nominees!  Seriously though, I love the skyfall song.  I've added it below - enjoy.  Turn it up to 11.

Also, TV nominations are here, if you're interested.  Homeland, Mad Men, Girls, Modern Family, Breaking Bad, The Newsroom, Downton Abbey, Louie, Episodes...some good stuff on TV at the moment, I reckon.

The Middle of Central Park

Movie Update

Middle of Nowhere (dir. Ava DuVernay) ****1/2

Ava DuVernay's Sundance-winning film (she won Best Director) is totally remarkable in its simplicity.  The premise, a young woman does her best to support her husband during his time in prison, feels new enough but what really distinguishes DuVernay's work is her delicate approach to the storytelling.  Sure, the film is beautiful to look at - sensitively photographed and framed (you can pick this up in the trailer) - but it is the exquisite performances, well-placed moments and genuine honesty that make this a must-see movie.  Emayatzy Corinealdi is, simply put, a revelation.  Her Ruby is totally magnetic on screen.  I hope Australian audiences get a chance to experience this true gem one day.

The Central Park Five (dir. Ken Burns) ****1/2

In 1989, 5 young kids from Harlem were unfairly trialed and, ultimately, convicted for a crime which they did not commit.  That late-night gang incident, huge in the New York media at the time, involved a woman jogger in Central Park being brutally assaulted.  You can read more about it here:  Central Park Jogger case.  Ken Burns' film is compelling for two reasons - 1, the subject matter is fascinating and 2, the five involved give such open and honest recollections of their experience.  Their survival stories are truly admirable despite, sadly, the fact that their youths were cut so unfairly short at the hands of just a few poorly-sighted, highly-visible individuals.  There is a strong contemporary message in that, I think.  This is a superb documentary and, actually, one of the best films of the year.  Don't miss it.

Central Park at Dusk

In retrospect, it seems a bit macabre to have spent so much time in Central Park today, but it really is a tip-top place for an afternoon stroll.  I did come a bit too close to a squirrel (definitely plan not to make that mistake again) but I won't go into that.  Let me just say that squirrels are fast and they can jump/leap in a super-human, Marvel-Action-Hero kinda way.  Here is a photo of said squirrel which, on Facebook, has been received - as Mary Poppins herself would say - "in the most delightful way"; however, I encourage you to take a much closer look and peer into the sheer evil of the moment.  Know that while posing for this photograph (and I did, regrettably, say thank you), Squirrel is cleverly devising a plan that involves turning and leaping towards me, landing merely centimeters from my face with its sharp claws and vile, disease-ridden mouth.

Evil Squirrel.  So evil.

You know what the whole scenario reminds me of?  This:

Cute vs. Evil or, as I now refer to it, 'Life'.

In this picture, I am on the left and Squirrel is on the right.

Also, now that my downloading of the Instagram app has given me the social right to announce myself as one of the great leading visual artists of my time, I offer you a collection, an inspiring pastiche if you will, of photographs from Central Park at dusk.  I would have liked to have collected a few shots from a little higher up, but there were too many squirrels in the trees and, to be honest, I was still somewhat shaken from the earlier zoological incident which we now don't mention.

Dear Buskers,

Finally, and I know this is a bit taboo, I have to say that the quality of busking is down a bit this year.  To be perfectly blunt, I'm not impressed.  Now, I am not the greatest saxophone player in the world but give me a Rico 1.5 reed and a Yamaha student model Alto (or a Tenor if, miraculously, all of the Altos have been taken home in preparation for band/lessons the next day - unlikely) and I will happily bash out the opening melody of The Simpsons like there's no tomorrow.  That does not mean I would take it to the streets.  Other than over-excited Year 4 students who are busting to have a go at it themselves, who would really want to hear that?

Some things I forgot to mention to various buskers today (if you see them, please pass it on for me):

1.  Get a harder reed.  You are blowing so flat on that Soprano Sax it makes me want to buy you a bicycle pump.

2.  Do some practice.  It's not cool to figure out the notes to O Come, All Ye Faithful on the spot.  Please don't give up on the melody because it's too hard and switch to the descant instead.  Generally, it is more difficult to figure out by ear, as you proved to me today.  Unpleasant.

3.  You can't play the chords to Jingle Bells on your guitar and then sing Silent Night over the top of it.  Firstly, Jingle Bells is in 4/4 time and Silent Night is in 3/4 time and, well, what's the point of explaining this further. Basically, and I know this is stating the obvious (but it needs to be said), the chords are different.  Think about it.

4.  Steel Drums are not really built to play Sleigh Ride.  Nice try, though - I particularly enjoyed the bit where your midi backing changed key, so you just stopped.

Now that I've put that out there, I have to admit to hearing a particularly good boy/girl/man/woman (he/she had long hair and they were accompanying Mr Squirrel and his hijinx so my mind was elsewhere) playing some good Tenor Sax stuff on the Mall in Central Park today.

Social injustice everywhere.

NYC - Pancakes and Paincakes

Clinton Street Bakery

I used to say that I could live anywhere that had a newsagent and a bakery.  It's a lovely little saying, but when I really think about myself (which I love doing) and things I need to survive, that is a really dumb thing to say.  I must have been young.  With hair.  No theatre?  No movies?  Let's be honest, I'd literally die.

BUT

(and it's a signifant, J-Lo-esque but)

Then I found the Clinton Street Bakery.  It's not so much a bakery - more like heaven dressed up as a bakery dressed up as a restaurant.  It's not totally expensive (it could be if it wanted to be - know this) but, oh boy, the Pancakes with warm maple butter with wild Maine blueberries is maybe the best $13 I have ever spent.  I'm not much of a food photographer but I do have Instagram which, like very special pills that we don't talk about, makes everyone think that they have a good eye for all things visual art.  Thus:

THE Blueberry Pancakes

Worth mentioning:  It is SO popular, there are no bookings.  There is sometimes a 90 minute - 2 hour wait for a table, especially on weekends.  Handy hint:  Firstly, make sure that you have shocking desynchronosis and you are sleeping from 4am - 1pm.  Wake up, have a long, warm shower and catch the subway to the Lower East side.  Wear a scarf and walk slowly - East Houston Street is wide, windy and cold.  Wear lip balm.  By the time you get there it will be 3.00pm and no-one else is really having breakfast anymore.  Also, if you are on your own, you will get the lovely seat in the window.  Recommended.

TKTS

I love the idea of TKTS.  Here is their mission statement:

TKTS Mission Statement:Theatre Development Fund, a not-for-profit organization, was created with the conviction that the live theatrical arts afford a unique expression of the human condition that must be sustained and nurtured. TDF’s twofold mission is to identify and provide support, including financial assistance, to theatrical works of artistic merit and to encourage and enable diverse audiences to attend live theatre and dance in all their venues.

Well, that's just terrific, I think.  So they basically collect up all of the unsold Broadway (and Off-Broadway) tickets, sell them at half-price and then collect a fee and make donations to the theatre community.  So good.  I do feel a bit sorry for the TKTS booth that used to be in the WTC and then reopened in South Street Seaport, only to be bowled out by Hurricane Sandy.  It will have to be just Times Square and Brooklyn booths for the moment.  For TKTS beginners -  there is a play express line - it's way shorter, but people in it tend to be dumber.

Relative calm at the TKTS booth in Times Square.  Nice teapot head, lady - you're rocking that unnecessary flower.

Today's events:  I am in the 'play express' queue.  There is a much longer line for musicals over on the other side of the booths.  That queue today was full of people desperately trying to see the Broadway greats like Mamma Mia and the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular (or, as I refer to it, Radio City High Kicks Association with Tinsel).

1. Man at front of 'play express' queue:  "2 tickets to Newsies".  Firstly, Newsies is a musical, you moron.  This is the play line.  A musical usually has songs and dancing in it.  A play doesn't usually have much of that.  Musical vs. Play - it seems pretty simple if you ask me.  Lady in booth,  "Newsies is a musical, Sir, and this is the play express line".  Man at front of queue, "How about Phantom of the Opera, that's my second choice".  Well, my second choice was to gash him across the face with my credit card. I didn't.  As a side, he didn't know what Blue Man Group was, either.  Arrested Development should be compulsory viewing.  Did you know there is a Season 4 coming?  Is that true?
2. Next customers couldn't speak English.  Nothing wrong with that - I think the global community is something that we should be celebrating.  I often wish that I didn't speak English.  Anyway, they wanted tickets to Glengarry Glen Ross.  That's interesting.  Firstly, it's expensive (only 30% off) and it's a David Mamet play.  It has a LOT of dialogue, heaps of naughty words, and it's fast.  I almost need subtitles and cliff notes to keep up with the actors and I think I'm a pretty mature play-goer.  Now, these people couldn't figure out US Dollars.  I think their tickets were, like, $170 for two and the man just passed across a $100 bill.  You can imagine that the lady in the booth was pretty fired up - she couldn't communicate to him that he needed more money.  When she was asking for more money, he thought that she was changing the price to a higher amount.  Awkward.  It was initially fun to watch, and then I started to get all kinds of angry.  How are people like this going to enjoy a play like that?  Will they even be able to find the theatre?  Did other people deserve those tickets?  Is that bad 'Broadway Karma'?  Will they be late and disrupt others? Will they have to leave during it, disrupting others on their way out?  Will they unwrap food during the play because they're bored and can only think about eating?  Will they tell their friends that it's bad because they didn't understand it?  This is all a great shame.

Seriously, what is wrong with people?

Also, what on earth is this:

Ew.  Enough said.

Back to me - It was worth the wait in that 'play express' line.  I scored a cheap ticket to the 2nd preview of the new MTC production, The Other Place starring Laurie Metcalf.  It was fantastic.  More to come, but here's a preview:

SAG nominations 2012

I like the Screen Actors Guild Awards but I never really understand their 'Best Ensemble' prize. I really believe it is actually a 'best ensemble' prize, and not 'Best Picture' as some commentators will have you believe - there is a difference. Having said that, the actors are the biggest voting body in the Oscars, so movies that pop up at the SAG awards tend to be well-represented on Oscar night. There are exceptions, though. 2007 is particularly interesting.


2007 SAG Nominees for 'Best Ensemble'
American Gangster
Hairspray
Into the Wild
No Country for Old Men (winner)
3:10 to Yuma 

2007 Oscar Nominees for 'Best Picture'
Atonement
Juno
No Country for Old Men
Michael Clayton
There Will Be Blood 

So you'll see it doesn't always match. SAG also like 'light', so I'm not too worried about the completely ridiculous nominations for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. I mean, seriously: What is wrong with people? Sure, I enjoyed the film (to a point), but these fantastic actors really didn't deliver the best work of the year. They can dish out performances like this in their sleep and they have all been better before. The material is pretty ridiculous when you think about it. Stereotypes everywhere. I could go on. In fact, I will.

19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards(c) Nominations - Motion Pictures 

LEAD ACTOR
Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook
Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln
John Hawkes, The Sessions
Hugh Jackman, Les Misérables
Denzel Washington, Flight

Um, excuse me? Where is Jaoquin Pheonix? His performance in The Master is one of the best of the year. Dear SAG voters, did you not see The Master? Oh, that's right, you nominated Philip Seymour Hoffman so I know you've seen it. Awkward/Shame on you. John-Louie Trintignant from Amour should also be here, but that's probably wishful thinking. 

LEAD ACTRESS
Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty
Marion Cotillard, Rust and Bone
Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
Helen Mirren, Hitchcock
Naomi Watts, The Impossible

Emmanuelle Riva!!! Where are you? Amour - one of the best (if not the best) films of the year should really be represented here. I think Oscar voters will go for it. Quvenzhané Wallis in Beasts of the Southern Wild also isn't eligible for SAG and she could surprise on Oscar night, although I have my doubts. I'm looking forward to The Impossible. 

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Alan Arkin, Argo
Javier Bardem, Skyfall
Robert De Niro, Silver Linings Playbook
Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Master
Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln

Brag: I predicted this line-up. It's pretty good. Nice to see some love for Skyfall, which is full of excellent performances. Watch out for Eddie Redmayne in Les Miserables, Dwight Henry in Beasts of the Southern Wild and Ewan McGregor in The Impossible to possibly spoil at the Oscars. 

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Sally Field, Lincoln
Anne Hathaway, Les Misérables
Helen Hunt, The Sessions
Nicole Kidman, The Paperboy
Maggie Smith, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Great to see Nicole Kidman surprise here but Lol@The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Smith was fine, don't get me wrong, but that slot belongs to her colleague in TBEMH, Judi Dench, for Skyfall. They liked Javier enough, so it's a bit rude not to nominate Judi Dench here. I'll put in good word for Amy Adams in The Master or Samantha Barks in Les Misérables, too. 

BEST ENSEMBLE (The Big One)
Argo
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Les Misérables
Lincoln
Silver Linings Playbook

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel? Really? I saw this movie at the Bribie Island Twin Cinema - and that's where it should stay. It probably could run forever in places like that. And Hervey Bay. How do you say...it's going straight for a specific, undemanding audience. There is nothing wrong with that (Pixar movies do the same thing, although the audience is far more discerning), but it is not an 'awards' movie, I'm sorry. What should be here? Some polite suggestions: Zero Dark Thirty, Amour, The Master, The Sessions, Django Unchained, Skyfall...

Here is a photo of some lovely peeps (my mother and aunt) at the Bribie Island Twin Cinema - where The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel won the audience award for least demanding viewing. We were the youngest in the cinema by about 30 years and brought the average age down to 80-something. Not a joke. 

My actual favourite part of the Bribie Island Twin Cinema. This sign says it all, really. As you can see, it's very steep. I hope the delightful, cinema-going retirees can navigate their way up this exceptionally steep hill. Oh gosh, my fingers are indeed crossed.

My actual favourite part of the Bribie Island Twin Cinema. This sign says it all, really. As you can see, it's very steep. I hope the delightful, cinema-going retirees can navigate their way up this exceptionally steep hill. Oh gosh, my fingers are indeed crossed. 

I knew I kept those photos handy for a reason. Anyway, Golden Globes nominations are tomorrow morning, right? Amour will turn up there, I'm sure.

New York, New York

After a delayed flight (due to snow - can't be helped), 10 hours in the air, a sprint - literally running, hilarious (though, not at the time) -  through Inchon airport to make my connecting flight, 12 hours in the air, a particularly interesting interview with US Customs and a cab ride in the rain...I made it.  And I'd do it all again tomorrow.

New York, New York.  Bliss.

Central Park after the rain.  Still lovely.

The award for first photograph goes to Central Park.  It had been raining, but don't you just love how shiny and cinematic the road is in this photo?  This is near where I am staying, on West 74th street.

Seriously tired from the flight, all I could manage was a few movies and a cheap bite to eat on my first day.  Have stocked up on food from Trader Joe's and I'm set.

MOVIE UPDATE

Celeste & Jesse Forever (dir. Lee Toland Krieger, 2012) - ***

Not bad.  Some entertaining moments and nice performances.  Rashida Jones delivers nice work - she's very engaging - but jeez her character is annoying.  Screenplay tries to be different, but ends up hitting most of the same-old-rom-com notes.

Paranorman (dir. Chris Butler & Sam Fell, 2012) - ***

Somewhat charming, but overly-sentimental family film.  Love the B-Grade premise and look of some of the characters but, ultimately, the film ends up being a series of missed opportunities.  Lots of chances to be very funny and, unfortunately, the jokes land way too soft and far too predictably. The truly awful final scene doesn't quite ruin a fairly average, reasonably sweet picture, but this one is for the kiddies.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (dir. Stephen Chbosky, 2012) - ***1/2

I'm genuinely surprised to see this film being mentioned in end-of-year awards circles and appearing on Top 10 lists for 2012...if you can explain this to me, I'd appreciate it.  A premise that is a bit too self-conscious and unoriginal for my liking - although, it is a coming-of-age story and these tend to be quite sweet anyway.  I give it that.  (Recently, Scherfig's An Education is a better example of how to do the sophisticated 'coming of age' drama.)  Logan Lerman is good here but Ezra Miller and Emma Watson don't really work for me.  Miller's performance is too big, overwritten perhaps, and Watson doesn't really convince.  I think her performance is disappointing, actually.  I imagine she's very wealthy, so she'll be fine.  Despite all of this, it actually did win me over.  Good soundtrack, too.

A Late Quartet (dir, Yaron Zilberman, 2012) - ***1/2

A glimpse into the lives of four string players rehearsing Beethoven's notoriously challenging String Quartet No. 14 in C# minor.  When they're not talking about the music (the best parts of the film), it's pretty melodramatic stuff, but Christopher Walken, Catherine Keener and especially Philip Seymour Hoffman bring such passion to their roles, it's easy to get swept away in the dramas of it all.  The film is worth seeing just to see these guys do their thing.  I have to say this, though:  It's a shame they are clearly not playing their instruments - this is a major pet peeve of mine.  For good examples of actors playing instruments please see Road to Perdition, The Talented Mr Ripley and, of course,  The Pianist.  It can be done.

Flight (dir. Robert Zemeckis, 2012) - ****

I get a bit sick of seeing Denzel Washington playing Denzel Washington, so it's great to see him here, putting himself into a role that is a lot more, I imagine, challenging.  He gets to play boozy and high, so that's always fun to watch...JK.  Seriously though, it's excellent, compelling work.  He hasn't been this good since probably The Hurricane in 1999.  Actually, he was really terrific in American Gangster and Inside Man (under-rated).  Maybe I'm being a bit harsh...

Anyway, Zemeckis' film, Flight, has a lot to say about losing control in your life and then regaining it all in a really interesting way, I think.  It's also good to see a Hollywood film that is primarily a drama, and not just an action-packed sequel - just sayin'.  Maybe Flight isn't as edgy as it could have been (is this because Zemeckis has been doing a lot of motion-capture family stuff lately?  Has he lost a bit of his bite?), but when it's hot, it's hot.  The plane crash sequence at the beginning of the film is breathtaking (probably not a good idea to watch this while I'm on an overseas holiday...) and there is a moment towards the end of the film that is profoundly moving.  Some of the supporting performances are a bit patchy (Kelly Reilly isn't terrific, Tamara Tunie is excellent) but  John Goodman is excellent - he's had a great year with this and Argo on his plate.  Some speculate that he could land an Oscar nomination for Flight, but I'm not sure.  He's good enough, I think.  Denzel is also worthy but I wonder if, like American Gangster and Inside Man, this film will be overlooked come the morning of Oscar nominations.

Screen Actors Guild nominations tomorrow morning.  Getting excited and hoping for a 'Notebook-esque'-free morning.