directed by Frank Perry (1968)

The Swimmer was filmed in 1966 and released two years later. In between then, The Graduate with its young, new, daring take on similar subject matter and inventive film techniques, made an indelible mark American film making.

Meanwhile this Burt Lancaster vehicle fell into, well, if not oblivion exactly, certainly near to that. Compared to where movie making was headed, The Swimmer, based on a short story by John Cheever (he of the big red book of short stories, which is first on my list to start reading on vacation) is a tad dated and seems, from it’s reviews of the time, to have already felt off kilter (in both a good and bad way) when it was released.

The acting can range from balls out fist shaking to unnatural, stilted theater like script reading. A melodramatic, score that underlines every emotional cue adds to the artificial feeling. Added in are some unusual editing gorgeous lens flare and arty film techniques, including double exposures -  but somehow the collected oddities work in harmony in the film’s favor. A very dark, hallucinatory, and paranoid piece of work emerges from the flaws.

This is a surreal and haunting movie and, for all its artifice and ham-handedness, there’s strong stuff here that sticks with you; I first saw the movie years ago and have never really forgotten it and I welcomed a chance to revisit it when it became available on Netflix on demand (one of life’s great pleasures).

Lancaster struts around as a suburban peacock who decides to swim home via neighborhood pools. Along the way we encounter the hung over, the angry, the bitchy, and the eccentric members of his community as well as witness some nudists, a fight over a hot dog cart, and a cameo by Joan Rivers.

It’s a fun movie to discover if you’ve not seen it, maybe especially for it’s lost gem quality and of course, the sixties suburban pool side styles of the time that will satiate any Mad Men fan.

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by Bill Haley (1955)

Bill Haley’s Rock Around the Clock is considered iconic of the mainstreaming of rock and roll even if it wasn’t the first or the most popular of it’s time. It’s inclusion in the rebel teen movie, Blackboard Jungle sealed it’s place in pop culture infamy and now I think it’s catchy awesomeness as a song is overshadowed by it’s position as a background to our history. I mean, how many times have we heard the song over the years? Still, even though it might be overplayed and is by no means a rare hip find, when you really listen to it again, it’s a whole lot of fun and makes me think of bobbysox, rebellion, and high school dances – all good things!

Icons of American Design

While the work of Ray and Charles Eames is almost transparent in our time with it’s all encompassing influence of daily life, their design is no less popular today than when it was new. In fact, among today’s lovers of interiors and industrial art, they may even be more popular than ever (just try to scroll through a design blog or tumblr without running into a photo of thier work, or design inspired by them). I have even witnessed a certain friend literally fall in love with one of their rockers after bottles of wine were consumed at a party… no things didn’t get dirty, but his love for the chair was palpable. The simplicity of design, the clean lines and sense of joy that the team are known for elicit that kind of passion in fans.

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135 North 5th Street, Brooklyn

Since my first recommendation of Egg, it’s become a media darling – constantly winning magazine awards for it’s breakfast and taking on the long lines that accompany such accolades. It seems to get less recognition for it’s equally yummy farm house style dinner. A while back we enjoyed roasted chicken, a great dish of small treats (including a sci-fi looking sister to the cauliflower) and a great pound cake a la mode. The menu changes according to what’s in season.

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131 2nd Avenue

Gem Spa, a corner over-sized bodega, cluttered with cheap sunglasses and trinkets doesn’t strike one instantly as the very best place to find anything, but they boast, in their signage at least, to have the best egg cream in New York. Having not tested every egg cream out there, but having had my share of separated ones that have that strange tongue coating plastic-ness caused by incorrect balance of ingredients. I can say that this one, offered in a paper cup with no fanfare or even a smile is pretty excellent. I’d definitely go back to get an egg cream fix- Brooklyn (vanilla) style of course. It’s such a temperamental though simple drink that you want to make sure you get one that’s made right, plus Gem Spa’s a bit of old New York and one of the few places left to get the native beverage.

In The Northwest Corner of Arizona

It was one a road trip from Las Vegas to Texas when Jim, Stacy and I saw the epic natural National Park, The Grand Canyon. It was not a clear, technicolor dream day like the one in the photo, but a chilly, foggy day that didn’t make the stunning site any less amazing and memorable. Unfortunately, I can’t currently find my photos from the day, but I plan to return as there is nothing parallel to the view.

on Food Network and the Cooking Channel

Paula Deen is undeniably charming and her show, Paula’s Home Cooking is one of the best the Food Network and brand new Cooking Channel have to offer. I know because I have the channels on in the background often in these days of freelancing and know all too well the pain of a show sans charming host – read the irritating growl of Rachel Ray or the frosted tip obnoxiousness of Guy Fieri.

This Southern belle doesn’t even always have to make food I’d necessarily eat. Once she made a Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding, y’all and just looking at the two dozen Krispy Kremes mixed with sweetened condensed milk, and butter rum sauce on screen made my teeth hurt and my head ache. Still, with her soft drawl and cheerful charisma, I’d listen to her talk about anything. She even makes me happy by simply saying the word oil.

Directed by Dorian Walker (1989)

The wikipedia entry for Teen Witch reveals the shocking truth that the teenager musical was a box office bomb grossing less than $4000 in its opening weekend with a budget of two and a half million! Of course, with repeated airings on cable and midnight shows (at one of which friend John got to actually dance with Robin Lively!) it’s become the cult classic that we know and love.

I recently revisited the innocuous favorite which is more than perfect for Sunday afternoon viewing and found it just as silly, strange, and dumbly enjoyable as I remembered.

From the opening shots of Louise Miller gyrating to Taylor Dane style pop with the local hottie, Brad to the final scenes of Louise Miller gyrating to Taylor Dane style pop with the local hottie, Brad, the movie is an 80’s Disney Channel esque delight. Not surprisingly, Disney actress Ashley Tisdale is in talks to star in a remake.

Of course, I’d be shocked if they kept the hilarious musical numbers as is (including  “I Like Boys” and the often referenced – recently in 30 Rock – “Top That Rap“) and while Teen Witch is definitely not racy stuff, that beginning gyrating scene does feature star Robin Lively looking like a prostitute in red lace and what would be more shocking these days, she totally gives it up in an abandoned house to Brad without scruples.

Trust me, after just having watched Starstruck (yes, this is the kind of guilty pleasure viewing I do when no one is looking) where the two young actors barely even kiss, implied going all the way will never make it in the remake.

But I digress on the supposed remake and there’s so much to say about the original. Many things can be said in the stills below/after the jump but worth noting is the bizarre brother creature, Richie, played by the same intriguing young strange actor you may recognize from the very un-Teen Witch movie River’s Edge, the wonderful Zelda Rubenstein as a fellow witch, the surprisingly so-uncool-they’re-cool again fashions, and of course those cringe inducing, but oh so awesome musical numbers.

It has not been available on DVD always, but can be rented at Netflix though sometimes with a long wait, so people are still flocking to this cheesy nostalgia piece. If you never knew the glories of it growing up, don’t expect a traditionally “good” movie, with suspense or drama, just go with flow and you’ll find there’s very little in the pre-teen comedy genre that tops it.

Oh, and if you too want to be a Teen Witch, it’s now possible with this nifty kit.

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African Musician and the Man Who Plays Him on Broadway

Of all the Tony nominated plays and musicals from the year on Broadway, Fela! looks the most interesting. I’ve yet to see the acclaimed show but find the dynamic star Sahr Ngaujah stunning to gaze upon, especially when sporting an off white tuxedo with snake skin lapels as he did on the Tonys red carpet. The legendary musician, Fela Kuti, whom he plays is an equally intreguing, stylish and handsome man on top of being a revolutionary Nigerian activist and artist.

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