Oscar Re-Hash

Wow ... what a waste. For the first time in a long time I am actually completely non-plussed with the Academy Awards. After completely pulling me in with the Hugh Jackman hosting gig last year (that man can do anything!) I found myself feeling very uncomfortable watching the awkward banter of Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin open this year's telecast. For 20 minutes the two of them made lame jokes about EVERY acting/directing nominee. Seriously? I don't have time for this.

I would have preferred if the Neil Patrick Harris (yay!) song had just continued straight into the award presentations. Considering Penelope Cruz presented first there could have been a nice "Nine-esque" segue from NPH's broadway to her arrival on stage. But that was not to be. Thoughts about the rest of it below...

Christoph Waltz wins his gimme award for Supporting Actor and has gives my favourite line of the night, "Oscar and Penelope [Cruz] - that's an uber-bingo!"

The stupid introductions of all the nominated films are back in the program. This setup was painful when only five films were in the running but this year they have to do ten. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. OK - at least the actors doing the presentations have something in common with the directors (John Travolta to Tarantino, Keanu Reeves to Bigelow, et) which is cool. And they got ride of the song-singing for all those nominations so I will accept the compromise.

I have decided that Amanada Seyfried has finally arrived. She's made it to the big party wihtout a "real" role yet but she is likely the most prolific young star of the year with three films floating around. She may be the new Julia Stiles.

The Hurt Locker taking a screenplay award was a surprise. First set up of the dominoes towards its win for the night.

The John Hughes tribute was nice. I am of the generation of the John Hughes cult and own most of his 1980s teen films. Watching the clips you really got to see how many young Hollywood stars he had worked with - even Robert Downey Jr. is in that mix. Sad to see so many of the brat pack looking so haggard on stage though. What the hell happened to Judd Nelson?

The short film awards always remind me that I need to pay more attention to this category and try to see the films when they come out. There is some really cool stuff being made!

I have to say I officially depise Ben Stiller now. Showing up in Na'vi make-up and making pointless comments to James Cameron is a waste of time. He spent twice as much time on that gag as the actual winner got to speak and that just isn't cool.

Precious wins adapted screenplay so it looked like the love is going to spread around a bit for these awards. At least if felt that way at the time.

I love seeing the costume design winners on stage because they always look so fabulous. Sandy Powell (winning for The Young Victoria) is no exception and she generously points out that costume designers on smaller, non-period films have just as hard a job even if it doesn't look so obvious. Props to them all!

Kristen Stewart shows up with Taylor Lautner to introduce a pointless (yes, more pointless!) montage of "horror" movies. It lookes like the Academy is on Team Jacob!!

Sam Worthington (yummy) shows up and is chewing gum on stage. I love him but that kind of thins is SO not cool!

Oooookay ... interpretive dance is used to show-off the nominees for Best Score. This is the type of thing that happens when a judge on "So You Think You Can Dance" is producing the Oscars. And I admit to loving the dancing. It was kickass. But really? Winners are getting played off by the band. Do we really have time for this stuff?

Bradley Cooper and Gerard Butler - two of my favourite crushboys of yore - showed up together ... in tuxes. Someone has been reading my private journal!

Jeff Bridges finally gots his little gold man. For a split second I thought it might be going to Jeremy Renner but some trains are moving so fast they must reach the destination.

Sandra Bullock now has an Oscar. She will, forever, be referred to as "Academay Award Winner Sandra Bullock". This pisses me off more than the Marisa Tomei thing.

Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win a directing Oscar. I thing that is very cool as I have been a fan for a long time. Also, I love that the woman's directing award went for a war movie. It truly is an epic result.

And then The Hurt Locker takes the big prize and I have to admit this surprised me. I know all the momentum was there but I didn't really think it would triumph in the end. I think the award says alot about a shift in the American culture where war is no longer crash/bang but an isolating experience. There is not alot of pride to be wrung out of The Hurt Locker but there is a lot of duty and bit too much addiction and these two things appear to be more explicit in the American perspective than before and so a movie that represents them is the champion

24hrs to Oscar

This is probably the latest I have ever written a pre-Oscar blog. But as my procrastination knows no bounds and my boyfriend was in town this week I have found challenging to sit and comment. Admittedly, I found the nominations a bit underwhelming and a few of them downright disconcerting and so I have had to take time to reflect on what I would write leading up to "the biggest night in Hollywood". As well, as the awards season continued and the conclusions seemed to look more and more forgone, I got a tad disheartened and wasn't sure I would write anything at all. But with 24hrs to go before the red carpet welcomes the (supposed) best of 2009, I had to put down a few lines on the big categories. So here we go...

Best Supporting Actress
Penélope Cruz in "Nine"
Vera Farmiga in "Up in the Air"
Maggie Gyllenhaal in "Crazy Heart"
Anna Kendrick in "Up in the Air"
Mo'Nique in "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire"

I find this category to always be an interesting one. It can contain the most intriguing mix of performances and this year is no exception. I must admit to only seeing on film on this list so the lovely ladies from "Up in the Air" are the only performances I can speak to directly. Both are strong performances. Kendrick in particular strikes a chord and holds her own admirably against George Clooney. As a supporting performance, hers gives the leading man the most to work with and definateley elevates the film. Farmiga is talented at achieving a calm strength and is definately Clooney's equal - perhaps making her role a leading lady type and not appropriate for the category. As for the others, Cruz is getting a supporting not for a film with no other key nominations which suggests to me, that while her performance may have been excellent, no one wins for holding up a house of cards. Maggie Gyllenhaal may deserve this award just for being noticed next to the scene-stealing powerhouse that is Jeff Bridges. And while I don't believe this is her year, I think we will see her on this list again. And then there is Mo'nique who is going to win this award on pure gusto alone. All reports indicate that her abusive mother is a mother of a performance and one so central to the Precious storyline that it is definitive of the supporting actress category.
Odds on: Mo'Nique
I would like to see: Anna Kendrick

Best Supporting Actor
Matt Damon in "Invictus"
Woody Harrelson in "The Messenger"
Christopher Plummer in "The Last Station"
Stanley Tucci in "The Lovely Bones"
Christoph Waltz in "Inglourious Basterds"

Looking at this list now it almost feels silly. Everyone knows there is only one name in this category and that is Christoph Waltz. The guy's performance in "Inglourious Basterds" is magnetic, scary and accessible - even when he is speaking another language. His charater links the threads of the film together and I cannot imagine what it would have been without him. For that he deserves all the gold he has received this season. As for the others, it really does not matter. I find it surprising that Damon is in nominated at all for his role in "Invictus" was so small that I could hardly say Damon achieved something extraordinary. The Plummer and Tucci nominations are kind tokens to deserving actors but "The Last Station" was not widely released and "The Lovely Bones" was widely panned so both men will suffer from the exposure of their products. And I wish I could comment on Harrelson but "The Messenger" just made it to theatres here in Canada and so his worthiness remains a mystery to me. I'm sure if he won it would be entertaining but that event will have to wait another day.
Odds On: Christoph Waltz
I would like to see: Christoph Waltz

Best Adapted Screenplay
"District 9" - Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
"An Education" - Nick Hornby
"In the Loop" - Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" - Geoffrey Fletcher
"Up in the Air" - Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner

Adapted screenplays can be tricky (just ask the team working on the Twilight films!) because the must respond to a source material and create an effective base for a different medium. I have always believed that an adapted film that can capture the essence of it's source and achieve something cinematic is the sign of great work. In this respect, all of the nominations are deserving. The easiest translation may have been "District 9" which was adapted by its original writer and is an extension of its original format. Still, "District 9" is an exceptional film with a creative and effective narrative and if it had been written from scratch I am sure it would have landed a nomination for original screenplay. "An Education" is a gem of a film. It is like a perfect engagement ring - well-set, multi-faceted and with a special brilliance. It is also written by one of my favourite authors who has made a name for himself writing confused man-children and this film uses that strength quite well. "Up in the Air" is supposedly far afield from its original novel but the film is well-written and the screenplay definately contributes to a solid picture overall. As the screenplay awards are often given to the films that have strong achievements across the board but cannot be justified as the big prize winner this may be the route for Air. I have not seen "Precious" or "In the Loop" but I don't think they are true contenders in this race.
Odds On: "Up in the Air"
I would like to see: "District 9"

Best Original Screenplay
"The Hurt Locker" - Mark Boal
"Inglourious Basterds" - Quentin Tarantino
"The Messenger" - Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman
"A Serious Man" - Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
"Up" - Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy

What a tough race this one is. "The Messenger" is a true dark horse with a limited release that will definatley work against it. In a year when the other side of war is being wide-spread it definately had the message to snag this golden nod. The Coen's are known for their exceptional writing and "A Serious Man" ended up on many best picture lists for 2009. "Up" is riding the coattails of it's opening 5 minutes which are so heartfelt and well-crafted that the story feels much stronger than it is. But, in truth, the narrative of "Up" weakens as the film progressing so the film will have to settle for the best animated film prize instead. Which brings this fight down to "The Hurt Locker" and "Inglourious Basterds". And in a story-telling fight? I have to go with the basterds. The tale is so crazy and compelling and well-constructed that Tarantino deserves to have his words gold-plated - finally.
Odds On: Inglourious Basterds
I would like to See: Inglourious Basterds

Best Actor
Jeff Bridges in "Crazy Heart"
George Clooney in "Up in the Air"
Colin Firth in "A Single Man"
Morgan Freeman in "Invictus"
Jeremy Renner in "The Hurt Locker"

Everyone keeps telling me that Jeff Bridges is going to win this award and so I guess it is his to lose. I personally have no interest in the movie and I find that broken-down-men-seeking-redemption performances to be rather annoying. It is nice to
see Colin Firth finally in an oscar race but I think the weaker elements of the film will keep his performance from being recognized beyond the nomination. Ditto for Morgan Freeman who appears to be fulfilling a wish of Nelson Mandela rathern than expanding his range with "Invictus". Which leaves us with Renner and Clooney. The former is a little-know character actor. The latter Hollywood royalty. Both play men at the mercy of their circumstances who must find out how they wish to be defined. Both men offer exceptional performances. Renner's has a quiet depth that is magnetic to watch. Clooney's achieves a level of casualness that actually turns a matinee idol into an everyman. But I guess it won't really matter because Bridges has the crazy heart - and the history - to stomp all over them.
Odds On: Jeff Bridges
I would like to see: George Clooney

Best Actress
Sandra Bullock in "The Blind Side"
Helen Mirren in "The Last Station"
Carey Mulligan in "An Education"
Gabourey Sidibe in "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire"
Meryl Streep in "Julie & Julia"

For me, the biggest issue with this category is two-fold. One, Sandra Bullock is in it. Two, Emily Blunt (for "The Young Victoria") is not. The fact that the former is going to sweep in and take home a little golden man makes me even madder. Yes, it is the Julia Roberts/Erin Brockovich thing all over again and it sucks. I hate that one of "America's Sweethearts" is about to win an award for playing a sharp-tongued do-gooder when the role is easily a movie-of-the-week on the Hallmark channel. So oh well to Helen Mirren - who can do no wrong. Too bad to Carey Mulligan - who managed to recapture 16-year-old innocence and bravado so well. Uh oh to Gabourey Sidibe who had to similate things on film that noone would want to do and she did it with grace and intent. And so sad to Meryl Streep - who can do no wrong.
Odds On: Sandra Bullock
I would like to see: Gabourey Sidibe

Best Director
"Avatar" - James Cameron
"The Hurt Locker"- Kathryn Bigelow
"Inglourious Basterds" - Quentin Tarantino
"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" - Lee Daniels
"Up in the Air" - Jason Reitman

This is the big race. No matter how many films you put in the Best Picture category or what happens with the actors, Best Directing is THE race. It is the race about filmmaking. It is the race about realizing a vision. It is the race about who created something from nothing by bringing together other artists and making it work. And for that, the award should go to Kathryn Bigelow. Her direction of "The Hurt Locker" is extraordinary. The palate, the shots, the pacing is amazing. The story works because of what she has created behind the camera to give us the world we see on the screen. I hope this award is properly bestowed. This is not to say the others are deserving. James Cameron re-invented the experience of movie-going and this may put him on the podium a second time but his "Avatar" is too-heavy and poorly paced and all the visuals in the world can't hind that failure in direction. His win for "Titanic" was at least for a film that was well-directed epic and "Avatar" pales in comparison. Tarantino remains a master at story-telling but his consistency falters. Daniels is nominated for having the pure guts to make a movie out of the Sapphire story. And Reitman has a ways to go before his award will come. But it will. Reitman's films are solid, cleanly directly (almost too clean) pictures and if he continues on his current track he will be rewarded eventually.
Odds On: James Cameron
I would like to see: Kathryn Bigelow

Best Picture
"Avatar"
"The Blind Side"
"District 9"
"An Education"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire"
"A Serious Man"
"Up"
"Up in the Air"
Oh goodness, 10 films this year. What was the Academy thinking? More movies does not necessarily mean better choices or that the true film will emerge victorious. A couple of key things: "The Blind Side" should not even be in this race. It has NO other nominations in any of the filmmaking categories so how can a film with no artistic strengh be a best picture? Shameful. "Up" is a deserving film for animated feature but its story-telling and execution do not put it in the same category as others on this list. If it was "The Incredibles" I might consider its inclusion but not this year. "A Serious Man", "An Education" and "District 9" are great movies. They will remain in the listings of favourites from 2009 and as gems of solid movie-making but none are BIG enough to snag the top prize. "Precious" is an odd addition and its strength confuses me. But heart-wrenching drama/trauma has always been considered cinematic so perhaps it does do what is necessary. But let's not kid ourselves. This is a three movie race and they could reduced the nominations and it would still have worked out this way. Yes, I know the media has made it an "Avatar" versus "The Hurt Locker" showdown but this is because of the personal history of the directors. If Bigelow and Cameron had never been an item then the field would be wider and the film I feel most deserving - Basterds - would be getting more credit. Here I am hoping for a split vote between the Smurf-war and the real-war and the re-envisioned-war will prevail. From an artistic point of view, "Inglourious Basterds" is amazing. It creates a whole new world and tells an engaging story and uses cinema in an inventive way. It is what iconic films are all about and it should be recognized as such.
Odds On: "Avatar"
I would like to see: "Inglorious Basterds"

Boyfriend Trip

My boyfriend arrived today for a 5-day visit. Last night I couldn't sleep at all due to an annoying mixture of excitement and anxiety. Excitement sounds right. But anxiety? Stupid me. But that is the way it is for me these days. I spend equal parts on the happy train chugging through the days towards a future with a general blueprint and the anxiety plane spiralling through turbulent fears of unrealized potential and income stress. Add to this scenario the fact that I am in my first long-distance relationship (first relationship period!) and it could make for more sleepness nights if I wasn't so tired.

So, yeah, my boyfriend arrived today. And it was awesome. Because he is awesome. He can somehow manage both my excited and anxious expressions without breaking a sweat and calms me into a satisfied state of feeling loved. After a full morning of text messages I could finally leave the office at lunch and get to see him. To hug and kiss him. It was almost too much for my brain to handle because it has never had to prossess that kind of information before. It seems like technology can now keep us instantly in contact but it will never be the same as actual closeness.


I was desparetly unhappy with the distance situation by the end of my first week in Ontario. The feeling was augmented by the fact that I had no idea when we would be seeing each other next and it appeared like Easter (two months away at that time) would be the only chance. And that sucked. Eight weeks of waiting sucked. So I got pushy and, thankfully, the airlines got cheap and we ended up with him coming here in March and me going back to Halifax at Easter. Whew! Eight weeks was quickly cut in half and I could feel myself relax. I could now handle the distance because I knew it would end soon. I had a date on the calendar that I could look forward to. It is amazing how much of a difference that made.

And now he is here. And we have five days together. I know there will be moments on the perfect happy train. I know there will be moments on the crazy anxiety plane. But at least I get to hold his hand now on the ride.

Saturday with Family

Today I got to sleep in until 9:30am! My nephew was up at 5am but since I'm only the aunt, I didn't have to be there for that. So at 9:30am I got to walk downstairs and enjoy a breakfast of pancakes that I didn't even have to make. Living with family can be amazing. I am blessed to have my brother and his family open their home to me, and their kitchen. I will officially get fat eating all of their amazing home-cooked leftovers.

After breakfast it was time to suit up and wander out into the big, fat, falling flakes. It was a winter wonderland this morning and perfect snow for snow fights and snowmen. After tossing around a few snowballs with my nephew it was time to help with the family-made snowman. And what a snowman he is! Rob and Kat are hardcore about their winter crafts! There was serious body-shaping and the addition of arms, ears and a crown of spiky hair! With a carrot nose, gravel teeth and kiwi eyes, our 5-foot-plus creation was complete. What a wonderful way to start the day. You never know how fulfilling family time can be until you have gone a long time without it. And then you want it to last forever (okay, maybe not forever outside, but you get the picture).

15 Year Old Rye

I first moved to Toronto in the summer of 1994. I was 19. I was on my way to study journalism at the newly-minted Ryerson Polytechnic University. The school had a great reputation for media arts and I was stoked to have passed the tests for entrance. And so I arrived, and failed, and built other things for my life far away from the city of Toronto.

Now I am back and I am amazed at the changes. Ryerson has become a veritable force in the heart of Canada's largest city. The grey, drab building of my days are receiving facelifts and the glowing name of the school hovers above the city blocks with omniscient intent. Spreading its wings, the university has crossed over Yonge Street and established the Ted Rogers School of Management (they may soon have to rename the school Rogers University as the company supported the communications building over on Jarvis as well!). The management school now occupies the space where the firts multi-plex cinema was built in the city and where I would regularly (too regularly?) skip off for movie matinees between classes.

The iconic Sam the Record Man spinning disks are finally gone and the proposed Student Learning Centre is moving in to take its position less than a block from Canada's version of Times Square. Growth is deemed inevitable but part of me is sad to see the small institution with a firm grasp on developing hands-on disciplines morph into another cookie-cutter community of commercialized academics. The other part of me is reminded of how much has changed - for me. Fifteen years and I am back in Toronto. The garden paths of my youth are overgrown and lost to concrete and I feel a sense of release in that reflection. So long Rye High.

Go Train Go!

So I am a commuter now. I officially "live" in the suburbs and work in the city. My commute takes me on the GO Train for a daily trip every morning and evening of my working week. I have survived one week so far and the trips have become a pleasing ritual.

I was nervous about having to take the train. In order to make it to work for 9am I must board the train at 7:38am!! Anyone who knows me will understand that I am rarely (never?!) awake - let alone dressed and OUT of the house - at 7:38am! It has changed my morning and made me more alert upon arriving to the office. The morning ritual begins with a brisk walk to the station and then settling into the seat of my choice. The good thing about getting on the train at the end of the line means that there are many vacant seats to choose from. Of course, it also means that I am on the train for a long time. The trip to the city takes an hour. In that time, the sun fully clears the horizon and sends golden shafts into the windows. I have taken to reading in the morning but often find myself dozing mildly for a portion of the trip. By the time the train hits the halfway mark of the journey the seats are full and I am happy that I am not one of the many people who will have to stand for the ride.

The ride home is more of a challenge. The sun sinks quickly and the trip's darkness does not help my tired eyes after a day of work. I missed a train once this week and had to wait a full hour downtown before the next one arrives. After 7pm there is no train and I must take the GO bus back out to the 'burbs. It has been an interesting development in my life to commute to work. At the moment I enjoy the extra two hours of time each day to read my books. It would be better if the train had Wifi but I think I will tackle this challenge by downloading a good TV series (maybe "Dexter") onto my Ipod and watching an episode as the train brings me onward in and out of my day.

Lovely Surprise (with Tears on the Side)

One of the things I love the most about loving someone is when you get surprised. I woke up the day after moving to Ontario for work and found the poem below in my boyfriend's facebook status. It's sweetness and quality surprised me. And, yeah, it made me cry.

The morning after will not be bright, for the great Pisces did take her flight, into Darkness and out of sight. The Sun will shine but not the light, of my Raye who went to fight, concrete Jungle of big and might. And the River pours throughout the night.

Trawna Bound

And so here I am, sitting in the Halifax airport about to board a plane to Toronto. Only this time it is a one-way flight. This time it is with two suitcases full of workday clothes. This time it is for an entire season. This time it is an end. This time it is the beginning.

I am not sure how I feel about it all at this point. I feel like crying because I am leaving my excellent man behind on the east coast. I have never had to make a life choice with another life in the mix. It is a challenging experience to say the least.

I feel excited because I know I am moving on to something new. I am about to be invigorated with a different work environment and learning new tasks. I feel open to the opportunity to be moving to the country's largest city and all it has to offer. I will become a commuter and I will have access to events that previously felt so far away. How fun it may turn out to be!

I feel happy because I will be moving to my brother's home and I will be able to see my nephew and neice on a daily basis. It will be a joy to reconnect with my family and I count myself so lucky to be able to take a job opportunity and be supported by family in the process. Often I am not aware of the gifts in my universe until they are readily at my fingertips. But lucky I am.

I delayed my departure as long as I could. But now it is time to go. Time to step into a role that will hopefully connect me to the next path in my life. I have taken a gamble by leaving a full-time job that I understood very well to take a short-term contract in a completely different role. But I have a partner, family, friends and a dynamic city on my side. So HELLO! I say to Toronto. I am on my way.