Bringing Back the Ben

Armageddon was on TV this afternoon and it reminded me how much I love Ben. The movie represents the moment when Ben's glory days began. It was his first star project after Good Will Hunting and the studio had gotten him a personal trainer and invested in some new teeth. He was in the midst of his prom-king&queen relationship with Gwyneth Paltrow. It was the summer of 1998 and he was beautiful.

Recently, my dear friend Nann reminded me of my Ben lust. It had been tarnished by the Jlo style-tan and the succeeding decline into ragged scruffiness. Add the poor movie selection and smoking habit and I was starting to doubt my boy Ben. But today I remembered why he is my celeb hottie of choice. And as I looked back at my dating choices over the years I realized that there is not a Ben in the bunch. In fact, there have been a lot of anti-Bens. No one tall. No one dark. No one handsome in that Han-Solo-kind-of-way. I think it's time that changed.

Begin Birthday Countdown

Did you know I love birthdays? Yes I do. Very much so. I think that birthdays are the greatest things. Why? Because they celebrate human beings. They exist to honour the joy of having a particular person in the world. They are not about a cultural or religious convention (Christmas, Easter). They are not marketing constructions (Valentine's Day). Birthdays are about people getting excited about other people being in their lives. And it is the one day of the year that you can unabashedly make all about you.

This week was full of birthdays. My nephew turned 1. My grandfather added another year. My friend Greg got "older" today and in exactly ONE WEEK it will be my turn. And for the first time in a long time I don't have a plan. Last year the invites went out a full month ahead of the date and I eventually celebrated for almost a week. So far I've received a decadent cake to enjoy while visiting Nat & Blair in Montreal. We even got an impromptu visit from Marge so it felt like an actually "party". And the cake? OMG! Chocolate mousse + raspberry sauce = dessert orgasm. WOW! But how will I celebrate the actual day? I have no idea. What would I like to receive? Hmmmmm...let me see.

With a self-indulgent mindset I can offer the following things I like would like. I have very few needs at the moment and although wanting anything when I already have SO much seems wrong I can't help myself! Right now there are two art prints that I am coveting by Trish Biddle. I'm a fan of Birds of Paradise and Sunflowers. A winners gift card will always be well-used! But really, there is little that I want at the moment that I cannot get for myself (except maybe those fantastic snakeskin pumps that I just can't afford yet!). I'm sure my mother has found a truly original something to send my way (I got a drinking game for Valentine's afterall). I could do with a decent neck massage to take away the stress I'm feeling. And really? I little action is always nice - but it looks like this is yet another birthday that's going to pass by without it (please, nobody "buy" this for me!!!) So I will just hope that the world keeps spinning for the next week.

Oh Oscar

Normally I would do an entire rundown of the Oscar telecast. But I found that there was very little to comment upon this year. Jon Stewart did a solid job of hosting. In particular I enjoyed his opening film and his ability to mock the proceedings as they happened ("we are officially out of movie clips"). Still, it's amazing how Hollywood can have NO sense of humour once you dress them all up. That is one aspect where the Golden Globes do better - the dinner & champagne setup of the Globes puts everyone in a better mood.

First, my favourite part of the evening was the fashion. Thankfully, CTV carried the pre-show from its American affiliate so I didn't have to suffer through more than 20 minutes of Ben Mulroney (btw - what's happened to his face?!). I always find that I never get to see enough of the clothes but this year was decent. Nice to see colour on the red carpet. I don't know about that big ruffle on Michele Williams though. And what was with the second head on Charlize's outfit? Props must go to Jen Garner for rocking her post-baby cleavage so completely (maybe that extra weight is what prompted her to almost take a header on stage?) But my top three are presented below. These ladies showed up with class and style. Reese rebounded perfectly from her Globes gaffe. Salma continues to personify buxom beauty. And Jennifer earned he way back into my good graces with her impeccable choice.

The telecast moved quickly. Much faster than previous years and this is a good thing. As well, the in-audience awards were removed meaning the presentations were definately cruising along. I guess that speech-prep video sent out by the Academy and Tom Hanks did the trick! Sadly, their were few surprises in the categories and few great speech moments. In fact some (the matching bowties from the Wallace & Gromet guys) were down right cringe-worthy. And then there was the anouncement of Crash as Best Picture.

OK - I almost threw something at the TV. WTF? I know my friend Dave will disagree with me here - but there is NO WAY that Crash was the best film of 2006. It is a heavy-handed & contrived story of limited depth presented through weak directing and melodramatic performances. Much of it makes little sense outside of the heightened emotional context of a film. It is populated with B-list actors and is essentially one step away from being an HBO produced movie-of-the-week. So overall, I was satisfied with the proceedings but not overly impressed with the results.

Number 1 Already?

Today is my nephew's first birthday. I can't believe he has been in the world a year already. It feels like yesterday that he was a nothing but a talc-smelling roast beef of a person that I could hold in the crook of my arm. Now he's a walking, pointing, babbling and smiling machine!! Way to cool. In ten days I get to celebrate my birthday. I have a feeling that it's going to be a mellow affair this year and, for once, I think I'm OK with that possibility. Does that mean I'm getting old?

Rapping to Redemption

Sometimes I find myself having to watch Saturday Night Live. The most recent instance occured while visiting friends who don't have cable. So what else to do late on a Saturday night when you've stopped "doing" the club thing? If you're like me, you may end up watching SNL and remembering why you stopped in the first place. Or, you will be like me last night and you'll enjoy the return of some decent sketches. And, most importantly, you will be treated to Natalie Portman doing this! Thank you Ms. Portman. I forgive you for all that prequel-jazz now.

Bio Blog #2 ... Natalie

This week I present Natalie - my best friend. She can get by on the one-name-thing cause almost everyone who knows me has heard of her. I have known her for 23 years. Truth be told, she is my Jiminy Cricket. I'm off to visit her (and her fantastic husband) this weekend when we will talk for hours, drink tasty martinis and engage in delicious cooking rituals. I will be nourished in all the good things in life by the time I get back - thanks to Nat for that!

I am ... quirky, bookish, and full of opinions.
I can ... imagine everything and plan nothing.
I love ... a small number of people with a large amount of ferocity.
I will ... never dedicate my life to acquisition.

What is your sign? Sagitarius
Where were you born? Sudbury
Where do you live now? Montreal

What has been the best place you've visited in between and why?
I spent a year in the South of France when I was 19. I had never lived outside of Sudbury before and France made me understand beauty. Poetry meant something after that. I went back for a month at 28 with my husband Blair, and I had no idea how much more beautiful beauty could be when you're in love.

What is your favourite:
Movie - Moulin Rouge
Book - Possession, by A.S. Byatt
TV Show - The Office (British version)
Drink - Red wine

Who is your celebrity hottie of choice?
Mark Ruffalo ... and Colin Firth ten years ago

If you could have lunch with anyone in the world ... who would it be and why?
Can it be someone dead? If so, then Sigmund Freud. I think it would make a funny story. ("And then I ordered sausages, and he was like 'Very interesting choice, my dear . . . '")

How do you know Raye?
We met at school in grade 3 and used to play make believe and My Little Pony in the woods together.

What 3 words would you use to describe Raye?
Ebullient ... Imaginative ... Fun

Do you have your own website? No

If I Were a Member of the Academy

It is only 4 days until the red carpet unfurled at the Kodak theatre and the stars arrive to pick up their little gold men. I have to say that this year's event is likely to be less-thrilling than other years. The potential and likelihood for an upset is low. The "winners" appear to be foregone conclusions. All of them are worthy choices. But some of them just wouldn't be mine.

Supporting Actor:
George Clooney - Syriana
Matt Dillon - Crash
Paul Giamatti - Cinderella Man
Jake Gyllenhaal - Brokeback Mountain
William Hurt - A History of Violence

The hard part here is that I haven't seen two of the films (Cinderella & Violence). I think the Academy is going to be split over Giamatti - who was snubbed for a Sideways nomination last year and Clooney - who they will want to reward in some fashion since it can't be for director or film! For myself, I'd like to see the new generation represent and get some gold-laminate in Gyllenhaal's hands. I've always been a believer that the supporting award must go to someone that "supports" the film and lead performers to the extent that the film would not be same without that portrayal. Jake is the only one who truly fits the bill from this list of nominees (but I liked him better in Proof to be honest).
Likely Winner? Clooney
Raye's Choice? Gyllenhaal

Supporting Actress:
Amy Adams - Junebug
Catherine Keener - Capote
Frances McDormand - North Country
Rachel Weisz - The Constant Gardener
Michelle Williams - Brokeback Mountain

Again - two performances on this list that I haven't had the pleasure to see (June & North) but neither of them are really in the running this year. The downside of this category is the inclusion of Weisz. In a "political" move to keep her out of the leading lady pack where the competition is tougher she has been slotted into this secondary group. The good thing? She's going to get an Oscar out of it and complete the awards season trifecta (Globe, SAG, Oscar). The bad thing? She shouldn't be running in this race at all - she had a leading role and is going to steal the award from a woman who truly gave an incredible supporting performance this year - Michelle Williams.
Likely Winner? Weisz
Raye's Choice? Williams

Lead Actor:
Philip Seymore Hoffman - Capote
Terrence Howard - Hustle & Flow
Heath Ledger - Brokeback Mountain
Joaquin Phoenix - Walk the Line
David Strathairn - Good Night, and Good Luck

If you had asked me in November I would have said this was Phoenix's award to lose. It appears now that it is Hoffman's to keep. It's always a tough year when the category is full of great performances and you everyone is deserving without any politics coming into play. It's also nice to see such a strong showing of younger actors coming into their own. That reality may sway people to want to support Strathairn - the lion of the group - but this won't be the case. For me, the best work is done by the one guy NOT playing a character based on a person in the real world - Heath Ledger. The challenge of "becoming" a (once) living person maintaining the character's reality but I've always been more impressed with actors who can conjure complete characters from nothing but words on a page.
Likely Winner? Hoffman
Raye's Choice? Ledger

Lead Actress:
Judi Dench - Mrs. Henderson Presents
Felicity Huffman - Transamerica
Keira Knightley - Pride & Predjudice
Charlize Theron - North Country
Reese Witherspoon - Walk the Line

The obvious oddity in this group is Knightley - I can only conclude that the actresses who nominated her were so shocked by the potential that Keira could act that they felt compelled to say something. But act to an Oscar degree in P&P? I don't think so. And aside for Walk the Line, the remaining films are small, critical faves that certainly gave their leading ladies material to devour. But this is no real contest. It's Reese's show - consider she never sang or played an instrument before taking the role? - and deservedly so.
Likely Winner? Witherspoon
Raye's Choice? Witherspoon

Adapted Screenplay:
Brokeback Mountain
Capote
The Constant Gardener
A History of Violence
Munich

Original Screenplay:
Crash
Good Night, and Good Luck
Match Point
The Squid and The Whale
Syriana

I love the screenplay awards. They are the starting point of all great films because they build the story foundation on which all the visuals are built. This year the field in both categories is strong and I've seen all the films but two (I can't believe the DVD release for Violence was delayed!!!). Truth be told, I have NO idea where the Academy is going to come down on these awards. Often, the screenplay awards go to strong films in other areas (acting, directing) which would favour Match Point and Syriana. Or, the award goes to the films that are the broadly competent like Brokeback. Then again, the award can go to the film that poses the "tough" questions (Crash) or delivers wonderful dialogue (Capote). It appears that the Academy writers know WHAT to nominate. The question will be whether or not the voters can agree on what to reward.
Likely Winner? Brokeback Mountain & Crash
Raye's Choice? Capote & Syriana

Best Film:
Brokeback Mountain
Capote
Crash
Good Night, and Good Luck
Munich

The best film race is a lack-lustre one for me this year. But it is likely one that the Academy enjoys. All the contenders are strong films. All the films have solid contributions from actors and/or feature the talents of acclaimed directors. But for me? The field feels empty. None of the nominees are films that made a substantial mark on me. Not like Million Dollar Baby or The Aviator did last year. Still, one film stands out as offering the best collection of goods in one basket and I will be surprised if the Academy doesn't agree with me.
Likely Winner? Brokeback Mountain
Raye's Choice? Brokeback Mountain

The Academy Awards will air on CTV (support your Canadian TV stations!) on Sunday, March 3. I will be at my best friend's place watching them. And not matter who wins, I reckon it will be a good time cause Jon Stewart is hosting!!!

Triptych

I took these three pics on a whim. And, due to a funky printing error they came out in bronzed shades of pink and yellow. I'm not an artist but I love my photography.