Glasses aren’t just for drinking

The email subject heading read: “A United Kingtdom Press Screening and Phoners.” Great! And who is Fox Searchlight pitching for a possible phone interview? None other than durable leading man Armand Assante who, according to the email, is directing! That’s a first.

The interview-request form is filled out and returned quicker than you can say Judge Dredd.

In no time, Love and Money and I, The Jury — two essential Assantes — are rewatched and interview questions are written. There’s even time before the screening to log Private Benjamin and Little Darlings, the latter a downright unseemly R-rated teen comedy in which overnight camp cuties Kristy McNichol and Tatum O’Neal compete to see who’ll be the first to lose their virginity.

Once upon a time there was a flat VHS release, but for some inane reason — possibly good taste prevailing — LD has yet to make it to home video. A visit to Amazon and several other sites shows no widescreen Region 1 disc or download currently available. Fortunately, a viewable letterbox bootleg long ago took up residence on my hard drive.

A screening reminder shows up on Tuesday. Uh oh. I wasn’t wearing my specs when the initial interview solicitation arrived, but this time my Big!Lots readers are in place. Looks like it’s time to track down copies of A Way of Life and Belle. It wasn’t Armand who directed A United Kingdom, but Amma Asante. I wonder if she’s seen Little Darlings.

There will be time to ask that and several other questions. After viewing and greatly admiring Asante’s third feature, I’d be a fool to turn down an interview with its director.