The Sheila Variations

Pejman was just telling me about Don Quixote. He says is a great, funny read. Have you read it, Sheila? I haven't, but he's raised my interest enough to pick up a copy.

I read it in high school and I don't remember any of it, to be honest. I didn't GET IT. I sure didn't think it was funny! I saw and loved the MUSICAL when I was a kid - but I know that doesn't count.

Now that's GOOD eye-candy. Scroll down to see the artist??? *ahem*

Didn't Terry Gilliam attempt a movie version a couple of years ago?

peteb: Yeah, scroll down. At least the way it looks on my screen - If I click on that link, the artist and the title are not visible.

Pete,
Yes he did.

I may have forgotten to add a ";)" to my previous comment, Sheila.

Apologies.

Then ... ahhhh, I feel dumb. Because I don't get the joke! Is it such a well-known drawing that my saying "go see who the artist is" seems like a dumb thing to say?

Emily

I thought he had.. dammit.. Now that's a movie I would definitely queue up to see.

Sheila

I have to admit that it's an image that I wouldn't have recognised immediately if it had been presented to me without context.. but I have seen it recently in articles about the multi-anniversary of the publication of Don Quioxte

My apologies again.

Oh, no worries. I was just feeling stupid.

The interesting thing about it is that anyone who appears to have actually read the book (like Pejman) - talks about how funny it is.

To me, it seems like such a 'CLASSIC' - in the worst stereotypical sense ... It's hard for me to imagine chuckling over Don Quixote. But I'm an idiot - I really should give it another try.

When I went back and re-read Moby Dick (after suffering through it in high school) - I was amazed at how great it actually was! It was like a different book altogether!

I shouldn't have implied that it was a universally recognisable image/artist to begin with, Sheila.

Sheila,
The Pejmeister wrote a review here.

Pete,
Did you read the Observer article? How sad for Terry Gilliam to have invested that much work and time only to have the whole thing fall apart like that. He was really hurt in that interview.

Thanks, Emily - I will most definitely read Pejman's review.

The one thing that concerns me about tackling Don Quixote (and I think "tackling" is the right term) is that it seems to be viewed in Spain as Ulysses is elsewhere.. the difference is that I would have to read a translation of the original.

Terry Gilliam is one of my favorite directors ever. Nobody really discusses The Fisher King all that much - is it me or is that movie under-rated? Or maybe I'm the only person who absolutely ADORES THAT MOVIE ... I just love him.

Emily

yeah.. I remember the coverage of Gilliam dropping the project at the time.. he was shattered by the experience.

You're not the only one, Sheila.

peteb:

If I had had a blog when the Jeff Bridges obsession happened (this came up pretty much directly as a result of Fisher King) ... fuggedaboutit - it would have made my Cary Grant obsession seem like child's play.

He is so GOOD in that movie, and he makes it look so EASY - that nobody ever sits around discussing how great he is. There's nothing showy about him. He NEVER shows off.

And Gilliam's creation of the world in that film was so great. Especially THE INCREDIBLE scene in Grand Central Station - when suddenly the throngs of commuters freeze, and start waltzing ... God, that's just what it feels like when you're in love. Like the whole world should be in love.

I loooove that movie.

Jeff Bridges is my favorite working actor today. No contest.

And Gilliam was following in good company by being shattered by trying to make Don Quixote.. I think Orson Welles tried to do the same.

With a book like this - it seems essential that you read whatever everyone agrees is the best translation.

So almost immediately, in reading Pejman's review - I see that he gives the translator Edith Grossman a nod.

Very important. A bad translation can ruin a book.

I never saw The Fisher King, but I will one of these days.

Did you know the lady that wrote Harry Potter wanted him to direct the movies? How cool would that have been?

There you go again, Sheila.. blowing us away with your recollection of the detail of movies. I recall a great movie.. Jeff being understatedly fantastic - as usual.. one exception being his role in Tucker, which I've only seen once.. recently.. fun fun movie - and Gilliam getting a great performance out of Robin Williams.. no mean feat at that stage in Williams' career.

But then.. I can't remember a Gilliam movie I haven't loved.

Yup/ And Mercedes Ruehl - let's not forget - who won a feckin' Oscar for her part in that movie, and rightly so. She's amazing. I have such a strong response to that movie. I'm not sure what it is.

Jeff Bridges and Robin Williams in Ctrl Park at night - and Williams buck-naked, his little hairy back and white bum running through the night-time park ... heh.

Amanda Plummer as well, as the crazy little girlfriend. She's great.

But it's really just the whole thing ... it's like a fairytale world, a nightmare fairytale.

Emily -

WOW. That would have been so cool! Trying to picture it ...