I scared myself, I forgot what I did yesterday. Now I remember so I can blog. I went to see Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. By coincidence the night before I watched his Inglourious Basterds; I had a Tarantino double feature. When you watch a Tarantino film you know you are going to get an excess of excess, weirdness, and a megadose of pop culture and film references. They both delivered on that, with the new film having more pop culture than even his usual fare. These two films share another feature, they are both historical pieces, IB deals with World War II and OUaTiH with Manson Family murders. They both play the same game with your expectations; history doesn’t go the way it did in real life. Maybe Captain America used his newfound time travel abilities to make things better. Changing the events of World War II would fit in with his personal history.
OUaTiH was quite good if not quite great. It could have done well cutting a half an hour off its run time. But which half hour would be a tough call. Every scene by Tarantino is filled with gems. I understand not wanting to lose them in service of the film in its totality. It has Easter Eggs inside of Easter Eggs. Don’t leave the theater before the credits are over. I never do and this time you’ll be rewarded.
I saw the film at the AMC Magic Johnson in Harlem. This is the most convenient first-rate theater to me since I have been carless, a half hour trip via the D train. I don’t know how the theater stays in business, there was only one other person in the auditorium with me. I’m not sure if it deserves being called first-rate, the screen was stained. I guess it doesn’t, but it is close and has excellent seats and sound.
I’m happy with myself as I recorded an edition of Gord’s Gold for Folk Music Notebook. It was the best piece I’ve done. I spoke about Amy Kucharik. Tonight I’m seeing Her Crooked Heart and Emerald Rae at Rockwood Music Hall. They will each be on Gord’s Gold. Emerald was the pilot for the feature but it was not radio-ready. I’ve improved and want to give it another shot. Right now I have a backlog of musicians I want to cover, eventually I’ll be down to new discoveries. That’s going to take a while. I’m sure I know at least 100 artists that have not reached saturation, that have fans that haven’t heard them yet. This is the great paradox; I say I hate everyone, as I don’t even like the vast majority of musicians, but there are still so many that I love.
I have run out of shows to binge-watch. The last few that I’ve tried I’ve given up on, Hannibal, American Gods, Another Life, Merlin, First Civilizations, and Sapphire and Steel. I might give some of them another chance. I did just start, as in right before I began writing, The Vietnam War: A Film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick. I had to take a deep breath before diving into those are deep waters. I’ve watched only seven and a half minutes, and I already heard more intelligent thoughts on the war than I’ve heard in years. This is a scholarly discussion, not an excuse for a polemic. It addresses difficult decisions reached by real people not cardboard cutouts. I just need to find the time to give it my full attention. I have plenty of time so that shouldn’t be an issue.
I did something I’m happy about today. I have been complaining here, and to myself, that I have not spent time with a friend since Falcon Ridge, not one minute. Today I called Allison and made plans to visit next week and help her organize her CD collection. I love Allison, I love organizing, I’ve had nothing to do for two weeks. Why didn’t I call her before? On the surface it’s because I’m an idiot. On deeper reflection it might be because of anxiety issues. Maybe I didn’t think of it because it meant taking action and calling her. Or maybe I’m just an idiot who forgot. I don’t know any way to determine which. What matters is that I called her and I’m going out there next week. Allison is worth going to Jersey to see. OOOO, I can buy Taylor ham while I’m there! As soon as I made plans with Allison I contacted Bri and I’m going to see them too. Allison, Bri, and Taylor ham would justify multiple trips to the Hellmouth across the Hudson.
Wise Madness 