best films 2005?

here's the first opinion i stumbled on for the best films of 2005...

for the most part i would agree. and if the "we saved the best for last" motto is true, then the nod for brokeback comes as no surprise. i think america has embraced the film with some caution and takes comfort knowing in-advance, that the two cowboys don't end up leaving their wives for one another. i hope to live to see the day when hollywood delivers a huge film where two gay characters are the focus and that they end up remaining together, with a healthy relationship and a family.

yes breaders, we do have them just like you although those in power would like to present us as disfunctional and or standing behind "your god" spewing "he wouldn't approve". therefore, instilling further ideas of false strength, longevity and superiority for heterosexual relationships. since their isn't an idiots guide to relationships for either side, we all jump in with the best intentions. as long as the heteros are in control we wont have the opportunity to marry and raise a family and prove that we are just as capable as anyone else. with this in mind it's so easy for "them" to say "look, they can't make it work" then sit back and fuck up their own relationship. i'm stepping of my soapbox so we can get to the nods...

The best of the best
Which brings us to the subject of 10-best lists. In alphabetical order, here are my picks for 2005:

“Brokeback Mountain” (directed by Ang Lee). Annie Proulx’s wrenching 1997 New Yorker story, about two men who carry on a secret affair over a couple of decades, could easily have been turned into a snicker-inviting blunder. Miraculously, the movie seems to have inspired everyone involved, and especially Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal as the lovers who will not label what they feel.

“Brothers” (Susanne Bier). A devastating Danish film about a career soldier and family man who is shipped off to Afghanistan, where he is captured and forced into an impossible “Sophie’s Choice” situation with another prisoner. Connie Nielsen stands out as the wife who thinks he’s dead and is tempted to start a new life with his troubled brother.

“Capote” (Bennett Miller). Dominated by Philip Seymour Hoffman’s uncanny impersonation of Truman Capote, this is an accomplished film on every level. Dan Futterman’s script carefully sets up the series of relationships that made Capote’s unlikely authorship of “In Cold Blood” possible. Miller’s direction, especially his handling of a near-perfect supporting cast, makes them credible.

“The Constant Gardener” (Fernando Meirelles). The Brazilian Meirelles, who earned a surprise Oscar nomination a couple of years ago for directing “City of God,” makes the leap to mainstream movies with this confident, provocative adaptation of John le Carre’s best-seller about a politically motivated murder. Ralph Fiennes was born to play the title character, an ineffectual British diplomat with an activist wife (the surprisingly excellent Rachel Weisz).

“Good Night, and Good Luck.” (George Clooney). Clooney made an impressive directing debut three years ago with “Confesssions of a Dangerous Mind,” but he’s gone on to another level with this instant classic about Edward R. Murrow’s mid-1950s television showdown with Sen. Joe McCarthy. David Strathairn and Frank Langella are the standouts in a splendid cast.

“A History of Violence” (David Cronenberg). The Canadian director demonstrates his mastery with this story of a seemingly normal family whose lives are turned around when the father reveals his true nature — by committing what appears to be a heroic act. The sense of dread is palpable, thanks in large part to Viggo Mortensen’s assured performance in the central role.

“King Kong” (Peter Jackson). New Zealand’s most famous director scores another fantasy home-run with this magnificent three-hour-plus remake of (and homage to) the 1933 classic about a giant ape, his captive girlfriend and their disastrous visit to the land of skyscrapers. Perhaps no other film this year has so enthusiastically suggested a passion for movies and an appreciation of their history.

“Lord of War” (Andrew Niccol). Another gifted New Zealander wrote and directed this scathing satire starring Nicolas Cage as a gun-runner who makes a fortune selling Cold War weapons to homicidal dictators. As he acquires a trophy wife, misleads his conscientious brother and competes with a more seasoned dealer, Cage brings a cranky deadpan flair to an almost hopelessly amoral character.

“Mysterious Skin” (Gregg Araki). Araki’s eighth and strongest film is the most unsettling and memorable of the recent movies about child abuse. After a Little League coach molests them, two damaged boys grow up to lead entirely separate lives: one of them entrenched in comforting fantasy, the other acting out his frustrations through a dangerous street life.

“The Squid and the Whale” (Noah Baumbach). Who’d have guessed that a movie about a messy divorce could be so funny? Jeff Daniels delivers a career-best performance as a pompous writer, father and husband who can’t help putting his foot in his mouth. Laura Linney continues to astonish as the fed-up wife who sees a way out and takes it.

A second 10: “Broken Flowers,” “Crash,” “Downfall,” “Grizzly Man,” “Keane,” “Look at Me,” “Munich,” “Paradise Now,” “The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada,” “3-Iron.”

By John Hartl

Film critic

MSNBC

there's got to be a morning after

twas the night before christmas....and by 6:30 pm i was already down for the count, even before the gifts we exchanged! i understand now that as you get older, the packages get smaller then eventually end up as these cutesy little boutique bags. christ, i could barely get my hand in it! it made me think of my early days, exploring 501's....that's another story we'll leave under the rug. all sarcasm aside, it was a very relaxing and memorable christmas eve. first stop, yet another holiday in haddock with my extended family, the fornataro's (dan, joan aka mummsy and danny) and our FAB designer friend from the big apple, kaj! imagine what goes through his mind, trapped out here in the sticks of pa! with no surprise, those in the know always sport at least one piece of black during the holiday celebration! and since we're mentioning holiday attire, someone should take personal note that if you plan on sporting blue velour and a potty mouth, people will remember! the gifts were thoughtful, mummsy's city chicken was delicious as always and diana krall sang holiday classics in the background; the cd of course. we took in war of the worlds and the will & grace holiday special. sad to say, no beverly. to bed 2:30 am.

morning came too quickly, then i was whisked off (11 am) to the pilot truck stop (don't even, it's christmas) to meet up with my brother, kennet for the next trip to mom's in berwick. as always mom went over the top; her apt. was beautifully decorated with victorian themed trimmings and her gifts, very unique & personal. we were soon joined by my uncle, tony, which meant it was time to eat! well that was the plan but i had changed that unfortunately. by 1 pm i was wiped out, again, so i headed for the bed for another long nap. once i woke up i was seated at the table for a delicious holiday dinner filled with ham, my favorite vegetable-lima beans and homemade scalped potatoes (they blow martha's recipe right out of the pot!) and sandy's famous cole-slaw. sorry it's her secret mix and it's not public. no snow for christmas, just cool high 30's and rain.

kennet and i left around 3:30 pm and headed back to nepa. by 4:30 pm i was back on the road, driving to the big b for my shift 5-11 pm. funny, people rent movies like crazy on christmas night. we had shoppers all the way up to 11 pm. then 11:20 pm came and i headed back home, which takes half an hour one way, to unpack and unwind. all in all it was a wonderful time with both family's, it's just never enough time. i will say the only thing missing this holiday was diva.


this week i'll look forward to visiting with my other friends joe and peter. by the weekend david and wendy will have arrived from boston and we'll celebrate the new year at moms.

thanks to all of you for putting a little sparkle in my holiday! i needed that...

still time left to vote

i really enjoy this blog of mine. it allows me to express myself and share points of interest with just about anyone who might be interested in a moment of being ron b.. yes, it takes a great deal of time and patience but i never look at it as "work". it's a labor of love. seems others agree...the guys at best gay blogs have nominated me for "best gay blog 2005". i never imagined this kind of recognition and i'm so grateful for the consideration. if you would like to cast your vote, for my blog, click here. i'm under choice #3 (what is best gay blog). for those of you who aren't part of "our family" fear not, you wont have to face anything too "un-natural" by going to the link. i would appreciate your continued support and consideration. i would also like to mention one other blog that i enjoy visiting very much- large tony. his blog is well designed, thought provoking and best of all, well written. find his blog nomination under choice #1 for "best reviewed blog 2005". vote deadline 12/31/2005!

be marry, just a little

why not consider making this holiday season, different.

help yourself and others to realize that christmas isn't about how much you spent or how many "gifts" you gave.


make sure that you travel safely and drink responsibly. remember that there are many of us who want to be able to celebrate the season for years to come.

spending quality time with friends and family is most important. talk about what christmas really is, a celebration of life. let others know how much you appreciate them for who they are. be grateful for all the good things in your life. talk about how commercial the holidays have become and do what you can to change that into something magical and meaningful. help those who can't help themselves in any way you can; the gift of kindness costs nothing. the holidays can glisten for everyone; all we have to do is look deep inside ourselves.

make that change...

jake on brokeback

here's a piece from tv guide i stumbled on...

Brokeback Star Scoffs at "Courage" Talk
by Matt Webb Mitovich

Amidst all of the media coverage of Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain — and there has been just a bit — much has been made of the "courage" it took for two Hollywood leading men such as Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger to play Jack and Ennis, cowboys who, during the isolation of a sheepherding job, most unexpectedly fall fiercely and intimately in love with each other. Gyllenhaal, though, shrugs off the use of such a loaded, powerful word, saying, "All we did was service a story, something which, to this day, I feel is a lot bigger than any one person involved in the film.

"Does it take courage nowadays [to dramatize a gay romance] when people have very different opinions of what that type of relationship is? I guess," the actor allows. "But what is really courageous is people who are trying to be intimate in their real life and who are up against real obstacles. Heath and I, we were just making a movie for two months."

As both actors garner critical kudos for their performances, it's interesting to note that Gyllenhaal originally eyed the role that ended up going to Ledger. "When I read the script for the first time, I thought that Ang would want to cast me as Ennis and Heath as Jack," he reveals, "just because I felt Heath [like Jack] was more outgoing. You're used to him being a less passive presence. But when we were cast opposite what I thought, I realized that Ang recognized in both of us something that I don't think either of us saw. The want to push forward and progress and change things was something in Jack that I felt like I had, too, while Heath is the kind of guy who carries his heart on his shoulder, and is always protecting himself in different ways."

Once the roles were assigned, the rest fell into place, thanks to screenwriter Larry McMurtry's adaptation of Annie Proulx's novella. "I know it sounds very 'actory' of me, but the story is filled with so much subtext already, all I had to do, really, was show up to the set," says Gyllenhaal. "If you read the script, it's pages and pages of scene description for the actors, about how one's feeling for the other is 'like 1,000 streams of blood rushing through his veins.' The words and the people and the ideas beneath it drove us. If we had tried to do anything more than what we do in the movie, it would have been overdoing it."

Indeed, Brokeback pulls not a single punch, not even shying away from the men's love scenes, which at the same time are intense and roused with emotion. "In this movie, the love scenes are not very different from the fight scenes," Gyllenhaal notes. "It is an exaggeration to say that Heath almost broke my nose [as has been reported], but yeah, it was very physical between the two of us.

"I was afraid of how Ang was going to shoot it," he continues. "I think it's fair to say that even he wasn't sure how he was going to shoot it, whether he was going to show the initial [moments] and then cut away to the outside of the tent. But I consider myself a relatively strong-minded person, and I probably would have fought [for my ideas] until it came out the way that it did. But Ang did do it that way, so no worries."

it's too big-make it go away

you remember...faster than a speeding bullet, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound-----yes it's superman aka the man of steal! when i was younger i loved superman for a lot of reasons: he was the best looking supper hero at the time, he was strong, he helped people, he could fly and looked sexy in that body tight suit. over the years he hasn't changed too much, until now.

it has always been my contention that the film industry is run by many pigheaded, outspoken, male chauvinists who all seem to have a dark secret- penis envy. run a few titles through your mind and think about how many times we've seen naked women on screen. high number, yes? now think about how many times we've seen male nudity. perhaps they missed that conversation where dad tells jr. all about the birds and the bees. and if he didn't miss it, then he forgot the part where dad said that the average guy's penis isn't all so well off as compared to a select few whom they later saw during their first encounter with johnny holmes. normal is somewhat small, now get over it.

yes i know it's a hetro world for the most part but does that make it ok to constantly show women as a sex object first? i think not. i'm surprised more women haven't been screaming their heads off, always being denied a peak at the package. i think it comes down to yes or no for both sex's, equally. either show it or cut the scene. i'm remembering the recent articles about colin's cut nude scene in "home at the end of the world" and how the initial test audiences were affected by it. reports stated that the women literally went hog wild for the irish sausage and the men got uncomfortable, disgusted and left. america is so hoydedoydee about nudity and i'll never understand it. perhaps if we had been relaxed about it from the beginning we would be more comfortable with it now. i think much of the up-tight stuff comes from how focused our big corps and add agencies are about only showing the "beautiful people" to the public. perfect abs, boobs ready to bounce out and backsides that scream skateboard test area.

and now the rest of the news..
Brandon Routh, who is set to play Superman in the upcoming movie, must be feeling that same pride I felt when I realized I needed to switch from Magnum to MagnumXL condoms. The actor's package will be digitally reduced because the movie execs found it too distracting.

The new Superman is giving movie bosses a headache - because of the size of his bulge.

They fear Brandon Routh's profile in the superhero's skintight costume could be distracting, reports the Sun.

Hollywood executives have ordered the makers of Superman Returns to cover it up with digital effects.

The Sun's source said: "It's a major issue for the studio. Brandon is extremely well endowed and they don't want it up on the big screen.

Not only is this more proof that Hollywood executives ruin everything, but it suggests they have no interest in accurately portraying Kal-El (not that Kal-El) Think about it, Superman was definitely hung. All Kryptonians were. It has to do with gravity. It's science.

the new Ractis

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced the nationwide launch in Japan of the new Ractis*1 compact passenger car through Toyopet and Toyota Corolla dealers.

Meant to allow four adults to experience driving in comfort, not only in the city, but also on the highway, the Ractis was designed with “high-speed, high-capacity styling” as its theme, paying particular attention to performance, function and styling. It has a high level of performance that allows for spirited driving, as well as a comfortable and easy-to-use interior and a stylish exterior.

Despite its compact size, the Ractis combines a roomy interior—the biggest in its class*2—with styling that makes the car look nimble. New features aimed at making driving fun combine with superb driving performance for an exhilarating experience. Furthermore, a high level of versatility, the use of class-surpassing, high-quality equipment, and class-leading safety and environmental performance make the Ractis a “one car does it all”, top-quality compact car.

The Ractis is also available in a Welcab. Welcabs are specially equipped versions of Toyota production models with factory-installed features designed specifically for disabled people. Welcabs have a broad range of applications, and feature numerous specifications that make the most of the base vehicle’s features.

*1 Derived from “runner with activity and space”

*2 By comparison with vehicles of similar engine displacement

*3 Specified by the Law Concerning the Rational Use of Energy

skip the twig's!

concerned about content,
nutritional value
and fond of the stick?

consider judy's lovesticks breadsticks.


they offer a wide variety of choices from sticks to crackers.

yummy, yummy yummy i've got love in my tummy!

like no other

i'm not a "label" kind of guy but after watching the commercial for the new sony bravia, i had to share it.

they say it's "colour like no other"...see for yourself.

we could use a few creative minds like this in the white house!

easy to love

in case you haven't heard , somebody has finally made a wallet that's functional, sturdy, slim and cool to boot! check out all the jimi wallets here.

dreams never die

many years ago i had the privilege of seeing the show, live on stage, in boston. unfortunately, jennifer holiday wasn't part of the cast at that time. none the less it was a show and a moment i'll never forget. for those of us in our 30's -40's, most can still recall what happened the moment when we first heard jennifer begin "and i am telling you". if there is a "performer" in all of us then she's the one who uncovered our secret.

i'm hopeful that the screen version lives up to the legacy of dream girls, time will tell.

LA critics back cowboy love story

Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain, a film about two gay ranch hands who fall in love, has been named 2005's best film by Los Angeles film critics.

The film, which stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger, also earned Lee the best director prize.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman took best actor for his portrayal of author Truman Capote in Capote.

Vera Farmiga won best actress for playing a wife and mother who becomes addicted to drugs in Down To The Bone.

With 12 weeks to go until the Academy Awards, the critics' choices mark the start of the countdown to the Oscars.

Brokeback Mountain, adapted from a story by E Annie Proulx, also took top honours at the Venice Film Festival in September.

It has only just gone on release in the US, and does not reach UK cinemas until next month.

Eclectic film-maker

In recent years Lee has carved a name for himself as one of cinema's most eclectic film-makers. The Taiwanese director's other work includes martial arts drama Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, comic book adaptation Hulk, and Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility.

Ledger was the runner-up for the best actor prize, while Dame Judi Dench was the runner-up for the best actress award for her role in Mrs Henderson Presents.

Thriller A History of Violence was the runner-up for best film, with its director David Cronenbourg the runner-up for the best director award.

Catherine Keener took the best supporting actress prize for her work in Capote as well as three other films - The 40-Year-Old Virgin, The Interpreter, and The Ballad of Jack and Rose. Runner-up was Junebug's Amy Adams, who plays a pregnant young woman from the southern US who is captivated by her sister-in-law.

William Hurt took best supporting actor for his role in A History of Violence, with Good Night and Good Luck's Frank Langella the runner-up.

The Los Angeles Film Critics Association's awards will be handed out on 17 January. Next year's Oscars will take place on 5 March.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/entertainment/4518430.stm

Published: 2005/12/11 12:06:25 GMT

© BBC MMV

celebrate

Holiday Eating Tips

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine single-malt scotch, it's rare. In fact, it's even rarer than single-malt scotch. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an "eggnog-aholic" or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it!!!! Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or, if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Reread tips: start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to live by:

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming
"WOO-HOO what a ride!"
thanks kaj!

ford motor

FORD MOTOR-Yanks It!

Ford Motor Co's Jaguar and Land Rover luxury brands are pulling all advertising from gay publications, the company said today, after facing a boycott threat from a conservative religious group.

The American Family Association had called for a boycott of the carmaker's vehicles in May, but suspended the move in June for six months after talks with Ford dealers. The six months have now ended.

"While we still have a few differences with Ford, we feel that our concerns are being addressed in good faith and will continue to be addressed in the future," Donald Wildmon, chairman of the Tupelo, Mississippi-based group, said in a statement.

Ford, which has seen its US sales fall in all but two of the last 18 months, denied the decision was made under pressure from the AFA, which has criticised Ford for being too gay-friendly.

Ford spokesman Mike Moran said the company's cancellation of the ads is part of a plan to streamline the brands' marketing strategy. He said Ford's Volvo brand will continue to buy ads in gay-oriented publications.

A group of 19 organisations that support homosexual rights said they were "deeply dismayed" by Ford's action and expected the carmaker to meet with representatives from the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community this week.

"We expect Ford to publicly reaffirm its historic support for our community," the groups said in a joint statement on the web page of the Human Rights Campaign, the largest US gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organisation.

Ford declined to say how much it had spent on advertising in gay publications.

Ford's Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands have not advertised in gay media.

quality selection price

i was first introduced to "crate & barrel" the day i arrived in boston, mass some ten years ago. at the time this particular location was one of their flag-ship stores; if my memory is correct, there were at least five or six floors to shop! they had everything from furniture to day-to-day household items. it was a kitch heaven if you know what i mean.



since then, crate & barrel continues to offer a wide variety of items for everyday living. Good designs, unique items and a fair price have always lead me back, time and time again.




the company's latest adventure, cb2 , is a targeted direction for those up and coming urbanites who crave a more modern selection and lines that your grandmother would never think of owning. visit the site and feast your eyes on some really cool things. the site design is easy to navigate through and the layouts are a feast for the scene's.