last night at the oscars

my two-year tradition joining aspen filmfest for an indulgent evening celebrating a new year of oscar winners will mostly likely end next year when i am in hollywood for the event, but i doubt aspen's premier oscar event will disappoint, even if i am not present.

last night, zander and i joined others at aspen's ritz-carlton club for a delicious evening of food, cocktails, and televisions on the red carpet. champagne greated me at the door, as did plates of delectible hors d'ouevres, including incredible foie gras raspberry sandwiches. a most tasty round of bananas foster followed for desert...but--enough about the food.

with an amazing lineup of films, the 78th annual academy awards, in my opinion, did not disappoint. i was most happy to see reese witherspoon onstage as the recipient of best actress. ever since i read that reader's digest article in which she was interviewed (fyi, reading rd was due to a momentary judgment lapse. it doesn't happen often, i promise), i have somehow had a soft spot in my HEART for who i think she is. not to mention that she reminds me of a good friend whom i haven't heard from in along time...

my single disappointment was philip seymour hoffman, and his lack of canine phoenetics during his acceptance speech. on february 22nd, hoffman appeared with david letterman on the late show*, telling of his long-standing pack with friends. "best actor oscar nominee for capote, philip seymour hoffman, the film's director bennett miller, and their friend steven schub, made a pact years ago when they were in college: should any of the three of them ever win an oscar, their acceptance speech must consist entirely of barking, and nothing but. the barking must continue for the entire speech and until the winner is dragged off stage." [source] despite his roles is the big lebowski, magnolia, cold mountain and everything in between, hoffman--on oscar night--was a disappointment. how sad.

*late show video clipviewable only with realplayer plug-in.