Month: April 2003

GET BENT

Posted By: Glenn HaumanPosted On:

I cannot recommend highly enough a charming film called “Bend it Like Beckham.” A British import, it tells the story of a teenaged Indian girl (as in, from India) in England who is a phenom football (i.e., soccer) player and obsessed with Manchester United player David Beckham. Her parents, however, are far more old world in their beliefs of what their daughter’s future holds, and being a football player definitely ain’t it. But when opportunities arise for her that bring her head to head not only with her folks’ attitudes but also her sister’s wedding plans, hilarity ensues.

We went the other day, we being Kathleen, Ariel, myself and baby Caroline, now four months old. As with “Chicago,” I positioned myself next to the exit so if she began to fuss at all, I’d bolt the theater with her. Unlike “Chicago” where she slept through it, this time out Caroline started out napping but woke up twenty minutes in. To my surprise, she was riveted by the film for the remainder of its near two-hour running time. I bottled fed her, she watched the film. I burped her, she watched the film. Gave her the pacifier, she watched the film. She spit out the pacifier and continued to watch the film, eyes like saucers. If I tried to turn her away from the movie for some reason, she twisted around in my arms so she could go back to watching it. For about ten seconds during a big football game she cooed softly; other than that, not a peep. She was totally engrossed in the images on the screen. And that’ someone who didn’t even know what was going on.

Can’t get a higher recommendation than that.

PAD

TIME WARPED AGAIN

Posted By: Glenn HaumanPosted On:

Just came back from Boston, where I went up to see Gwen participate in “Gender Bender” night in Harvard Square’s midnight showing of “Rocky Horror.” Usually Gwen works lights for the life show that unfolds in front of the movie screen (as is SOP). However, “Gender Bender” night entails folks of opposite genders playing the various roles, and Gwen was tapped to do “Eddie.” Naturally, when thinking of casting a role made famous by Meatloaf, you’d want to get slim, diminuitive Gwen. Especially when you’ve got a guy playing Columbia who’s six feet tall and built like a linebacker. Not only was gender casting reversed but, of necessity, choreography was reversed as well, so the audience was treated to the sight of Columbia picking up Eddie and swinging “him” around.

I was interested to see how the audience participation has been updated. Fans are always coming up with new things. For instance, now when the narrator first shows us the picture of Doctor Scott in his wheelchair, fans shout–a la South Park–“Timmy!” Or during the noted “Brad! Janet! Rocky! Doctor Scott!” sequence, an audience member might call out “Pop! Six! Squish! Uh uh! Cicero! Lipshitz!” from the film “Chicago.”

Also was surprised by the number of nubile young woman anxious to bare their breasts as part of the preshow. I thought I was watching “Co-Eds Go Wild!”

PAD

ARIEL TREDS THE BOARDS

Posted By: Glenn HaumanPosted On:

Ariel made her middle school stage debut last night in the school production of “Grease.” One of the very few sixth graders cast in a major speaking role, she played “Jan,” the chubby Pink Lady with eyes for “Rump,” the mooning champ of Rydell High. The audience just adored her. However she was mortified when, during the big high school hop sequence, she did a kick too aggressively and sent her left shoe hurtling into the audience. “The hop” indeed as she did the rest of the choreography with one shoe on while the errant footware was recovered and returned.

PAD

MARKETING HOOK, TAKE TWO?

Posted By: Glenn HaumanPosted On:

I informed DC about the discussion over “Dangerous Curves” (a phrase I still like, by the way) and referred them to this site in case they were interested in possible alternatives. “Femme Noir” strikes Dan Didio’s fancy at the moment, although there’s no certainty yet what they’ll go with.

PAD