The Radio in My Head

It's funny, isn't it, how we music fans not only get songs stuck in our heads, but are able to internally conjure up a whole rack of tunes to see us through long mundane tasks or just a boring break in the day. I experience this now and then (not often enough, really), and it seems to happen when I most need it, like on a Friday, as my work week is winding down.

I am able to recall every note and nuance of songs that I know well and replay them in my head. Notice that I said "songs that I know well", meaning I can't recall an entire song after just one or two listens. It is through repeated listenings of a song that I absorb and retain all the fine details and can replay them in my mind. As though I'm hearing the songs, but not with my ears. Might sound weird or unbelievable to some people, but there it is. And I remember the music with this clarity years, even decades later.

I wish I had the ability to let that internal recording become external through my fingers as I play guitar, but if this is all I've got, I'll gladly take it. I did a tiny bit of research on this phenomenon and apparently not everyone has this ability. I can play an entire song, start to finish, in my head and it's even in the right key (or pretty darn close, I'd say). Even if I'm hazy on the lyrics, which I often am, the vocal sounds are still there, and in the right key (or really close, again). I may be kind of crappy at recalling written information, but I have a knack for remembering music vividly. Sadly, there is no use for this internal "talent", so it's not like I can profit from it in any way.

A quick Google search revealed a few different terms for this ability, though some of them may not apply. They are: Phonographic Memory (I think this applies to me), Audiographic Memory, Echoic Memory (though this is short-term memory), and Eidetic Memory (also short-term). 

The reason I believe Phonographic Memory is the one is that I can still remember songs I listened to on records when I was young... and my recollection includes the occasional skip that occurred on those records. Isn't that crazy? Well, according to the researchers who wrote the articles I read about this, it isn't pathological, but is normal, if rather uncommon. Here's a link to one article: Phonographic Memory

Anyway, last Friday at work, beginning early in the morning, I found that a string of great old rock and metal songs flowed effortlessly in my mind. The day sure passes quickly when my personal internal radio station is playing, not disturbing anyone else, motivating and propelling me toward the end of my work shift.

This little playlist didn't last all day long, but along with some similar tunes on my phone during lunch and coffee breaks, it sure helped keep my mood up. At times, I had to focus more on work so the music went on Pause mode. So there were lulls in the entertainment department.

Oh, and strangely, the very first song, Sister Christian, by Night Ranger, kept playing over and over in an endless loop for far too long. A cool and catchy tune to be sure, but it began to drive me crazy after a while. That's when I forcibly cleared my mind and allowed another song, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap by AC/DC, to take over. Then that one flowed easily into Photograph, by Def Leppard. And so on. It truly felt like a 70's and 80's set of music programmed for a radio station tailored precisely to my tastes. Pure nostalgia.

Here are the tunes I enjoyed inside my head last Friday:

Sister Christian, by Night Ranger

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, AC/DC

Photograph, Def Leppard

Ain't That a Shame, Cheap Trick

Bastille Day, Rush

Night Train, Guns'n'Roses

Hot For Teacher, Van Halen

Love Me Like a Reptile, Motorhead

Symptom of the Universe, Black Sabbath

Big City Nights, Scorpions

Lay It Down, Ratt

Ain't No Stranger, Whitesnake

Live Wire, Motley Crue

Books and Bookstores in Movies

 I love books. And I love movies. I especially love movies that feature books and/or bookstores. There is something wonderful about seeing shops packed top to bottom with glorious books, old and new... but especially old. A sense of history breathes life into an old hardbound, even handbound, book - perhaps with a hint of the ornate on the spine and maybe the cover. Even musty, worn paperbacks hold an appeal for me. I own softcover books in both fine and shabby shape that date back as far as the 1950's. I have some even older hardcovers.

Johnny Depp in The Ninth Gate, a creepy film about a dealer of rare books

I've seen a fair number of films in this neat little genre, though I know I need to check out at least a few notables that I've missed. What got me to thinking about even writing about this topic is my recent viewing (first time!) of the charming 84 Charing Cross Road, starring Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins. I've always been aware of this 80's movie but put it off as boring grown-up stuff. Now that I'm a boring grown-up, I thought it was time to give this a chance. I loved it! I never even knew the story (based on real life) was about a bookshop. Bancroft is a New York writer who in her search for rare old books, locates a London, England bookseller, Hopkins, who can fulfill her requests through mail order. Their long-distance relationship by mail continues for twenty years. Charing Cross gave me the warm fuzzies, just the perfect love letter to the world of books.

One of my favourite "book movies" is The Ninth Gate, a suspenseful horror thriller starring Johnny Depp as a rare book dealer. He turns detective in his search for a rare and ancient book that is said to have the power to summon the Devil. A genre mash-up made in heaven for me. The Ninth Gate is based on the novel The Club Dumas, which I enjoy a lot, too, though there are differences between the literary source and its film adaptation. I gravitate toward the movie (though some feel it's inferior), mainly because of its neo-noir atmosphere, cinematic depiction of mysterious and supernatural events, and fascinating characters realized by a strong cast. I've watched Ninth Gate innumerable times since it's theatrical release in 1999.

A more recent amazing find is The Bookshop, a 2017 drama about a widow who opens a store in a small English coastal town. Actor Emily Mortimer is perfect as the mousy yet strong-willed shop owner who battles with influential townsfolk who wish to shut down her business. Bill Nighy is a likable wealthy and bookish recluse who slowly warms to the new bookseller. It's a quiet and gently humourous film that I immediately loved, and even tracked down an import copy on Blu Ray to enjoy again and again. This has become my favourite book movie.

Far from an exhaustive list, here are some other book movies I've enjoyed over the years:

Hugo - a mesmerizing fantasy tale that checks all the boxes for me. It's about movies, really, but involves books and the history of both enough that I'm a fan. A visual feast.

Before Sunset - part two in a film trilogy about writer Jesse and Celine, who first met randomly in Europe and instantly connected. They shared mere hours together, yet they promised to meet up again. This is their next brief meeting, years later, where they reconnect and share much about their lives apart. An intimate and fascinating character study.

The Name of the Rose - an historical mystery surrounding the murders of Franciscan monks, each death resembling those depicted in ancient texts. I read the book and saw the movie decades ago, so I recall almost nothing about the story, but I do recall enjoying it.

The Ghost Writer

Adaptation

The Book Thief

Manhattan

Young Adult

You've Got Mail

When Harry Met Sally

The Last Bookshop (a short film which can be found on Youtube)

Dan in Real Life

So, read books and watch movies about books. G'day!

The Future of James Bond? SPOILERS

Be warned, dear Reader, for today I will drop a few spoilers from the latest James Bond film, No Time To Die. So if you haven't seen it yet and intend to, then I suggest you stop reading here.

Now on to business. 

The big bombshell (heh) of Bond's death at the end of No Time leaves no doubt in our minds that this is the end of actor Daniel Craig in the role of 007. I believe the demise of the character was part of the deal to bring the reluctant Craig back for one more "romp". It's been a long time since there's been an actor shift in the Bond role. Casino Royale was Craig's debut as the super-spy, and that was released in 2006. Sixteen long years... not that very many Bond movies came our way during that time; long lapses in between some of the films really stretched things out for poor little rich boy Daniel. The latest, No Time To Die, is the fifth and final of the Craig-era movies.

Naomie Harris as Miss Moneypenny in the Craig-era Bond films

Who will take over the starring role? I know that a handful of actors' names have been floating around the rumour mill for at least a few years, but as talented and charismatic as these guys are, there are logistical problems with them... for me. For example: Idris Elba, would be great, but he's nearly age 50 - that's fine now, but how many movies would we get out of him... a few, tops? Same age issue with Tom Hardy, though he looks capable right now. But when an actor nears 60, things become problematic in the highly physical role. We need someone maybe in their early-to-mid 40's, at the oldest. And perhaps mid-30's at the youngest. Bond is supposed to be a seasoned field agent, with some serious missions under his belt, not to mention a prior career in the navy. So a new actor must at least look old enough to have those experiences on his resume and yet be young enough to be able to manage four, five, maybe even six movies as 007.

Henry Cavill could be a good candidate for the 007 role, even age-wise at just under 40. I didn't even know he was British until this moment, and thought his assumed American blood would be dead wrong for the part. So there's a maybe. But... he's very famous, and when I see his face, I think Superman. Hm.

Irish actor Cillian Murphy, who I know from the series Peaky Blinders, might fit the bill, too. Tom Hiddleston, of the BBC series The Night Manager, also has solid cred. Even Richard Madden, of the show, Bodyguard, could wear the tux and holster. There are others on the various prospective lists out there, but either I don't know anything about them or even care. I feel that a lesser known actor would be the best choice for 007 going forward. Easier for him to be accepted as Bond and not have audiences picturing him as a previous character. Some of the above-mentioned actors could do that without much problem.

But I find it even more interesting to ponder the future of the secondary characters in this long-running franchise. There's only a small core group of recurring characters, some of whom only show up from time to time, while others appear in just about every film. Bond's boss, M, is a constant, as are M's secretary Miss Moneypenny and Q, head of MI6's gadget research and development. James' CIA counterpart and old friend Felix Leiter appeared in a number of the earlier movies and was brought back in the Craig era. Evil villain Blofeld was also resurrected for the modern films after a long hiatus from the franchise.

As those who saw No Time To Die know, both Leiter and Blofeld met their demise. So whatever happens next, whether a clean reboot or a "continuation" of sorts, neither of those actors can appear again. I mean, they're not superhuman. And neither is Bond (but close). It only makes sense then that new actors are used in whatever revamped world of 007 we see next.

I thought that the casting of supporting actors during the Craig era of Bond films was great. Judy Dench convincingly carried on as M from her stint in the Pierce Brosnan movies. The veteran thespian brought the goods as a tough yet motherly head of MI6, and she gracefully passed the torch to another fine actor, Ralph Fiennes. I have a problem with losing Fiennes as M so soon; I think he is excellent in the part and 'ought to continue. He's a likable and more than capable version of M. As for a replacement, I haven't given it any thought, and don't really care to. There are a lot of elder actors who would be suitable for the role.

Same goes for Q, ever the lovable gadget-master of the series. The cranky old version of Q in Desmond Llewelyn managed to charm audiences for nearly four full decades, suffering the parade of Bond actors who came and went. I grew to enjoy the quirky fun that even his successor, relative youngster Ben Whishaw, brought to the role. Again, since he's appeared precious few times in the Bond films, why not keep him on? I like Whishaw's take on the Q character, with his modern lifestyle and youthful nerdy-tech tendencies.

While the Miss Moneypenny character plays a very minor role in the film series, she feels like part of the Bond family, and so it seems like a piece of the puzzle is missing when she doesn't make even a tiny appearance. She has been a constant  in the world of 007, exchanging teasing affection and repartee with Bond. Her mocking displays of a schoolgirl crush on James are endearing, especially when we glimpse her strong feelings for him.

Moneypenny has been portrayed by only a few actors in the nearly sixty years of cinematic Bond, mostly thanks to Lois Maxwell, who kept MI6 offices running smoothly for over twenty years (14 films!). After Maxwell, someone different came on board with each subsequent Bond actor. The Craig-era Moneypenny was played by the cool, fun, and lovely Naomie Harris. I'd like to see Harris remain in the role, for we have only just gotten to know her a little in her few stints in the Bond movies. Let's keep her on board.

And last but not least, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, super villain. Most of his appearances were in the earliest films, during the 60's, though we were teased along by his return to the last two films. And I, for one, was let down. Actor Christoph Waltz was underused in the role in these franchise entries. He wasn't given much to work with, and despite Waltz's strong talent elsewhere, he could not make this new world Blofeld convincing. Sort of a limp noodle portrayal, underwhelming, and barely a hint of the sinister, maniacal master criminal we came to know in early iterations. I blame the directing and writing departments most. His dialogue and even his hidden lair seemed slap-dash. Waltz's delivery and manner injected nothing of substance, either. Maybe if he had lived (not died in No Time), his character might have become more colourful and demented. But nope, Waltz is gone. Now, if the producers care to bring Blofeld back, they must rustle up some new talent... and hopefully a more engaging version of the character.

I was extremely nervous about Daniel Craig when he first took the 007 mantle, but despite his very non-Bond look as far as I was concerned, he gradually grew into the role, and bothered me far less. Some great movies, to be sure, but he never completely satisfied me as a fan of 007. I am just as anxious about the studio's next choice for Bond. Not at all happy with No Time To Die's last act, I hope the franchise can find its feet again and pull disappointed long-time fans back in with a good fresh cast and solid stories that'll throw off the silly notion that family and parenthood belong in a Bond film. Nope. I want escapist, dangerous spy thrillers that take me away from ordinary real world drudgery.