The "Trudies" have been handed out and the year’s big winner was Far From Heaven, which copped 4 awards, including Best Movie and Best Director for Todd Haynes. In addition, Haynes and "Trudie" winner for Best Cinematography, Ed Lachman, each earned special awards for their careers. Patricia Clarkson’s turn in Far From Heaven tied with Emily Mortimer’s performance in Lovely & Amazing for Best Supporting Actress to round out the quartet of award bestowed to Haynes’ film. The other multiple winner for the evening was Richard Kelly’s Donnie Darko, which took Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor for Jake Gyllenhaal.
Lachman, who is up for one of those other awards next weekend, was not the only big name in the house. Internationally acclaimed actress Geneviève Bujold gave a gracious and moving acceptance speech when she accepted her Chloe Award for her "career-so-far."
She also poked fun at herself and the difficulties she faced deciding
whether or not she would attend the ceremony. "It takes a lot of
bravery to trust," she said when talking both about acting, and her
decision to come to Chlotrudis Awards. Fortunately, her 22-year-old son
encouraged her to attend. (Bujold is pictured left with Lachmann and his
litter of "Trudies.")
A younger generation of actor was also represented by
talented Glenn Fitzgerald to accept the Gertrudis Award for an up-and-coming,
sit-up-and-take-notice actor. In his acceptance speech, Fitzgerald asked
if Chlotrudis Awards could come to his house and do this for him all the
time. Sure, Glenn, we’d love to!
Chlotrudis Awards instituted a new category this year, called the Buried
Treasure. This exciting award which goes to the core of the Chlotrudis
Awards mission, recognizing deserving but overlooked film and singing
their praises, by selecting the best films of 2002 which earned less thatn
$250,000 box office for the year. The first Buried Treasuer competition
ended in a tie between two very worthy and different films. Gary Burns’
Canadian comedy, waydowntown,
was featured as a sneak preview screening by Chlotrudis Awards in September
of 2001, but wasn’t released domestically until last April. Larry Fessenden’s
chilling tale of class and mythology called Wendigo,
tied for the new award. Take a look at all the nominees and winners here.
The
ceremony ran a good two-and-a-half hours long, but lived up to its short
and punchy theme, with the action flowing quickly and efficiently to it’s
surprise musical conclusion. In fact, the music drew rave reviews all
night, from the opening acoustic guitar, violin, cello, vocal combo put
together by Greg Jacob, and the haunting rendition of Tears for Fears’
"Mad World" (featured in the film Donnie Darko) performed
by Nominating Committee member Peg Aloi, with Jacobs accompanying on acoustic
guitar, to the musical recap of the night’s seven Best Movie nominees
by a seven member Entertainment Committee which included Scot Capehart,
Dawn Colford, Michael Colford, Beth Daly, Beth Jacobs, Merri Lavine, and
Jamie Penney. Pictured left, Scot Capehart brings down the house channelling
Tom Jones to tell the story of Punch-Drunk Love with a little help
from Beth Daly and Dawn Colford.
As
the ceremony wrapped, people were just getting started and a large portion
of the crowd, including Lachman, Fitzgerald and local filmmaker Lucia
Small (nominated in the category of Best Documentary for her film My
Father, the Genius) headed over to Daedalus Restaurant for a post-party
that carried on into the next day. Take a look at some of the happy and
possibly relieved participants at the close of the Ceremony. Pictured
from left: Allison DaSilva, Chlotrudis Awards Board of Directors, Ed Lachman,
Geneviève Bujold, Marilyn O’Conner, Chlotrudis Awards Nominating
Committee and mother of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman and screenwriter
Gordy Hoffman, Chlotrudis Awards Presdident Michael R. Colford and actor
Glenn Fitzgerald.
Chlotrudis Awards would also like to extend a very special
thanks to everyone who helped make this event possible, and especially
their sponsors, The Charles Hotel, The Irving House, Harpoon Brewery,
Greenwood Wine & Spirts, Daedalus Restaurant, The Middle East, and
the S&S Deli.