There was a time during my 32 years that Ben Affleck was my #1 celebrity crush. I would drag Jeff with me to any movie he starred/appeared in just for the sake of getting a glimpse at him. One of the first movies we ever saw together was Shakespeare in Love (1998). We went for the simple fact that I knew Ben was in it. His part was minimal and I mean, minimal. He's barely on screen but I didn't care and we ended up absolutely loving the movie so it worked out. That's just an example of my affection for him... I don't really need to bring up the fact that I made Jeff go see Reindeer Games with me opening weekend do I? Or Forces of Nature? Or that I would squeal with delight whenever I watched Dazed and Confused and Mallrats and he would appear all douchebaggy onscreen? And that I absolutely, positively adore Chasing Amy because he is so fantastic in it (the part when him and Alyssa are in the car and it's pouring down rain and he tells her he loves her? Ugh. So fantastic. SO. Fantastic.) You get the point. I loved him a lot. Then that whole JLo fiasco happened. I felt betrayed. All those years of supporting anything and everything he ever did and then he goes and gets tangled up with her dumb self? Blech.
Anyway, my crush subsided. New movie boyfriends occupied the #1 spot (Ewan McGregor, Colin Firth etc.) and Ben was lingering in post Gigli hell. Then, wouldn't you know it, he goes and breaks up with Jennifer Lopez (THANK GOODNESS)... and after doing Daredevil together (which I loved) starts dating Jennifer Garner. HE STARTED DATING SYDNEY BRISTOW, you guys. And just like that, all was forgiven. If my JG says he's A-OK, then he's A-OK in my book too. He fell off the radar for a little bit, got married to Jennifer Garner, started having kids. He began getting recognition for his part in Hollywoodland and his directing stint for The Town (which was excellent), doing charity work and just being awesome at everything.
My point to this drawn out, rambling, gushfest is that I am so proud of him and all that he's accomplished with Argo. No, I don't know him and never will. Yes, he's just a celebrity but I feel like I've watched him grow into this super talented, fantastic fella. He's so genuine and honest and that is awesome. Argo is an excellent movie (also, Victor Garber is in it with a sweet perm. You can't go wrong with that!) The feel of it is so real and the intensity of it is insane. INSANE. He deserves every single award he has been nominated for and won. He's worked his ass off and it shows. My hats off to you, Mr. Affleck (and your beard). I am in awe of your work and in love with your little family (not in a creepy/stalkery way though, I promise). Congratulations and enjoy every second of your victories.
And To all those naysayers out there and the stupid Academy Awards for not recognizing him for Best Director? Argo F- yourselves!
Speaking of The Oscars... ZZzzzZZzzz..
Oh, Sorry, I must have dozed off just thinking about them for a second. The Borescars, The Snoozescars, the Fakescars (by the by, Carrie vetoed all of
these clever names I came up with last night. I can't imagine why.) I was fine with Seth MacFarlane. I thought he did a decent job. Yeah, he was bordering on rude sometimes and he made fun of the celebrities but uhh, he's a comedian. Just like with Ricky Gervais, they knew his brand of comedy when they asked him to host. Even Tina Fey and Amy Poehler made fun of celebrities at The Golden Globes. That's what they do. Don't ask comedians to host these classy events if you don't want a little bit of snark to happen. I liked all the singing and dancing (Joseph Gordon Levitt and Daniel Radcliffe!). It was just a snoozefest. I know that if they did the categories that everyone cares about (Best Actress, Actor, Director, Picture) in the beginning, it would probably only take an hour. I get why they draw the broadcast out but for crying out loud! I don't care who wins for sound or editing. There has to be a way to make it more exciting, right? Jennifer Lawrence and Ben Affleck made all those hours of sitting there, bored out of my mind worth it. She handled her little tumble up the stairs with class and grace and well, you already know how I feel about Ben. His acceptance speech for Best Picture made me so happy and when he thanked his kids?? Forget about it. I was all teared up. SO great.
Also, I have a suggestion for next years Red Carpet interviews; I propose that instead of all these fake TV people (Ryan Seacrest, anyone on ABC etc.), they get all the late night hosts to conduct the on carpet interviews. Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Craig Ferguson, Conan O'Brien, Jon Stewart. It would be hysterical and fantastic and so much more entertaining than watching Ryan snub someone on that stupid Mani-Cam again. Ugh.
As I said earlier, Argo was fantastic. Completely deserved best picture but I would have been OK with Lincoln or Silver Linings Playbook taking home the award as well. Daniel Day Lewis WAS Lincoln. He was outstanding, as well as Tommy Lee Jones. I don't usually enjoy movies like that and I willingly admit that I only saw it because Jeff wanted to but I'm glad I did. I truly enjoyed it. Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper were so wonderful in SLP. It's the kind of movie you think about for days after you see it. I absolutely adored it.
I watched Butter a few weeks ago. It stars Jennifer Garner, Ty Burrell, Rob Corddry, Alicia Silverstone and Yara Shahidi. This movie is riddled with funny people. Every scene you notice an actor you love and it seems completely weird that all these people are in this movie together (and that it's good). It's about a butter carving competition in Iowa. Jennifer Garner (Laura) competes against Yara Shahidi (Destiny) and it's silly and weird and very charming. Rob Corddry is great in it. I loved his character a lot and the role that JG plays is completely different from anything she has ever done. It's awesome. Check it out if you like to laugh.
Dawn brought over Pitch Perfect last weekend and we watched that. What a fun movie that is! It's one of those movies I can see myself being able to watch every time it's on. It's funny and sweet and I loved the entire cast a whole lot (but especially the Benji boy. He was my favorite).
On the TV front...
I hate to admit this... but... I've been a little (real) disappointed in my Vampire Diaries so far this season. First Elena was whine-tastic after becoming a vampire and crying every episode. Then they started this storyline about a cure for vampirism. A cure for vampires on a show ABOUT vampires? STOP IT. It's dumb, you guys. The last couple episodes have finally started to get good. Even though I hate (HATE) that Shane guy. Klaus has been my only saving grace. Him and Caroline. I'm really curious to see where they take the rest of the season. One of the great things about this show is that even if you don't like a storyline, they usually wrap up pretty quickly. They don't drag stories out like other shows do and that is one of the reasons why I love them so much. I'm in no way giving up on them, I just felt the need to express my sadness with how lame this season has been so far. Oh, and speaking of the last couple episodes? Nina Dobrev was phenomenal in the last ep. Her emotional range was all over the charts and it was completely, totally, 100% believable. She was fantastic.
I love New Girl so much that I just want to wrap my arms around it and hug every single one of those actors. That show is the epitome of joy for me. I LOVE IT.
If you aren't watching The Following, you need to start watching The Following. It is smart and creative and SMART (and created by Kevin Williamson who also created the aforementioned Vampire Diaries). Kevin Bacon is so good as former FBI agent Ryan Hardy and James Purefoy is chillingly fantastic as serial killer Joe Carroll. This show creeps me out and sticks with me and I always have to watch something funny after I watch an episode because if I don't, I will have nightmares but the cleverness of it blows me away and that wins out over the scare-factor.
What did you guys think of The Oscars? Happy with who won? Reading/watching/listening to anything fun that you'd like to share with me??
