Jim's Jottings, February 23
Hi, Folks! Today’s column is mostly about opera and movies…
“La Boheme:” Will be simulcast at the regal Hollywood cinema tomorrow, Feb 24 at 12:30 PM. It features a great, young cast headed by Sonya Yoncheva and Michael Fabiano and conducted by Marco Armiliano. This is the traditional production directed and designed by Franco Zeffirelli, in the Met repertory for at least 25 years. Starting in design school, Zeffirelli was my hero and muse—I longed to be able to direct and design, but, alas, it never happened. There’s good reason this is the most popular of all operas—it’s just a gorgeous tear-jerker!
Best Picture Film Festival: The Regal Hollywood cinema is hosting what I am sure is a first for Morgantown, a pre-Oscar show festival of all the 9 films nominated for Best Picture. How often have I griped that we get every action/horror/rom-com but do we get any foreign or indie films??? You tell me. I am going to give you the titles and dates but I would urge you to go to the Regal website -- https://www.regmovies.com/theaters/regal-morgantown-stadium-12/C00318919308 -- then click on the festival banner at the very top that will take you to the films and the grid showing dates and times. Here they are:
THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI: 2/24, 25, 27, 3/2
DARKEST HOUR: 2/24, 26, 28, 3/1, 3
CALL ME BY YOUR NAME: 2/23, 26, 3/1, 4
GET OUT: 2/23, 25, 27, 3/1
THE SHAPE OF WATER: 2/23, 26, 28, 3/3
LADY BIRD: 2/24, 25, 27, 3/2, 4
DUNKIRK: 2/24, 26. 28, 3/3
THE POST: 2/23, 27, 3/1, 2
PHANTOM THREAD: 2/25, 28, 3/2, 3
I won’t reveal my favorite, but I can tell you I have now seen all of them and they are ALL well worth your time and $$$.
And for all you Film Forum regulars, I have decided to schedule all musicals for the summer series. The spring series will soon be appearing in the catalog. And, since I am about done with my Theater History series, I think it’s time to start “The History of Cinema” next spring, 2019. I’ll propose the final installment of “Theater History” for next fall: The 19th Century.
I don’t think anyone “bounces back”—that sounds so easy—but you can work through it. I don’t want to sound corny, but I’ve prayed a lot. I could have been destroyed if I hadn’t been religious and strong. Sure, I’ve had some tough breaks, but I tell myself, “I ain’t down yet!” [Actress Debbie Reynolds]
Growing old--it’s not nice, but it’s interesting. [Playwright August Strindberg]
Now do you believe in climate change? Thanks to all of you that came out last Friday for our showing of “An Inconvenient Sequel.” Good, vigorous discussion after. The last couple of days have broken long-standing temperature records for February in these parts. I’m really glad the Weather Channel regularly shows us what’s happening in other parts of the world, so you can see how the warming is playing out everywhere. (in case you’re not watching “Blue Planet II” on BBC America) We can all do many little things to help stop this…do your part, OK?
Just Jim