Not treading on new ground

Got home from the movies last night and the first thing I see on my Facebook feeds is that BJ's caught fire last night. BJ's is the bar I lived in during the eighties. DJed there for a couple of years and chewed a lot of Bazooka gum while staying until closing time. It's one of the oldest bars in Western New York and a Fredonia landmark.

After the initial shock friends of mine were reporting that there is water damage but it's not as severe as it could have been. The apartment directly above the bar caught fire, causing the damage and a few ceiling tiles fell.

Most important. No one was hurt.



There was a bit of internet panic going on, but people were already joining forces and speaking of fund raisers and getting the band back together to reopen the place. That's how special it was. I hate to be hokey, drowning in false nostalgia, but that joint was my Cheers, and I'm not the only one who thinks so.



Earlier we went to see The Artist. I've been jonesing to see this film since it got such amazing buzz at Cannes. If you don't already know, it's a silent film.

Naturally it has a score, one that has Kim Novak screaming rape.. I'll agree that Bernard Hermann's score from Vertigo was used liberally during pivotal scenes, but rape is a rather harsh word to use.

It's a simple plot, big star meets adorable extra girl in a cute way. He refuses to adapt to talkies while her star ascends. He goes from a strutting cad with plenty of arrogance only to fall into a rigid pit of despair. There's also a great dog.



I liked the film, but thought some of the pacing and energy could have been increased. There are a few wonderful images, almost too many homages to silent films of the past. The nostalgia nearly borders on pretentious, the heartless can call it that, if they may. Once scene right at the beginning of the audience watching the film being screened made my jaw drop and I wish the rest of the film had as many surprises.

The acting was excellent. The lead man, Jean Dujardin, is big screen friendly with looks that cross between Gene Kelly and Douglas Fairbanks. The lovely leading lady, Berenice Bejo, had plenty of sass but you only saw the shine and chemistry the pair had together infrequently, but when they burned it was amazing to witness!

The Artist did not blaze any new trails, how could it? The film is well made, well acted and depicts a cinematic past that should be celebrated more, and preserved.