We rolled in 2010 tonight with another of our midnight movie synch-ups, this time using the original 1972 version of The Poseidon Adventure. As Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Shelley Winters, Jack Albertson, and the rest of the cast counted down the seconds to the new year, so too did we, with our respective midnights occurring simultaneously.

Charles, Carla, Laura, Dan, and I spent almost eight hours of our lives together paying tribute to the aforementioned Jack Albertson (1907-1981) by watching three films from his career. We began with Lover Come Back (dir. Delbert Mann, 1961). This movie, while focusing on Doris Day being a fool and Rock Hudson being a douche, featured Albertson in a recurring comic relief role as a convention goer in New York who keeps catching Hudson completely out of context, leading to misconceptions about Hudson's supposed studliness. His appearances are few and fleeting, but that was how much of his movie career was spent: bit parts and minor cameos.

Next up was Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (dir. Mel Stuart, 1971), in which Albertson received second billing only after Gene Wilder, and in which he portrayed Charlie's Grandpa Joe. It is a much more significant role and probably his most memorable. Even if you don't recognize the name Jack Albertson you have likely seen him as Grandpa Joe.

A nearly two-hour break followed during which we took a trip to Meijer. There Felicity found us on her way between parties. We once again parted ways on leaving the store, but she was there all smelling like mustard. Weird.

At 11:35 on the dot we started The Poseidon Adventure (dir. Ronald Neame, 1972) and at 12:00 midnight exactly we celebrated the new year with the cast. Albertson portrayed Manny Rosen, one of the rag-tag passengers who the Hackman leads through a capsized ocean liner to rescue. It's an excellent movie that really didn't need to be remade twice in 2005, but that wasn't my call. I filmed a pair of videos, the first showing how we spent the transition between 2009 and 2010:


That's how it went down. It was all festive and Charles bought sparkling grape juice and champagne at Meijer to celebrate with, with each person choosing their preferred poison. Later on, after the movie was over, I did another video in which I mock my cheerful well-wishing in the first video, leading Laura and Charles to provide a musical number:


All in all, a wonderful evening spent with people I can't complain about, watching watchable movies featuring a splendid and oft-forgotten actor. We chose to remember Jack Albertson of all people because we'd chosen Poseidon for our midnight movie and I was an admirer of his work. I would like to do more of these deceased actor movie days if there's any interest. I've been wanting to showcase Shelley Winters and Clark Gable was mentioned tonight, so maybe that could be a thing to do in 2010.

In the end, I hope that everyone had a great and safe new year wherever you were celebrating it. No matter where you were I hope that you had fun and didn't get into too much trouble. Here's to a prosperous 2010 and all that it may bring.


There's got to be a morning after

At midnight, January 1, 2010

Millions will watch Dick Clark drop a ball on New York

Instead, we'll be watching people getting capsized by a wave


Time Magazine recently described the last ten years as "The Decade from Hell." This is perhaps a bit harsh and possibly forgetful. After all, I can think of several decades in recent memory that were stronger contenders and, if the decades of the 1910s or the 1940s, with their World Wars, can't claim the titles of "Decades from Hell," then I don't know what does. In point of fact, while the 2000s were not always pleasant they were exactly what we made of the situations presented to us. It was a decided effort. Now a new decade is upon us and we have a chance to do better and to take the more prosperous path in the coming years.

So here we stand, ten years after Y2K, bidding farewell to a decade that opened so full of pomp and promise but has ended with Time's colorful moniker. However the decade panned out, we're going to end it with a classic disaster film and a reminder that "there's got to be a morning after." How wonderfully optimistic, and perhaps fitting symbolism for a new decade to set things right.

Our New Year's Eve-ning will honor the late character actor Jack Albertson (1907-1981). Though it's been twenty-eight years since his passing, his talent persists though his large body of work. We will watch three of them: Lover Come Back (dir. Delbert Mann, 1961), Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (dir. Mel Stuart, 1971), and The Poseidon Adventure (dir. Ronald Neame, 1972). Each is entirely watchable on their own and together showcase a great actor's lasting memory.

Here's the base schedule if you're interested in showing up:

Time:	Event:	Length:
6:00:00 – 7:46:44 PM	Lover Come Back	1h 46m 44s
7:46:44 – 8:00:00 PM	Open time	0h 13m 16s
8:00:00 – 9:39:32 PM	Willy Wonka	1h 39m 32s
9:39:32 – 11:35:00 PM	Open time	1h 55m 28s
11:35:00 – 1:32:07 AM	Poseidon Adventure	1h 57m 07s

The one thing I have to stress is that this won't be a booze-pounding, raucous affair. It will be a drier, quieter, Wonka-ier New Years than the other parties out there.

So, y'know, we'll be here if you're interested!

After speaking to Charles I think we've nailed down a plan of action for Thursday. The midnight synch-up will be The Poseidon Adventure but the theme will be dedicated to the memory of a long-passed actor.

For New Year's Eve we will be honoring the late Jack Albertson (1907-1981) by watching a trio of his films over the course of the evening. Those films will be Lover Come Back (dir. Delbert Mann, 1961), Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (dir. Mel Stuart, 1971), and The Poseidon Adventure (dir. Ronald Neame, 1972).

I will have more details and the event insignia as the week progresses.


Jack Albertson as Grandpa Joe in Willy Wonka

The question has arisen on whether or not we're doing another New Year movie synch-up and, if so, what the movie will be. Only one movie has been suggested so far and that was The Poseidon Adventure (1972), in which the characters count down the seconds 'till midnight in real time, celebrate the new year, and then get killed off when the ship is capsized by a freak wave.

What I need to know is a)if anyone is interested in coming to this, b)if so, do you want to watch this movie, and c)is there a different movie that you would prefer?