“Will You Marry Him?”

By

Kimberly Deisler

And you thought you had a lot of friends on Facebook? One annoying aspect about working the film festival is how many actual friends, and those other pesky types who only “know” you when they want something, suddenly emerge from the woodwork when a particular guest or event appeals to them. Regardless of the level of intimacy, I honestly do try to accommodate as many people as possible, but there are those times when requests just can’t be fulfilled and lines can’t be crossed, like today.

A dear friend, for whom I’d do almost anything, asked me for a favor, a whopper. “Please ask Julianne Moore for her hand in marriage.” Now if you love Julianne like most people do, I mean what’s not to love, right?, this would seem like a reasonable request, but there are some logistical aspects that make this request impossible to accommodate, unless, of course you’re desired outcome is just a laugh.

First of all, there’s the matter of her already being married. What am I supposed to do with the husband? Secondly, there’s the matter of the ring, where is it? Do I get on a knee? And when do I ask? On the red carpet, before her tribute, after her tribute? What? You don’t know about the tribute? Oh well, let me fill you in.

This year the Santa Barbara International Film Festival honors Julianne Moore with the Montecito Award, recognizing an outstanding body of work in one’s career.

In case you’ve been under a rock, this woman has consistently put the industry on its ear with stellar performances, one after the other, and in fact, some right on top of each other. She is the ninth person to be nominated for two Academy AwardsÒ in the same year.

This year Moore’s flawless performance in Tom Ford’s directorial debut, A Single Man seamlessly transforms a1960’s socialite into a broken woman whose life is circling the drain. “Charley,” a beautiful, vibrant woman slowly disintegrates before your eyes exposing all things that are self indulgent and ugly about a kept woman and yet we still love her. Such juxtaposition of emotion is why Julianne Moore captivates an audience and sweeps up awards year after year, not to mention, marriage proposals.