I saw Four Christmases/Holidays today. Verdict? While awkward in the scene with Robert DuVall (who plays the dad of Vince Vaughn), a good film. Although, I went with my friends, and we were doing the usual thing of passing the food to be shared and whispering about whether anyone was missing out or who should take this or no when a woman in front of us turned around and hissed “WILL YOU JUST SHUT UP?“.  My friend said sorry and no one of us dared make a noise

I also went to a sixties themed birthday party and have finally had an encounter with a Shirley Temple (Like a Creaming Soda spider, sort of). Really fun party.

I also watched Tropic Thunder (one off the list!). It. Is. Awesome (really, Ben Stiller made one Hell of a movie) There are a bunch of fake ads/trailers at the beginning, the funniest being the one for the “movie” called “Satan’s Alley”, which they managed to get Tobey Maguire for. I can understand why Robert Downey Jr was nominated. While Tom Cruise was funny, I can’t understand why he was. Other members, yeah, but Tom Cruise’s role wasn’t big enough; it didn’t consist of much character depth.

Okay, I really like Paul Hogan, but there’s one thing I will never forgive him for. He did an ad for Australia aimed for the American market. He famously uttered the line “Throw another shrimp on the barbie”. If you’re not an Australian, let me make one thing perfectly clear; while we call Barbeques “Barbies” for short (BBQ), we don’t call shrimp “shrimp”; we call them “prawns” (yeah, prawn; rhymes with brawn).

I just did Christmas with both sides of the family. It was really nice to see everyone. Of course, I have put on weight (hopefully, I’ll lose it within the next week, which I’m able to do sometimes). Also talked to the neighbours.

I love talking to little kids about what they ask for from Santa. The most interesting Christmas requests I’ve heard were for a flying saucer, a remote-controlled spider and a flying hotdog.

I’d like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and, if I don’t make another post for about a year, a Happy New Year.

A couple of weeks back, I went to a friend’s birthday party (even though her birthday was a while ago). Everyone got told to come as something Christmas related. Rather than be Santa’s little helper or a Christmas tree or Mrs Claus, I went as Santa’s bodyguard/bouncer (part of the “Secret Santa Service”). For this, I wore a red top, jeans, aviator sunnies, red tinsel around my ponytail and I had a cap gun. I didn’t realise how close cap guns are to the real thing. I’m actually really wary of them now. You see, I bought the gun and the caps. I went home, pulled the trigger with no caps; it was a normal toy gun. I put a cap in; there was a loud bang and the gun SMOKED, I decided it was safer to take the caps out.

Good thing, too. I had the gun in my back pocket when I was kicking a soccer ball around with other people at the party. I kicked it. Anyway, the grass was slippery, so after kicking it, I fell on my backside and broke the plastic gun (to which I say OOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). The gun has gone to a better place.

Well, last night we decorated the Christmas tree. It was funny, we ended up getting a better tree than we originally intended. See, my Dad bought a tree, put it in the corner of the yard with a “SOLD” sign on it so he could set up the car for it. When he came back, it was gone. The staff (now embarrassed) had managed to sell that particular tree to someone else. They then gave him a really good tree (which normally would have been more expensive). He had to cut parts off of it because otherwise, we would’ve had trouble.

So, yeah, we got out all the baubles and tinsel and everything that we hadn’t seen for a year and we decorated the tree together whlie listening to Christmas carols. It was just a nice thing to do as a family (even if the spikes on the pine tree did keep hurting me).

Okay, this next bit is kinda random, but does anyone feel better and full of energy and ready to take on the world once they’ve washed their hair (especially when it dries)? Beacuse for some reason, I do. I can’t wash it every day or something (unless I want really greasy hair), but it just makes me feel good. I don’t know, what do you think? Am I nuts or am I bang on the money?

Yes, this week is sure to be filled with some kind of poultry, ham, chocolate, punch, wine, chocolate, nuts and various other things. I’m really looking forward to Christmas. I always hope really hard that my family and whatever like the presents I got them. Same with birthdays. But yeah, while I love the receiving, I find the giving more pleasureable. So far no one has done the frozen smile thing when they’ve opened their present from me, but I’m always worried about it.

Did you know that there are three songs with the title “Breathe”? Just like there are three versions of “Mambo No.5″ (love the first cover, hate the second). There’s one by Blu Cantrell and Sean Paul which isn’t bad. I like the other two more, though. One’s by Anna Nannick. My favourite, however, is the Michelle Branch version. Actually, I’ve also been listening to her song “Everywhere”.

Okay, what have I been looking up on the internet? Okay, there have been quite a few interviews and skits and stuff with the three main stars of Tropic Thunder (Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr.). There’s the “behind the scenes” of their “viral ad for Tropic Thunder” sketch.  There’s an American Idol skit (look up Gladys Knight and the Pips). But on top of this, I’ve accidentally found RDJ on Rove, Jack Black challenging Michael Buble on Rove and Robert Downey Jr.’s acceptance speech at ShoWest (Empire magazine had mentioned ShoWest a few issues back and some funny thing between RDJ and Stiller as they introduced clips. Actually, that’s where I heard about the viral ad skit).

Okay, last night, for the first time, I watched a little movie called LA Confidential. It. Was. BRILLIANT. Kevin Spacey (as always) gave a brilliant performance. Russell Crowe was very good. Guy Pearce was phenomenal. Even James Cromwell and Danny DeVito were great in their own roles. Which totally explains why none of them got nominated for an Oscar. NOT. I found that the performance that got the Oscar while was okay, was probably the weakest out of all of the actors (it went to Kim Basinger). I don’t know why they didn’t even get nominated (I could’ve seen three best actor noms and at least one best supporting actor nom). I don’t know, maybe they were worried that it’d clean up the awards. Like LotR: the Return of the King. According to the Academy, it was a brilliant film where the actors weren’t worthy of nominations.

Welcome to another post on The Girl in Red’s Blog.

Okay, enough with the stupidity. Firstly, new Iron Man 2 rumours; Tim Robbins is apparently playing Howard Stark in flashback sequences. Also, Hawkeye and Black Widow are supposedly the villans (Black Widow isn’t surprising, when you look at the casting call I posted earlier). But there are several superhero movie rumours going around. There’s the one about Sam Worthington playing the Phantom and there’s the one about how  it’s between Will Smith and Matthew McConaughey for the role of Captain America.

It’s annoying; while I have seen many of this year’s good movies (Iron Man, Prince Caspian, etc), there are a few that I still want to see, like Tropic Thunder and the Dark Knight. I still want to add more to the list, though, so if anyone has any suggestions, post them.

EDIT: Add In Bruges, Make it Happen, Wild Child, Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, Wanted and Burn After Reading to the list.

That would be the sound of my head hitting my desk.  Excuse me, but I’m just going to bitch for a bit. I can really hate clothing shops sometimes. Why? Because while I can get into small sizes with tops and I’m okay with dresses, I have big hips and big legs. Which is going to make it more difficult for me to get into acting, but you get that. I was thinking of getting in through other doors first. I don’t know. I just… I don’t know what I want to do with my life. The things I want to do are so unlikely, I’m probably going to be forever screwed if I go with any of them.

Well, cleaning products and dettol (don’t ask). This is what happens when you spend your day cleaning bathrooms. Your hands become dry (and slightly more wrinkly, come to think of it) and you smell like a clean bathroom. I actually feel kind of sick, but you get that.

I saw a trailer for a movie kinda like Heroes (actually, I found out about it from the Heroes boards on the Goddess site), but with a Hell of a lot more action called Push. It looks spectacular. I would really like to see this. But (and you probably know this by now) I’m a nerdy kind of person. Although, I think a lot of people would be interested in it.

I have officially decided that I am going to be healthier. I need to get back to the gym (because I’m not as toned as I was a few months ago) as it’s been eight weeks since my operation. The days when I don’t go to the gym, I am either going for a walk or hopping on the exercise bike. I am cutting out certain foods (and limiting chocolate to once a fortnight). Obviously, there will be occasions where I break these rules (or guide lines), but yeah.

Best Television Series – Drama

Main TV nominations (I’ll put a number one next to the one I think will get the gong and if it’s a tough one, I’ll put a number two by the other one):

Nominees:

“Dexter” (2006)

“House M.D.” (2004)

1.“In Treatment” (2008)

2.“Mad Men” (2007)

“True Blood” (2007)

Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy

Nominees:

“Californication” (2007)

2.“Entourage” (2004)

“The Office” (2005)

1.“30 Rock” (2006)

“Weeds” (2005)

Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Nominees:

Bernard and Doris (2007)

“Cranford” (2007)

“John Adams” (2008)

A Raisin in the Sun (2008) (TV)

1. Recount (2008) (TV)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

Nominees:

Ralph Fiennes for Bernard and Doris (2007)

Paul Giamatti for “John Adams” (2008)

1. Kevin Spacey for Recount (2008) (TV)

Kiefer Sutherland for 24: Redemption (2008) (TV)

Tom Wilkinson for Recount (2008) (TV)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

Nominees:

Judi Dench for “Cranford” (2007)

1. Catherine Keener for An American Crime (2007)

Laura Linney for “John Adams” (2008)

Shirley MacLaine for Coco Chanel (2008) (TV)

2. Susan Sarandon for Bernard and Doris (2007)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy

Nominees:

1. Alec Baldwin for “30 Rock” (2006)

Steve Carell for “The Office” (2005)

Kevin Connolly for “Entourage” (2004)

David Duchovny for “Californication” (2007)

Tony Shalhoub for “Monk” (2002)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy

Nominees:

Christina Applegate for “Samantha Who?” (2007)

2. America Ferrera for “Ugly Betty” (2006)

1. Tina Fey for “30 Rock” (2006)

Debra Messing for “The Starter Wife” (2008)

Mary-Louise Parker for “Weeds” (2005)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama

Nominees:

1. Gabriel Byrne for “In Treatment” (2008)

Michael C. Hall for “Dexter” (2006)

2. Jon Hamm for “Mad Men” (2007)

Hugh Laurie for “House M.D.” (2004)

Jonathan Rhys Meyers for “The Tudors” (2007)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama

Nominees:

Sally Field for “Brothers & Sisters” (2006)

Mariska Hargitay for “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (1999)

2. January Jones for “Mad Men” (2007)

1. Anna Paquin for “True Blood” (2007)

Kyra Sedgwick for “The Closer” (2005)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Nominees:

3. Neil Patrick Harris for “How I Met Your Mother” (2005)

Denis Leary for Recount (2008) (TV)

1. Jeremy Piven for “Entourage” (2004)

2. Blair Underwood for “In Treatment” (2008)

Tom Wilkinson for “John Adams” (2008)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Nominees:

Eileen Atkins for “Cranford” (2007)

Laura Dern for Recount (2008) (TV)

1. Melissa George for “In Treatment” (2008)

3. Rachel Griffiths for “Brothers & Sisters” (2006)

2. Dianne Wiest for “In Treatment” (2008)

Best Motion Picture – Drama

I am, of course, talking about the Golden Globes. Here are the main movie nominations (I couldn’t be bothered with screenplay, score, director or any of them):

Nominees:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

Frost/Nixon (2008)

The Reader (2008)

Revolutionary Road (2008)

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

Nominees:

Burn After Reading (2008)

Happy-Go-Lucky (2008)

In Bruges (2008)

Mamma Mia! (2008)

Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama

Nominees:

Leonardo DiCaprio for Revolutionary Road (2008)

Frank Langella for Frost/Nixon (2008)

Sean Penn for Milk (2008)

Brad Pitt for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler (2008)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama

Nominees:

Anne Hathaway for Rachel Getting Married (2008)

Angelina Jolie for Changeling (2008)

Meryl Streep for Doubt (2008)

Kristin Scott Thomas for Il y a longtemps que je t’aime (2008)

Kate Winslet for Revolutionary Road (2008)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

Nominees:

Javier Bardem for Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

Colin Farrell for In Bruges (2008)

James Franco for Pineapple Express (2008)

Brendan Gleeson for In Bruges (2008)

Dustin Hoffman for Last Chance Harvey (2008)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

Nominees:

Rebecca Hall for Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

Sally Hawkins for Happy-Go-Lucky (2008)

Frances McDormand for Burn After Reading (2008)

Meryl Streep for Mamma Mia! (2008)

Emma Thompson for Last Chance Harvey (2008)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Nominees:

Tom Cruise for Tropic Thunder (2008)

Robert Downey Jr. for Tropic Thunder (2008)

Ralph Fiennes for The Duchess (2008)

Philip Seymour Hoffman for Doubt (2008)

Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight (2008)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Nominees:

Amy Adams for Doubt (2008)

Penélope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

Viola Davis for Doubt (2008)

Marisa Tomei for The Wrestler (2008)

Kate Winslet for The Reader (2008)

Out of these categories, here are my picks:

Best film – drama: While Frost/Nixon’s probably going to be widely appreciated and I’ve heard about how promising The Reader looks, I honestly think this one will go to The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. All you have to do is look at the trailer. Slumdog Millionaire I think will also be widely recognised, but it’s this year’s Hustle and Flow.

Best film – Comedy or Musical: Hmm, this is tough. I want it to be In Bruges, but it’s fairly British (same reason I tihnk Happy-Go-Lucky won’t get the gong), so I highly doubt it. Vicky Cristina Barcelona didn’t get brilliant reviews (I think everyone’s getting sick of the fact that Woody Allen’s films are getting kind of self-indulgent; they always have to be about him). So it’s between Burn After Reading and Mamma Mia. This is why it’s difficult. The Coen Brothers do really well in terms of writing and directing normally (ALWAYS praised), with a brilliant cast. Mamma Mia is a really popular movie this year, with everyone going after the soundtrack like crazy and everything. It’s really tough. Mamma Mia was bigger, but Burn After Reading was quite satirical from everything I’ve heard. My pick is Burn After Reading.

 Best Actor – Drama: Brad Pitt as first, but if not him, then probably Leonardo di Caprio. The other three are older and probably considered legends in the movie business. Leo di Caprio has been nominated a few times. Brad Pitt hasn’t won a Globe before, he’s relatively young and from everything I can tell, his performance was a fine one.

Best Actress – Drama: I don’t think Kristin Scott Thomas will get it because an English actress in a French film is a concept which, while probably had a good result, won’t actually make her stand out particularly. I don’t tihnk Kate Winslet will get it because she’s been nominated so many times, I’ve lost count. Meryl Streep is nominated for Drama and Comedy/Musical and I think she’s more likely to get the comedy/musical award.  So it’s between Anne Hathaway and Angelina Jolie. Both have been nominated, but Anne hasn’t actually got one yet. With sa future so bright, it burns, I’m going Anne Hathaway.

Best Actor – Comedy/Musical: I don’t think Javier Bardem ‘cos a) it’s the Woody Allen film and b) I’m pretty sure he was the winner last year. Dustin Hoffman’s a legend, but I just have tihs funny feeling that he won’t get it. I think Brendan Gleeson is more likely to get it for In Bruges than Colin Farrell is. So I say Brendan Gleeson, but James Franco is a close second and Colin Farrell a close third

Best Actress – Comedy/Musical: I don’ think it’ll be Rebecca Hall, Sally Hawkins or Emma Thompson. I have a gut feeling there. I say Meryl Streep first, Frances McDormand second. Only thing is, Meryl got it for the Devil Wears Prada, so it might go to Frances first ‘cos the Devil Wears Prada is still recent.

 Best Supporting Actor: Okay, Ralph Fiennes I think WON’T get it. Phillip Seymour Hoffman has been nominated (and won once) a few times in the past few years (Capote and Charlie Wilson’s War); I just don’t think they’ll give it to him, despite him being a good actor. I don’t know if Tom Cruise was in Tropic Thunder enough for them and plus there are still a majority of people who don’t like him. Now, here’s the thing. I reall, really, really want Robert Downey Jr to get the award. I do. But I don’t think he will. I say tihs because Heath Ledger is nominated for The Dark Knight. Not only do they prefer to give the award to dramatic over comedy/musical (it was a miracle Kevin Kline got it for a Fish called Wanda), but there’s the whole Heath Ledger thing. Everyone was raving and talking up his performance for ages, so there was always a good chance of a nomination; however, because it was a brilliant performance and the actor in question is now dead, I think he will get it.

 Best Supporting Actress: ‘Cos Amy Adams has been nominated a few times in the past few years, I say no. Pene Cruz won’t get it for the Wooy Allen film. Kate Winslet won’t (see best actress- drama for reason why). I say Viola Davis first because Marisa Tomei has done well at award shows and The Wrestler is this year’s Cinderella Man.