Marcus Maroney - Sounds Like New

Methody

What's up with goofy church anthems?  I'm not religious at all, but I was in church Sunday morning for my niece's baptism.  They sang this anthem called Hurry, Shepherds, Run! and I had to really struggle to keep from convulsing in laughter.  Has anyone heard this one?

I received the good news that my Orchestra of St. Luke's commission will be given a repeat performance at the new Dia Beacon.  So, if you're interested and can't make the June 11 premiere at the Chelsea Art Museum, you have another chance June 12.  The Dia Beacon looks gorgeous - I can't wait!  The piece will be for flute quartet.

I saw Spiderman 2 (yes I'm a bit behind the times) and really liked it - I'm sure it was much more impressive on the big screen, but it was good entertainment.  Began Goodbye, Lenin and love it as well - will finish that tonight. 

Finally, further evidence of the delusional state of our current government:

'"Secretary Rumsfeld is doing a spectacular job," White House chief of staff Andrew Card told ABC's "This Week."'

Well, I suppose that's accurate if you apply a very literalistic definition of 'spectacular', but somehow I doubt that's what Mr. Card meant....

Closer

Did anyone else see Closer and think it sucks?  I can't imagine a film being more preposterous.  It's the first time in years I've actually felt like leaving the theater in the middle of the movie.  The last time was Mary Reilly - hm...both have Julia Roberts.  Coincidence? 

Anyway, I knew it was going to be tough going after the first line of dialog, Natalie Portman's chirpy, delighted delivery of the first line of dialog: "Hello, stranger."  Never mind that she just got run over by a taxi.  The fakeness embodied in that one line's delivery pretty much sets the tone for the next two hours - unrealistic dialog, unrealistic situations, unrealistic reactions. 

Mick LaSalle, a favorite film critic of mine, sums up Julia Roberts' attempt with delicious accuracy:

"No one has ever described Roberts as anything but an attractive woman. So it says something about the sourness she brings to Anna that it's difficult to imagine any man wanting anything to do with her, much less a fellow who looks like Jude Law, much less one who's going out with Natalie Portman. Actually, if Dan were just released from a federal penitentiary, it would still be difficult to imagine."

I'm certainly no film critic, so this is more of a public service announcement than an attempt at a review.  Save your money!  Go see The Incredibles or Kinsey instead (or Paypal me your $10).