The Column of Life

Best Actor: Terrence Howard David Strathairn Heath Ledger Philip Seymour Hoffman Joaquin Phoenix Best Actress: Keira Knightly Felicity Huffma Reese Witherspoon Judi Dench Joan Allen Best Film: Brokeback Mountain Capote Crash Munich Good Night & Good Luck Best Supporting Actor: Paul Giamatti George Clooney Matt Dillon Jake Gyllenhaal William Hurt Best Supporting Actress: Amy Adams Rachel Weisz Michelle Williams Frances McDormand Catherine Keener

... and each other's. Wendy Wasserstein and Coretta Scott King

It may or may not happen: your fondest hopes. The fact that there is a film of the magnitude and depth of Brokeback Mountain out there for consideration makes many things all worthwhile. Go here for more input.

Hoffman, considered the favorite for the best-actor Oscar as Capote amid the author's struggles to research and write the true-crime novel "In Cold Blood," had gushing thanks for his "Capote" co-stars. "It's important to say that actors can't act alone; it's impossible. What we have to do is support each other," Hoffman said. "Actors have to have each others' backs. It's the only way to act well is when you know the other actor has your back, and these actors had my back, and I hope they know I had theirs." "Brokeback Mountain" has been considered the best-picture front-runner at the Oscars, whose nominations come out Tuesday, with awards presented March 5. Its loss to "Crash" could prove a speed-bump on the film's path toward becoming the first explicitly gay-themed movie to win a best picture award at the Oscars, but "Brokeback Mountain" has dominated earlier Hollywood honors, so it w...

The 2006 Bloggies are happening. Vote for your favourite. We like Andy!

from afterelton.com IT’S BROKEBACK’S WORLD. WE JUST LIVE IN IT Okay, I’m going to try and nutshell all of this week’s news. As of yesterday, Brokeback ’s box office tally is just under $44 million dollars in the US and a little more than $10 million overseas. That means, even before the Oscar nominations have been announced, the movie has officially turned a profit, so put that in your pipes and smoke it wingnuts! Towleroad has a great interview with Brokeback producer James Schamus . And today brings us Oprah’s Brokeback Mountain show with the entire cast, including Jake Gyllenhaal, who flew in from location to make his first promotional appearance with Heath Ledger. No word which of them will be the one to...

From Adrian Paul's website: 2004 - Movie Made For Television- "TIDES OF WAR" "TIDES OF WAR" is a made for television project executive produced by Paul Colichman and Steve Jarchow with Brian Trenchard Smith as director. Adrian portrayed the role of COMMANDER BURT HABLE, an A me rican attack submarine commander. When an enemy submarine with stealth capabilities attacks his submarine, he loses two of his crew, including his best friend. After a military inquiry, tensions with North Korea co me to a head, and he is once again asked to captain the sub and lead it deep into enemy territory on a secret mission. Also cast is Matthew St. Patrick ("Six Feet Under") as COMMANDER STEVEN BARKER and Catherine Dent ("The Shield") as LT. CLAIRE TRIFOLI and Matt Battaglia ("Spanglish") as MALONE. Release has yet to be determined. U.S.S. Poseidon: Phantom Below , a submarine thriller in the vein of The Hunt for Re...

Anna Teresa Callen (nee Vitacolonna) imparts a great recipe to her culinary students that came from her mother. It’s a custard that has three names depending on the relationship that one has with its creator. Here we are simply calling it: Crema Raffaella © Anna Teresa Callen 1985 Anna says, “It is a basic custard which works well as a filling for cakes and can be combined with many other flavours and other ingredients.” It is delicious and practical very much like Italians themselves. Anna adds, “The best pot in which to make this crema is a copper zabaglione pot. You can also use an enameled one.” It makes 2 cups 4 large egg yolks ¾ cups sugar 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 cups milk 2 strips lemon peel 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1. In the pot combine the yolks, sugar and flour. Mix with a wire. Whisk until smooth. Slowly add the milk, stirring until the mixture liquefies. Add the lemon peel. 2. Place the pot over low to medium heat and cook the custard stirring constantly un...

And so begins the task I have dreaded the coming of For so long I wait for the sun To remind my body It needs restin' And I must learn to live without you now I must learn to give only part some how Camping on the edge Of your city I wait Hoping someday You might See Beyond yourself The shadows on the ceiling Hard But not real Like the bars that cage You within yourself And I must learn to live without you now I must learn to give only part some how And I must learn to live without you now As I cannot learn to give only part some how All of these cages Must And shall be set aside They will only Keep Us from the knowing Actors And stages Now fall before the truth And the love Shared Between us Remains ...Growing And I must learn to live without you now As I cannot learn to give only part some how -- Stephen Stills ( Manassas )

Hey, Tonight's "Undercover" show will be the last one on a Tuesday. We will begin Thursday shows on Feb. 9th. Tonight's show will feature the music of Dolly Parton. I will not be in costume. That disappointment aside, the songs are still amazing. So, stop by Mr. Denehey's on Carmine @ 7th Ave, Downstairs from 8:30 until 10, or will that be "9 to 5"? MAJ P.S. I will be back at the Rockwood on Tuesday, Feb. 21 for a late set. I'll keep ya posted.

The results of the Canadian election are interesting. Conservatives 124 seats - 36.25% (popular vote) Liberals 103 seats - 30.22% Bloc Quebecois 51 seats - 10.48% NDP 29 seats - 17.49% Independent 1 seat - .52% Other 0 seats - 5.05% Voter turn out was around 65% A majority government requires 155 seats. At dissolution the Liberals held, I believe, 134 seats. So in effect, the Conservatives are in no better position to govern than the Liberals were. They may, in fact, be somewhat worse off, because the opposition is solidly (particularly the NDP and Bloq) to the left. The Conservatives did not pick up the seats they wanted in Atlantic Canada or Ontario, although they did manage about 9 more seats in Quebec. In order to get legislation passed they will have to depend on consensus, something that Steven Harper indicates he is willing to do, but which many of his more right-wing MP's will bridle at. Social conservatism is unlikely to make many gains in this Parliament, not on...

... when QUEEN LATIFAH told ISAAC MIZRAHI that she was in love with someone, but wanted to keep the person's identity a secret. That seemed to be hinting at some kind of revelation, but then, when Mizrahi asked who in the crowd she might have a crush on, she heterosexually declared, "George Clooney!" There were so many levels of weirdness to that remark that I'm doing the Felicity Huffman look as we speak.

CBC and CTV both predict a Conservative minority government

Capitalizing on increased exposure from the Golden Globe awards, Brokeback Mountain galloped into 1,196 venues, up 513 from last weekend, and saw business grow 35 percent to an estimated $7.8 million. The cowboy love story was No. 1 from Tuesday to Thursday, and it had its highest weekend rank yet at No. 5. With $42.1 million in the till, key Oscar nominations and further expansions could propel the picture past $100 million.

The current buzz is for the The Night Listener based on Armistead Maupin and Terry Anderson's relationship and break-up. It's great that a star of the magnitude of Robin Williams has stepped up once again to play gay, but more interesting is that Bobby Cannavale once again has stepped up to do the same. Maybe he has done that more often than Christian Campbell, maybe not. No matter. Like Jake and Heath he has become "our own." At this point it matters not whither the orientation. Just ask Mr. Christopher Meloni.

Grey's Anatomy is so bereft of original and creative ideas that it has to rip off ER which ripped off St.Elsewhere ?

When Aguirre says to Jack Twist, " Twist, you guys wasn't gettin' paid to leave the dogs baby-sit the sheep while you stemmed the rose ," there seemed to be no doubt regarding his allusion. Here in the hallowed halls of Column it seemed that there was a metaphorical rose that needed a metaphorical stem, so, it was not difficult to go from point A to point B. What is interesting about this phrase is that it comes from Randy Quaid's character in the film, which a small yet pivotal role in Brokeback Mountain . The role is indicative of human alpha male response to two young males having sensual fun with one another. Still it is a great phrase. Other interest lies in the fact that Sunday's New York Post actually acknowledged and discussed it. It was the second of two articles discussing this film in Rupert Murdoch's Post. Rose That Has No Name by Sara Stewart January 22,2006 Uh ... come again? That line from "Brokeback" spoken by Randy Quaid...

There has been some mention of the Canadian Liberals trying to taint the Canadian Conservatives with George Bush's influence should they win the upcoming elections via some negative TV adverts. Only time will tell should they win this week. Canada has been a progressive beacon in the Northern part of this hemisphere. One can hope that it will continue its progress and that Canadians will continue to be the North Americans without arrogance. Our in-house Canuck, Brian had this to say recently about the election: "Well, at the moment it looks like a Conservative minority, although the last week can be very volatile in Canadian politics. Assuming no slip-ups on their part and that their redneck image is sufficiently glossed over, they will probably form the next government. It remains to be seen how successful they will be, however. Social conservatism is not popular and the other 3 parties will manage to keep that in line. I would expect, if it is a minority, it will last 18 mon...

Michael Scanlon, who is Abramoff's former partner and has pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe a Congressman, in 2001 told the New Times of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., that Abramoff had "a relationship" with the President. "He doesn't have a bat phone or anything, but if he wanted an appointment, he would have one," Scanlon said. Nonsense, say others. A former White House official familiar with some Abramoff requests to the White House said Abramoff had some meetings with Administration officials in 2001 and 2002, but he was later frozen out because aides became suspicious of his funding sources and annoyed that the issues he raised did not mesh with their agenda. A top Republican official said it was clear to him that Abramoff couldn't pick up the phone and reach Bush aides because Abramoff had asked the official to serve as an intermediary. Time Magazine has more

Tower Records at Lincoln Center and Faust Harrison Pianos are pleased to announce the return of Any Wednesday at Tower for a second season. This series, which celebrates the best in cabaret, Broadway and jazz vocalists, was a great success in 2005, giving the audiences a chance to enjoy some of today's finest singers celebrating the great American songbook for free. And we have an even more exciting list of performers lined up for 2006. Each performance begins at 6:00 p.m., lasts approximately 30 minutes, and is followed by a signing/meet-and-greet session with that evening's artist. Tower Records Lincoln Center is located at 66th Street and Broadway, in Manhattan. The performances take place on the lower level in the vocal/jazz department. Seating is limited. As always, there is no charge for the event. On Febraury 1, 2006, to celebrate the return of Any Wednesday , we are pleased to have Broadway and cabaret star Karen Mason. Ms. Mason's new CD, "Sweetest of Nights...

On good authority, the DVD for Brokeback Mountain will be released April 4, 2006. Come April you can take it home with you. In the meantime the magnificent cinematography is a veritable artistic landscape to be enjoyed on the large screen. It's hoped that houses will show it on the theater screen from time to time for that very reason.

Any readers who have been around for a while will know that Brokeback Mountain is a favourite on this blog. They may also remember that Chris Meloni is someone we treasure as more than just an actor. So it is in fact a double pleasure to read the following: "Brokeback Mountain" star Jake Gyllenhaal and director Ang Lee will be honored with the Human Rights Campaign's Equality Award. Brokeback and "Transamerica" - about a woman born biologically male - have accelerated understanding of LGBT issues Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese said in announcing the award to Gyllenhal and Lee. "These two films have ignited a firestorm of honesty that is sweeping the nation," said Solmonese. "At dinner tables across the country the conversation about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality is being informed with true portrayals of American life". Also being awarded a HRC Equality Award will be Chris Meloni (NBC's Law and Order: SVU a...

Hillary has created a very useful metaphor for the current powers that be. It can be applied to the Executive Branch of government as well. After all the party in power is the beneficiary of the Southern Strategy that took root starting in the 60s but actually can be traced back to Strom Thurmond's run for the White House in 1948. One need look no further than last September and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to get an actual verification of that attitude. Lest We Forget: Life will go on but not without the overriding thought that not only will one of the major cities of the United States with a rich culture never be the same, but the US itself will never be the same. The unofficial end of summer marks the unofficial end of the Bush Presidency as well as its ascendancy which was based on the false hope of its ability to protect the citizens of this country from terror. Katrina was a natural terror and Ol’ George flunked this test miserably. There is no glory in that for those w...

“It’s kind of surreal, the level to which this movie has just changed my life. The amount of synchronicity that has come from this one choice, one day, just deciding to do this movie, and now I have just the two most beautiful girls in the world, who I fall deeper and deeper in love with daily." Read more here

... interesting this, given the current debate on soon to be confirmed Justice Scalito -- from the Washington Post. Justices Uphold Oregon Assisted-Suicide Law In a Blow to Administration, Ruling Paves Way for Other States to Follow Suit By Charles Lane Washington Post Staff Writer Wednesday, January 18, 2006 The Supre me Court upheld Oregon 's law on physician-assisted suicide yesterday, ruling that the Justice Depart me nt may not punish doctors who help terminally ill patients end their lives. By a vote of 6 to 3 , the court ruled that Attorney General John D. Ashcroft exceeded his legal authority in 2001 when he threatened to prohibit doctors from prescribing federally controlled drugs if they authorized lethal doses of the me dications under the Oregon Death With Dignity Act. The ruling struck down one of the administration's signature policies regarding what President Bush calls the "culture of life" and lifts the ...

Hey, Well, as you know, I don't pick the nominees for the "Undercover" shows. Not that I don't love the category for this week. I just wasn't expecting it when it was called out from the crowd. I'm very psyched that it won, however, as it allows for some amazing songs. We will be celebrating the songs of Lesbians. Yes, lesbians. As expected, there will be songs by Melissa Etheridge, Indigo Girls and K.D. Lang. I will also include some lesser known ladies who love ladies, along with those who have been rumored to, like Joan Armatrading, Jill Sobule, Tracy Chapman and Catie Curtis. Of course, it will be an enjoyable show for people of all genders and orientations. I hope you can make it out this Tuesday, to Mr. Denehey's, on Carmine and 7th Ave, downstairs at 8:30 PM. MAJ P.S. Thanks to everyone who came out to the showcase at Rockwood. You guys packed the place and made me look good. I will definitely be back there later in the year.

"I know as actors our job is usually to shed our skins, but I think as people our job is to become who we really are and so I would like to salute the men and women who brave ostracism, alienation and a life lived on the margins to become who they really are," Huffman said.

The appropriate and notable moments happened when S Epatha Merkerson winning for Lackawana Blues mentioned her menopause and her first lead role at the age 0f 53. George Clooney for his supporting role win inappropriately thanked Jack Abramoff and pointed out the appropriateness of the first and last syllables of his name. How appropriate for the star of The Good, The Bad & The Ugly and sometime director to give the award to Brokeback's director, Ang Lee. Mr. Hoffman and Ms. Huffman for their roles as marginal people in this complicated world where we all live. Both have worked hard and long. Thank you, Hollywood Foreign Press for Brokeback Mountain 's Best Dramatic Picture Award.

Movie: Brokeback Mountain Artist: Emmylou Harris Song: A Love That Will Never Grow Old Santaolalla/Taupin Go to sleep, may your sweet dreams come true Just lay back in my arms for one more night I've this crazy old notion that calls me sometimes Saying this one's the love of our lives. Refrain: Cause I know a love that will never grow old And I know a love that will never grow old. When you wake up the world may have changed But trust in me, I'll never falter or fail Just the smile in your eyes, it can light up the night, And your laughter's like wind in my sails. (Refrain) Lean on me, let our hearts beat in time, Feel strength from the hands that have held you so long. Who cares where we go on this rutted old road In a world that may say that we're wrong. (Refrain)

Was the year of his death. It was the year that George Wallace won the South in the Presidential Election. It was the year that Nixon was elected. The more things change the more they stay the same. The Dream nevertheless lives on. Al Gore referred to it: As Dr. King once said, "Perhaps a new spirit is rising among us. If it is, let us trace its move me nts and pray that our own inner being may be sensitive to its guidance, for we are deeply in need of a new way beyond the darkness that seems so close around us."

Al Gore delivered an exceptional and potent speech today attacking George Bush’s lawless NSA eavesdropping and describing why this scandal is truly a profound crisis for our country. The speech was reasoned yet still exceptionally impassioned and principled. It clearly highlighted the serious dangers posed by Bush’s law-breaking without being the slightest bit strident or hysterical. Go here for more.

Tulsa pastor arrested on lewdness accusation From the Tulsa NBC Affiliate Channel 2 OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- An executive committee member of the Southern Baptist Convention was arrested on a lewdness charge for propositioning a plainclothes policeman outside a hotel, police said. Lonnie Latham, senior pastor at South Tulsa Baptist Church, was booked into Oklahoma County Jail Tuesday night on a misdemeanor charge of offering to engage in an act of lewdness, police Capt. Jeffrey Becker said. Latham was released on $500 bail Wednesday afternoon. Latham, who has spoken out against homosexuality, asked the officer to join him in his hotel room for oral sex. Latham was arrested and his 2005 Mercedes automobile was impounded, Becker said. Calls to Latham at his church were not immediately returned Wednesday. The arrest took place in the parking lot of the Habana Inn, which is in an area where the public has complained about male prostitutes flagging down cars, Becker said. The plainclothes off...

Dear Papa Ratzinger, "civil unions" are none of your concern. Please abandon the homuncular theory of sexuality upon which so called Xtian dogma bases its disdain for the human condition. Ah, for the days when the Pope was "the prisoner of the vatican." On the other hand Jimmy Carter would make a better Pope. He does everything a good Pope should. Can we have the election over? From the January 17th issue of The Advocate: "I worship Jesus Christ, who never mentioned homosexuals in any way -- certainly not in a deleterious fashion. I've never looked upon it as a reason to condemn a person." Mr. Carter also believes what has been espoused here that the government should legalize and acknowledge civil unions for all. Marriage should be sanctified only in a religious context, i.e. a Church. Not to mention this quote from the New Testament. (1 Corinthians 13) "... Faith, Hope and Love Remain. the greatest of these is love" Gay Love is good, becau...

Then there are those who are just fine with Mr. Gyllenhaal, who not only has youth and good looks on his side, but a great deal of talent. Odds are he'll be around a lot longer than some. Andy Towle reported on some of Jake's Acknowledgment this week with exclusive photos. Go to Towleroad to see.

Some are Obsessed with Brokeback because it does what a once in a lifetime movie does. What makes for interest are those who don't like it who are obsessed with it, e.g. Mickey Kaus of Slate . Really, Mick, it's okay if you don't like it. It's okay if you don't like Jake Gyllenhaal. It's okay if you have issues with homosexuality. Closet case homophobes are ubiquitous. Sad, really. It would be very easy to quote Mr. Shakespeare here about protesting too much. So, instead ... Mr. Klaus, may we suggest one of many worldwide counseling centers. You're a journalist, you'll know where to go.

Ilene Kristen the quintessential New Yorker was born in Brooklyn Heights but eventually found herself living on the Upper West Side for so me of her formative years. As many an urban child especially of that era she and her sister were given directives regarding which streets could be traveled. One street that had 100% permission for her young adventures was Broadway, which served as inspiration for the luminous and joyous noise she gave forth in a duet of Boogaloo Down Broadway with Pierce of the Triad last night after her show. Ilene’s show is full of reminiscences in which she relates to her audience as if they were in her living room. She herself says so. Nonetheless the music is sultry, smooth and funky at one and the sa me ti me . Still this smoothness wraps itself around complex and sensitive lyrics in her original material. One difficulty in attending this lovely, talented woman’s shows is that the na me s of her songs are difficult to re me mber, because sh...

Good Morning Kiss -- Carmen Lundy Liner Notes "I hear other, older, singers talk about there not being any young vocalists,” says Carmen Lundy. In the spring of 1983, anybody living in New York City was well aware of the fact that there was a startlingly talented young vocalist in our midst. Gary Giddins, one of the tougher of our jazz critics, wrote a piece in the Village Voice about Carmen Lundy that said it loud and clear: “She’s got it all.” Several weeks later. John S. Wilson, writing in the New York Times, put it this way: “In the five years since Carmen Lundy arrived in New York from Miami she has developed a vocal range, a presence and a sense of direction that have put her in the front rank of contemporary jazz singers.” Giddins ended his piece by writing, “Carmen Lundy is her own woman, and Jazz has been looking for her for a good long while.” Well, Jazz, here - after an interminable wait - is Carmen Lundy’s debut recording, “Good Morning Kiss, and I won’t use the clic...