Not a Blog

Marathon Begins

January 6, 2014 at 11:39 am
Profile Pic

The GAME OF THRONES marathon begins tonight at the Jean Cocteau Cinema, at 7pm.

It's first come, first seated, and we have only 125 seats, so get there early if you want to be sure to get in.

You won't be the first in line, though.  That honor goes to these brave souls, who camped out overnight (and it was COLD last night):

campers

Tonight we will be screening the first three episodes of season one: "Winter Is Coming," "The Kingsroad," and "Lord Snow."

Admission is FREE.

We will have plenty of GAME OF THRONES merchandise on hand, along with pizza, soft drinks, candy, ice cream, pastries, burritos, and our famous popcorn, the best in New Mexico.  And… for the first time… tonight the Jean Cocteau will be offering BHEER!

See you there!

((AFTERWARD))

Whew.  That was fun.

Huge crowd.  We filled every seat.  We could have filled two more theatres the same size as the Jean Cocteau.  The show started at 7:00 pm and we opened the door by 6:00 to get folks in from the cold… but no one who got in line after 5:30 made it inside.  My apologies to all of you who got turned away.  Better luck next week.  Those who did get in had fun, I think.  The show, as expected, looks great on the big screen.

Next week (Jan 13) we hope to have one of our cast members joining us via Skype.  And the week after… drum roll, please… MAISIE WILLIAMS will be joining us in person right here in Santa Fe.  That's Monday, January 20.   Mark it down on your calendars.

Current Mood: null null

New Year, Old Movies

January 1, 2014 at 3:52 pm
Profile Pic

At the Jean Cocteau Cinema, we're celebrating the coming of 2014 with a return to the 1930s.

Opening on Friday, to fend off winter's chills, are two classic black & white musicals from the 1950s, ROBERTA and FOOTLIGHT PARADE.

<lj-embed id=”392″ />
<lj-embed id=”393″ />

FOOTLIGHT PARADE is a personal favorite of mine — hey, Jimmy Cagney, Ruby Keeler, Honeymoon Hotel, Shanghai Lil… hard to beat.  ROBERTA is one of Parris's all time faves, with Fred Astaire, Ginjer Rogers, and Irene Dunne in white satin.

So come join us and sing and dance your way into the new year.  See you at the movies.

Current Mood: null null

Happy New Year

January 1, 2014 at 12:01 pm
Profile Pic

2014.  Wow.

What happened to 2013?  It seemed to go by in a blur.

Of course, all the years are going by faster than they used to.

Here's wishing a great new year to all my friends and readers.

Current Mood: null null

One Last Sweet Sunday

December 29, 2013 at 10:41 pm
Profile Pic

So the final Sunday of the NFL season has come and gone.

Considering that both of my teams were eliminated from the playoff hunt weeks (or months) ago, the ending was about as sweet as could possibly be expected.  The Jets and the Giants both won their closers.

Meaningless games, you say?  Well, yes and no.

The Jets game was not meaningless to the Dolphins, who could have gotten into the playoffs with a win.  The Dolphins are Gang Green's oldest rivals — yes, the Patriots have been the bully boys of the AFC East for the past decade and a half, but the Fins were kicking sand in the Jets' faces for many decades before that, and thumped us solidly a few weeks ago when we still had a shot at the postseason, so it was satisfying to take them down with us.

Even better, the Jets announced that they are bringing Red Ryan back.  And damn well they should.  He's the best coach they have had since Parcells, and this season is a testament to his ability.  Before the season began, all the "power rankings" had the Jets listed as the worst team in the entire league.  They finished 8-8, with a rookie QB who was throwing almost as many INTs as… well, as  the other NY QB… and I doubt anyone but Rex could have pulled that off.

The Giants won too.  Over the Washington Redskins.  Or the Hapless Redskins, as some call them.

God, was that a dismal game.  Eli hurt his ankle and went out.  Probably good he has has a whole off season to recover.  The Giants D played well, the offense not so much, but that's been the story of the season.  Justin Tuck ended the season on a high note.  Terrific game.  Also, a young wideout named Jerrel Jernigan — who has done little more than warm the bench during his first two seasons with the club — continued his amazing end-of-season heroics, pretty much winning the game single-handed.  Since coming in for an injured Victor Cruz, Jernigan has played like… well, like Victor Cruz.  He's a keeper.  And next season, if Reuben Randal continues to improve and Hakeem Nicks comes back and recaptures his old form (not sure he will, on either count), the G-Men will have an elite and very dangerous receiving corps.  Now all they need is an offensive line to keep Eli from getting killed and give him time to throw… that has to be the big off-season priority, along with… oh, a running back, and a linebacker, and some young defensive backs.  The G-Men need more speed if they are going to keep up with Chip Kelly's fast-break Iggles in the years to come.

Speaking of the Iggles… congrats to them and their fans for their victory tonight.  Helluva game.  I thought you guys were going to blow it at the end there, until Kyle Orton channeled his inner Tony Romo and threw the game-losing INT.  Normally, of course, I hate the Eagles… but not half as much as I hate the Cowboys, so tonight I was with them all the way (next week, I'll be rooting for the Saints to take them down).  Actually, I feel sorry for Orton, who stepped in and played an incredible game.  Not many backup QBs are equal to the challenge.  You have to applaud the effort.  Jason Whitten played very well too.  I was yelling the same thing I yell every time the Giants play the Boys — "why doesn't anyone ever cover Whitten!"  In the end, though, Dallas choked once again, and we all got to enjoy watching Jerry Jones get That Look on his face once more.

(There were some other great games and thrilling finishes today as well.   But I am glad I am not a Bears fan.  Ouch, that must have hurt).

And now the playoffs.

The teams I love are out of it, so I have no strong feelings on who I want to win the Super Bowl… so long as it is not the New England Patriots.  That's the last thing we have to look forward to this season: the defeat and elimination of Evil Little Bill.

Meanwhile… hey, when's the draft?

Current Mood: null null

Tags:

MERRY XMAS

December 25, 2013 at 11:12 am
Profile Pic

To all my fans, friends, and readers… here's hoping Santa was good to you, and that the day will bring you all the joys of the season.

Current Mood: null null

Win, Win

December 22, 2013 at 7:33 pm
Profile Pic

Life is… well, tolerable.  On this Sunday, at least.

The Jets and the Giants both won today, but somehow, considering the dismal seasons they've had and the fact that both have long since been eliminated from the post-season, it is hard to summon up a "life is magical and full of joy."

The Jets thumped the Browns pretty solidly.  Our rookie QB Geno Smith looked… okay.  He ran for the winning TD, which was good.  And he didn't throw any interceptions, which was better.  I am so sick of INTs.  Maybe if Gang Green upsets the Dolphins next week to finish 8-8, that will save Rex Ryan's job.  But I doubt it.  I think Rex has been set up to be fired since before the season began.  The new GM doesn't want him.  He wants "his own guy," all the talking heads keep saying.  Pfui.  I don't know who "his own guy" is, but I doubt very much he'd be better than Ryan, who has been the best coach the Jets have had since Bill Parcells.  Firing him would be insane.  Which likely means the Jets will do it.

The Giants won in overtime.  They looked awful, and suffered several more injuries.  I think they have just about to run out of offensive linemen and running backs.  They tried to give away the game several times.  But the Detroit Lions kept giving it back.  Someone had to win eventually, and it turned out to be the Giants, which eliminated the Lions from the playoffs and assured that the G-Men will have a somewhat worse draft choice.

Win, win.

Yay, yay.

Guess I need to wait a little longer for that Subway Superbowl.

Current Mood: null null

Tags:

Winter Is Coming…

December 19, 2013 at 5:48 pm
Profile Pic

And I have saved the best part for last.

Admission to all GAME OF THRONES screenings will be ABSOLUTELY FREE.

No tickets, no passes, no payment required.  First come, first served.  Come to the Cocteau and come on in… so long as we have seats.  But we only have 125 of those, so best come early if you want to be sure of a place.

We'll have door prizes as well.  Not to mention the best popcorn in town.

See you at the cinema, for GAME OF THRONES as you've never seen it before.

Current Mood: null null

This Week at the Cocteau

December 19, 2013 at 12:27 pm
Profile Pic

Jack Kerouac and Jean Shepherd are coming to the Jean Cocteau Cinema this week… sort of.

In honor of the reason, we're showing my second favorite Christmas movie of all time (I love it, but I have to confess, I love the Alastair Sim CHRISTMAS CAROL even more), A CHRISTMAS STORY.

<lj-embed id=”387″ />

Jean Shepherd was the great chronicler of what childhood was like for kids of 40s and 50s, and A CHRISTMAS STORY hits all the right notes.  A great film.  Watch out, Ralphie, you'll shoot your eye out!

As for what the grown-ups were doing in the 1950s, we also have BIG SUR, based on Jack Kerouac's writings.

<lj-embed id=”388″ />

I haven't seen this one yet, but it looks great.

See you at the movies.

Current Mood: null null

Lion Cubs Need Names

December 18, 2013 at 9:39 am
Profile Pic

The Maryland Zoo has a couple of newborn lion cubs in house, and the zoo is having the public vote on their names.

http://www.zooborns.com/zooborns/2013/12/maryland-zoo-zoo-lions.html

Cute cubs, and I like getting the public involved in naming them… but really, are those the best choices they could come up with?  Bart and Maggie?  Luke and Leia?  Not the least bit lion-ish, I says.

Let's start a write-in campaign for "Jaime and Cersei."

Current Mood: null null

I Hate Football

December 15, 2013 at 5:51 pm
Profile Pic

Finally home from all my travels, no major events to fill up my weekend, a Sunday free for football… and both my teams go down in flames.

The Jets at least put up a fight against the Panthers.  Their D is for real.  And there was one cool moment, when Rex used huge DT Sheldon Richardson to pound in a TD.  But I still don't believe in Geno Smith.  How did he get back in when I wasn't looking?  Last I heard, he'd been benched and they were going to give Matt Simms a try.

The Giants game… I have called in the Men in Black to have that wiped from my memory.  5 INTs??  Oh, Eli, where are thou…

Current Mood: null null

Tags: