Jim's Jottings
Jim’s Jottings for January 26, 2018
The Winter term has begun and I have screen news to share…
Met Opera: The HD series returns tomorrow, Jan 27 with a 12:55 PM simulcast of Puccini’s beloved “Tosca,” in a brand new production directed by Sir David McVicar, featuring Sonya Yoncheva and Vittorio Grigolo. This production replaces the last one that was roundly despised by most patrons who can’t get out of their heads the actual places Puccini dictated for the scenes. Did anyone see that TV production years ago that was actually filmed in the exact spots that each act occupied? Regal Hollywood Cinema.
When I was young, I was amazed at Plutarch’s statement that the elder Cato began at the age of eighty to learn Greek. I am amazed no longer. Old age is ready to undertake tasks that youth shirked because they took too long. [Writer W. Somerset Maugham]
Movies: We have had the Golden Globe awards and the Oscar nominations are now out, so we are finally beginning to see some of the top contenders arrive in Mo’town, including: “Call Me by Your Name,” a stunning film that will not appeal to all because of its bi-sexual lead male couple, but if you remember any of the films written and directed by James Ivory and Ismail Merchant, then you know it should not be missed. We saw it this week and the late scene between the boy and his father is worth it all. We also have “Three Billboards in Ebbing, Missouri” that features award winning acting by Frances McDormand. “The Shape of Water” opens today. It has piled up 13 Oscar nominations and the reviews have been glowing. It is a whole different take on that old 50’s flick, “Creature from the Black Lagoon.” In this one, the creature becomes the love interest of a lonely deaf woman…hmmm, how can you resist?
The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes. [Architect Frank Lloyd Wright]
Film Forum: I must thank the standing-room crowd that came to our first special winter event: “Lawrence of Arabia” on our new BIG screen. We owe a debt of gratitude to both Jae and Steve who worked unceasingly to get everything to work in time. You see, the amp died, so they had to jerry-rig other equipment just so we could sit back and enjoy this awesome film. Jae tells me we will be working SOON to install new sound equipment where it is needed. It gets a lot of use, so it is pretty essential. Meanwhile, I plan to have more wide-screen epic showings in future, to include things like “Out of Africa,” “Ran,” “2001-A Space Odyssey,” and…and…suggestions? Make sure to mark your February calendars for our second special event, “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power” on Friday, February 16 at 1 PM in Classroom B.
Young man, the secret of my success is that at an early age I discovered I was not God. [Jurist Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.]
On the other hand, some of us professors DO think we’re God. I remember some luminary at WVU years ago say to a group of us at a Senate meeting, “Is there anything better than being a tenured full-professor?” Hmmm… I think there is nothing better than being an OLLI instructor with loyal folks that allow me to explore topics I may not have a Ph.D. for, but are nonetheless interesting to me as a lifelong learner and so I share with you. I would be happy to share in this space thoughts by other OLLI profs on this subject. But wait…I worked for two superior court judges who knew they were God…hmmm…
Bon hiver! The best is yet to come!
Just Jim