Canadian stars stage tsunami benefit
TORONTO (CP) - The cream of Canadian show business, the arts and sports assembled at the CBC broadcasting centre Thursday evening to take part in Canada For Asia, a three-hour, history-making live telecast in support of relief efforts for the tsunami victims of South Asia.
Only a week earlier the entertainment extravaganza, carried on all the CBC channels and a collection of private radio and TV stations, was just an idea in the heads of its organizers, including singer Tom Cochrane, MP Ruby Dhalla, Senator Jerry Grafstein and a coalition of major relief agencies.
Grafstein said that to be present at the creation of the event has been a shining moment and one of the great human experiences of his life.
"Tonight we're listening to the words and music of Canada and I think if you listen really carefully, we're really listening to the heartbeat of Canada."
Cochrane said he was so impressed with the energy backstage.
"We do have to make a stand as a community of celebrities, our small little niche of it anyways," Cochrane said. "In essence we have to be leaders. . .I'm very proud to be a Canadian and I'm proud about how generous you all are."
There were poignant moments, including on-the-scene reports from CBC correspondents in the disaster area. But it was all laced with humour. In one sketch, the Trailer Park Boys talked about the money they could raise by selling their home-grown pot to the celebrities backstage, suggesting that Don Cherry already bought $400 worth.
Opening the show, co-host Rick Mercer joked about how crowded it was backstage with all the celebrities present.
"Margaret Atwood is sharing a dressing room with Tie Domi tonight. The Kids in the Hall are actually out in the hall."
In a taped contribution, Prime Minister Paul Martin said all Canadians have been touched by the loss and devastation in South Asia and have demonstrated a remarkable generosity of spirit and solidarity over the past two weeks.
"I've spoken with the agencies on the ground, and with the leaders of some of the affected nations. They're grateful. They are moved."
Martin encouraged Canadians to continue to give because a long-term commitment to rebuilding in the devastated regions was required.
"We can't walk away from these people and we won't."
In another pre-recorded segment, Mike Myers introduced the rock band Rush.
"I just wanted to say how proud I am to be a part of this event," Myers said with uncharacteristic seriousness. "I also want to say how much of a Rush fan I am. . .they are an amazing band."
One of the evening's highlights occurred when the program switched to Las Vegas and a lavish production number from Celine Dion's stage show.
"Everyone here in Las Vegas is supporting us," Dion said as the camera switched to her applauding audience.
"Like everyone, my heart has been broken by the pain and by the loss and suffering of so many," she said with emotion. "But the world is answering the call. Everyone wants to help. And tonight is your chance."
She repeated her remarks in French.
Hilary Duff, the American teen sensation who is currently on a Canadian tour, also made a recorded contribution.
"Every time I've been in Canada, I've been knocked out by the kindness of the people from coast to coast," she said. "And tonight the world community is depending on that kindness to help rebuild the 12 countries devastated by the recent tragedy."
Writer June Callwood noted that there has been a lot to be upset about lately - including "slaughter in the Middle East," environmental troubles and millions dying of AIDS.
But the response to the tsunami has been encouraging, she said.
"We got something that touched us all, and we rose to the occasion."
While no one wanted to set a donation target, Grafstein said they would have a tally Friday. He said, too, that a CD and possibly a DVD of the benefit was planned to raise even more money, since all the contributing artists agreed to waive rights issues.
Viewer donations would be shared by such agencies as World Vision, the Canadian Red Cross, UNICEF, Oxfam, Care, Save the Children and various groups recognized by CIDA.
Some 1,800 volunteers agreed to staff 1-800 call centres. The number appeared at the bottom of the screen throughout the telecast along with the website www.Canadaforasia.ca.
The ‘Write’ Stuff
It was a good day for NBC stars who moonlight as screenwriters, as Saturday Night Live co-head writer/''Weekend Update'' co-anchor Tina Fey and Scrubs leading man Zach Braff scored Writers Guild of America nominations.
Fey’s script for Mean Girls scored a nod in the best adapted screenplay category; she’ll be up against Before Sunset, Million Dollar Baby, The Motorcycle Diaries and Sideways. Finding Neverland, an early Oscar favorite, was ineligible for a WGA, as it was not produced in accordance with Guild guidelines.
As for Braff, his Garden State was among the nominees for best original screenplay, alongside The Aviator, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Hotel Rwanda, and Kinsey.
The 57th Annual WGAs will be handed out Feb. 19 in Los Angeles.
An Interview With John McCrea of Cake
Since 1994's "Motorcade of Generosity," and through songs like "The Distance" and "Short Skirt/Long Jacket," Sacramento's Cake has toed a fine line between smart, sardonic humor and blissfully infectious tunes.
The trend continues with their latest release, "Pressure Chief," which features the '80s-synth hit "No Phone," the funky "Wheels," and a deliciously peculiar cover of Bread's "The Guitar Man."
"Chief," while sharing the self-production ethics of its predecessors, marks the first time the band--vocalist/guitarist/songwriter John McCrea, guitarist Xan McCurdy, bassist Gabe Nelson and trumpet player Vincent di Fiore--engineered an album on their own, resulting in some happy experimenting. "We didn't actually know what we were doing when we first started," McCrea explains. "We kind of learned as we went, and ended up making mistakes that are on the record that I think ended up sounding good."
The album was recorded in a Sacramento home studio in the summer of 2003, and the band will soon be hitting the road, with stops in Ireland, the UK, Belgium, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on the calendar.
McCrea spoke with liveDaily about making "Pressure Chief," anti-gratuitous innovation and his prime directive.
liveDaily: How long did it take you to make "Pressure Chief?"
John McCrea: I'm writing all the time, so it's kind of hard to say how long that takes. It takes a while. Some songs come within five minutes, some songs take years. I just have to be there for that process. We spent about nine months on that last album, but not constantly recording; nine months working on stuff, then taking a short break, listening to it, and going back. Because we produced it ourselves, we have to allow a little bit more time for objectivity to creep in. With the luxury of an outside producer, that objectivity, I think, things can move more quickly than they do with us. But if I spend a lot of time and effort recording a certain guitar part, it's going to take me a while to come to the conclusion that we need to throw it out, and that the song sounds better without it. That's what a producer can do for you, is just say, "Nope. It doesn't work. It doesn't matter how long you spent. Let's move on."
Is this the first album you produced yourselves?
No, actually we've produced all of our albums ourselves, from the very first one. On this album, we not only produced it, but we engineered it ourselves. We got an old house, bought some microphones, tried to figure out how to place the microphones, tried to learn how to use the equipment. There's a learning curve that you can hear on this album. We decided to leave some of the imperfections in there. I think it's not really a matter of perfection; it's a matter of appropriateness. Like, whether or not a sound serves the overall song. I think a lot of times, engineers get caught up in the idea that things have to be perfect. I think what is perfect is what is appropriate for the song. So sometimes you really have to re-examine.
The video for "No Phone" is basically the same concept that you used for "Short Skirt/Long Jacket," turning the camera around.
Yeah, a lot of people said, "It's the same video as you did last time." We said, "Well, do you even get it? Do you even understand what this band is?" Look at our album covers. We're anti-gratuitous innovation. We think that's wasteful, and we're creating a set. We also believe in themes that carry through. When everything has to completely reinvent itself every couple of months, it's more a sign of low self-esteem than it is, I think, innovation. Dishwashing detergents are nervously scratching for new flavors.
It's "super extra new!"
Exactly. Cars trying to redesign themselves to create more demand. That stuff makes me barf. So the fact that it's incumbent upon a band to somehow do that every album just pisses me off infinitely. Because I think my prime directive is to be in service of the song, whichever song that is. Not some sort of conceptual idea about the evolution of a band, which to me is just senseless if it's not in service of the individual song. An overarching evolution of a band is inevitably going to violate the individual rights of a song. In other words, say you have 10 songs, and you say, "Oh, we're going to move it in this direction." Well inevitably four, five, or six of those songs don't want to move in that direction. It wants to move in the opposite direction. So everything has to be taken on a song-by-song basis. I think when bands let some sort of conceptual goal dictate aesthetic considerations, inevitably you're going to have compromises that are going to really hinder the full expression of individual songs.
The Nominees Will Be Announced on January 25th
Likely Best Actor nominees:
Jamie Foxx, Ray
Paul Giamatti, Sideways
Don Cheadle, Hotel Rwanda
Javier Bardem, The Sea Inside
Johnny Depp, Finding Neverland
Likely Best Actress nominees:
Annette Bening, Being Julia
Hilary Swank, Million Dollar Baby
Imelda Staunton, Vera Drake
Laura Linney, Kinsey
Emmy Rossum, The Phantom of the Opera
Likely Best Supporting Actress nominees:
Cate Blanchett, The Aviator
Laura Linney, Kinsey
Virginia Madsen, Sideways
Natalie Portman, Closer
Meryl Streep, The Manchurian Candidate
Likely Best Supporting actor nominees:
Jamie Foxx, Collateral
Clive Owen, Closer
Morgan Freeman, Million Dollar Baby
Alan Alda, The Aviator
James Garner, The Notebook
Who has Oscar aura?
And the Oscar goes to. . .
Ballots for the movie industry's annual pageant are due back for tallying Saturday. The nominees will be revealed Jan. 25 and the winners feted at the 77th annual Academy Awards show Feb. 27.
As usual, Hollywood's publicity machine has been drumming up support for potential winners. And the 5,808 voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — as usual — will overlook some great performances.
"Often, the academy isn't voting for the best performance. It's the industry declaring who's in the club and who's a worthy successor," says Oscar prognosticator and Movie Awards author Tom O'Neil of goldderby.com.
The potential pool of 2005 nominees may be even more jumbled than in past years. "It's not one of the greatest for big quality movies, so small pictures are going to dominate thoroughly, and the odds-on candidates will come from these films," says Peter Herbst, editor in chief of Premiere magazine.
Second-tier industry and regional film society kudos have concentrated on a select batch of movies and actors, including critic favorites Ray, Sideways, Million Dollar Baby, Hotel Rwanda and The Aviator. Yet except for Baby, Aviator and Ray, most are relatively low-budget films seen by few moviegoers.
Muddling the selection process: Some acting categories appear overstocked with Oscar-worthy performances. "I wouldn't want to come up with five nominees for best actor this year," says People magazine film critic Leah Rozen. "This year, you could come up with 20 names. They're all that good. You can overdose on all the good male performances."
Surefire nominees are less certain for best actress and best supporting actress. "It wasn't a terribly strong year," says National Public Radio film critic Peter Rainer. "In general, better roles are written for men, so there are few standout roles for actresses and fewer standout performances."
So which actors and actresses are worthy of attention but long shots to be nominated? We asked several film critics and industry watchers for their favorite acting performances of the year that they hope won't be forgotten on nomination day.
For actor, don't forget
Kevin Bacon - The Woodsman, now in theaters
As an ex-con pedophile struggling to get on with life, Bacon pulls off a "finely tuned, bold performance," says Mark Harris, Entertainment Weekly editor at large. The film's late December rollout will hurt Bacon's chances.
"You have to wonder if (distributor Newmarket Films) made a mistake opening it in such a crowded season," he says.
Gael García Bernal - Bad Education, in limited release, on DVD
Convincing in multiple roles, Bernal "was brilliant; one of the great acting performances of the year," says Premiere's Peter Herbst, who also cites Bernal's performance in 2004's The Motorcycle Diaries.
Bernal probably will be overshadowed by Spanish-speaking rival Javier Bardem. "It's a double tragedy because (Bernal) gave two showcase turns," Oscar watcher Tom O'Neil says. "But if any Spanish heartthrob is going to get it, it will be Javier, because he has the cool factor."
Jeff Bridges - The Door in the Floor, on DVD
Bridges' portrayal of a boozing, philandering children's book author "is one of the smart comedic performances of the year," People's Leah Rozen says. "He's a very long shot. The movie came out too early and didn't do well, so it's going to get lost."
Billy Crudup - Stage Beauty, on DVD March 8
His turn as Shakespearean-era actor Ned Kynaston was largely unnoticed and the film quickly forgotten. "He did an astonishing job in a very multi-dimensional role," says Stephen Farber, film critic for Movieline's Hollywood Life. "It's a shame he'll be overlooked."
Mark Wahlberg - I Heart Huckabees, on DVD Feb. 22
The oddball David O. Russell comedy was hurt by poor reviews and a paltry $12.6 million box office. But Wahlberg, cast as firefighter Tommy Corn, gives "the most unexpectedly terrific performance this year," GQ film critic Tom Carson says. "He's absolutely sharp and seems to know exactly what he's doing, which makes him the exception in this movie."
Actresses who are deserving
Lynn Collins - The Merchant of Venice, in theaters
In the latest adaptation of the Shakespeare play, Collins' portrayal of Portia "was striking and commanding," Farber says. "When she impersonates a male lawyer, she seemed to become a completely different character. You're seeing two performances by the same actress."
Julie Delpy - Before Sunset, on DVD
Although Delpy received a screenwriting credit, it's unclear how much of her monologues with Ethan Hawke were improvised and what was based on the script. "A pretty amazing performance that will likely be penalized because she made it look too easy," Harris says.
Catalina Sandino Moreno - Maria Full of Grace, on DVD
Playing a desperate Colombian drug runner, Moreno delivers "a beautiful, radiant, heartbreaking performance," People's Rozen says. Says Us Weekly movie editor B.J. Sigesmund; "She's so good, you can't believe it's acting. She made you feel like you were watching a documentary."
Julia Roberts - Closer, in theaters
The Mike Nichols ensemble film about relationships and adultery showcased Roberts in "as strong a performance as she has ever given," Harris says. But he says Roberts will be overlooked: "There's a tendency on the part of voters to punish women who play cool-headed and own their sexuality."
Kate Winslet - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, on DVD
Charlie Kaufman's comedy-drama showcased an underrated effort after her equally standout performance in Finding Neverland.
In Sunshine, "Winslet gives Jim Carrey so much stuff to react to," Carson says.
Worthy supporting actresses
Julie Christie - Finding Neverland, in theaters
Christie's appearance as Kate Winslet's mother may be too brief to muster Oscar consideration. But she's "awfully good," NPR's Peter Rainer says. "In a few deft strokes, she really brings a character to life — it's a marvelous piece of acting."
Regina King - Ray, in theaters, on DVD Feb. 1
As Ray Charles' girlfriend Margie Hendricks, King, perhaps best known for 1996's Jerry Maguire, "brought fired hurt to her role," Rozen says. "Any movie she's in, she just lights up the screen."
Sophie Okonedo - Hotel Rwanda, in theaters
Building upon 2003's Dirty Pretty Things, Okonedo shines as Cheadle's beleaguered wife, Tatiana. Okonedo showed "grace, courage and quiet determination," Puig says. "A great performance," Herbst says.
Lynn Redgrave - Kinsey, in theaters
Her appearance as a lesbian grateful for sexologist Alfred Kinsey's research lasts only about five minutes. Still, "It's a goose-bump scene that hits like a thunderbolt," O'Neil says.
Sharon Warren - Ray, in theaters, on DVD Feb. 1
Warren's turn as Ray Charles' mother "was awe-inspiring and gut-wrenching," says Larsuel of 3blackchicks.com. EW's Harris agrees but says Warren, in her first film, will be hurt because she's a Hollywood unknown: "To vote for her, academy members have to make the effort to find out who she is."
Supporting actors worth notice
Eric Bana - Troy, on DVD
Brad Pitt had a far higher profile, but Bana, perhaps best known as The Hulk, gave a moving performance as Hector. "He's been waiting to break out for about five years," Us Weekly movie editor B.J. Sigesmund says. "Pitt was ham-fisted, but Bana was fantastic."
David Carradine - Kill Bill: Vol. 2, on DVD
As Bill the Snake Charmer, Carradine, best known for '70s cult TV show Kung Fu, is perfectly cast by Quentin Tarantino. "This is a Tarantino specialty — find someone who hasn't done anything (big) in years," GQ's Carson says. "The problem is the idea that giving anyone from a Kill Bill movie a nomination is impossible."
Freddie Highmore - Finding Neverland, in theaters
As Johnny Depp's foil, the dimple-faced 12-year-old gives a charming, heartfelt performance, O'Neil says. Depp was so impressed that he asked director Tim Burton to cast Highmore in his next film, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
John Lithgow - Kinsey, in theaters
As Alfred Kinsey's fanatical minister/father, Lithgow's revelations about his own sex life are powerful and revealing, but his appearance may be too brief for recognition. Says USA TODAY senior film critic Mike Clark: "There have been supporting performers who have won Oscars with amazingly small roles. But brevity can hurt, and I think that's the case here. If Lithgow had had just one or two more major scenes, it might have made the difference because he really humanizes the kind of rigid personality it's easy to caricature."
Tony Leung Chiu Wai - Hero, on DVD
As the protector of a warlord facing assassins in ninth-century China, Wai, a former TV comedy star in Hong Kong, is "absolutely amazing in a film completely underrated by American audiences," Kamal Larsuel of 3blackchicks.com says.
Grammys Fit for a Queen
Queen Latifah's the host with the most.
The rap pioneer turned Oscar-nominated actress turned jazz vocalist has been tapped to host the 47th annual Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy announced Thursday.
The 34-year-old multimedia star becomes the first solo Grammy host since Jon Stewart held down emcee duties at 2002's ceremony. The past two years have featured celebrity presenters and artists handing out trophies or throwing to perfomers.
Latifah, on the other hand, will be a one-woman band. Aside from hosting, she will also perform a selection from her latest release, The Dana Owens Album, which happens to be up for Best Jazz Vocal Album.
"Queen Latifah is an extraordinary Renaissance artist with unparalleled style and substance," says Neil Portnow, president of the Recording Academy, "and her passion, talent and personality make her an excellent choice as host for our show. We are delighted to have [her]."
Latifah first garnered fame as hip-hop's leading female star on the strength of her 1989 debut, All Hail the Queen. She segued to movie-making in 1991 with a bit part in Spike Lee's Jungle Fever, went on to headline two TV series (Living Single and The Queen Latifah Show) and racked up a solid movie résumé before becoming a full-fledged star in 2002 with back-to-back roles with her Oscar-nominated turn in Chicago and the smash comedy Bringing Down the House.
Her other big-screen credits include Set It Off, Sphere, Living Out Loud, in which she first showed off her vocal prowess as a torch singer, and Barbershop 2: Back in Business, the latter role setting up her own haircut-themed spinoff, Beauty Shop, due out March 30.
She has two other projects set for 2005: The Muppets Wizard of Oz TV movie, in which she plays Auntie Em, and the romantic comedy Last Holiday, a remake of the 1950 film costarring LL Cool J and currently shooting in Prague.
CBS has live coverage of the Grammys Feb. 13 at Los Angeles' Staples Center. Kanye West goes in as the preshow favorite with 10 nominations, followed by Usher and Alicia Keys with eight apiece, the late Ray Charles with seven and Green Day with six.