Two Films by John Schlesinger

Each month, in addition to adding many films to its domain, the Criterion Channel also deletes several.  We are sent a list about a week before this happens, which isn't really very helpful.  But we did get to watch two b & w films starring Julie Christie, both directed by John Schlesinger .  My choice was Darling, from 1965, a film about a young woman who can't seem to find her groove.  This film was nominated for and won many awards in its day, thus proving that a many films are very much of their time.  Today, the "darling" comes across as a very shallow woman, one to whom success has come too easily.  I cannot see how anyone in an audience could have sympathy for her character, which is empty and flaccid.  Christie plays the role well, but it is a role that brings forth nothing from the viewer.  Just go away somewhere and cry, and leave us out of it.

 A well acted film, but it does not hold up well to the times. 

The second film, Deb's choice, was Billy Liar, from 1963.  Julie Christie has a much smaller role.  Even so, it is a pivotal one, and she was nominated for Best Actress, BAFTA.  Thanks to her we finally get to see who and what Billy really is--a nobody, going nowhere very quickly.  Imagine someone as beautiful and energetic and adventurous as the character played by Christie offering Billy a chance to escape his hell hole of a life in Yorkshire and come to London with her.  And refusing.  It makes for a frustrating movie experience, since we have invested time in watching this Billy character, and he simply self destructs at the end.  Not sure what the overall message was to British youth at the time, but hopefully some of them saw this pitiful character and tried to do better than he did.  As an aside, it is interesting to note that Michael Moorcock's Jerry Cornelius character emerges in published form in 1965, tow years after this movie.  I much prefer the Jerry character, and wish several movies had been made of him.  One last note--Tom Courtenay is absolutely brilliant in the role of Billy.

This film is just finishing its run on Criterion Channel.  

It is now film festival weekend.  I have chosen #s 6, 7, and 8 from the Zatoichi movie series.  More later, along with some notes on February books read.

And now the weather.   We are just coming out of two of the coldest days of this winter, encouraged by howling winds on Thursday, and just windy on Friday.  Our new door is amazing--no leakage at all despite a straight westerly.  We also got about 2" of snow on Wednesday, just before the cold sank in.  We were expecting 3" to 6", but we are not going to complain.  Temps go just above freezing tomorrow, and then we sail into the 40s, permanently, at last.  I've no doubt that February will come out colder than January, which is pretty strange.  And tomorrow being a leap day, I will try and write a short blog.  I don not know anyone born on the 29th of February, but I do know someone who was born on the 28th.  Does that count for anything?

The California trip is still on.  We leave late afternoon Tuesday, and will return late afternoon the following Tuesday.  It will be our 2nd visit to the Pacific Ocean, and I am looking forward to meeting up with it again.  Two art museums, a model railway museum, and some mountain hiking and some ocean side hiking are in order, as well as several excursions into the downtown areas.

And now for today's art appreciation moment.  I had never heard of this artist before, and this is the only work the museum has by him, a gift of a generous donor 70 years ago (John S. Newberry).  It reminds me of something out of Tolkien's world.  The visual rhythm created is quite stunning.  I'm hoping this is on exhibit during the current "Dutch and Flemish Prints and Drawings", from the museum's holdings.

Edge of the Woods, ca 1780/89, Jacobus Van Liender (1731-1797).  Chalk and ink.

16" x 13".  Collection Detroit Institute of Arts. 

Mapman Mike