Sunday 1/17/10

GOLDEN GLOBES

The goofiest, most corrupt award show is upon us tonight. And I wouldn't miss it. The story about the Hollywood Foreign Press and its general worthlessness is one I believe -- these are not real journalists, they are hangers-on to Hollywood -- but they throw a good party, and are usually one of the most fun of the award shows to watch. When trying to predict, there are two things to remember: the HFPA likes to think they are hip and are genuinely starstruck.

Picture (Drama): This is where all the heavy hitters of this season lie. Nothing other than Precious would surprise me here. Nothing other than Inglourious Basterds would disappoint me. I can't quite bring myself to call an upset here, so I'll predict the big hit: Avatar.

Picture (Comedy): No big hitters here. I'm really surprised The Proposal is not nominated. I'll predict the one film I see in the Oscar race, Julie & Julia.

Actor (Drama): Jeff Bridges in a walk.

Actress (Drama): I think that Sandra Bullock's going to win somewhere tonight. And with no other major stars in ths category, this is where it will be.

Actor (Comedy): Not only is Matt Damon a big star, but he was great in The Informant! So he wins here.

Actress (Comedy): As with Damon, Streep wins both because of starpower and ability. I think it is for Julie & Julia.

Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz. Inglourious Basterds has to win womething.

Supporting Actress: While I don't think campaigning is as critical for Oscars, it is for the Globes, and I think it will cost Mo'Nique this award. Vera Farmiga will benefit.

Animated Feature: Up. Because it's Pixar.

Foreign Language Film: The White Ribbon has the most accolades out of this list.

Director: Here's where the want to be hip factor comes in, because a woman can actually win. In fact, I think Kathryn Bigelow will. Deserves got nothing to do with it (as one of her fellow nominees once said).

Screenplay: The big name here is Quentin Tarantino, and I think he wins.

Score: I think the retro score of Marvin Hamlisch for The Informant! has a lot of fans, and will win here.

Song: The Crazy Heart love works here, for "The Weary Kind".

I'm not going to go category by category in the TV awards, partially because I have never seen most of the shows, but I do think Glee is in for a big night.


THE OBVIOUS

I'm a big St. Louis Cardinals fan, so I have had several people ask my reaction to Mark McGwire's confession this week he used steroids. I made my peace with this fact five years ago, after he refused to discuss the past while testifying to Congress. It was clear to me then what McGwire said this week: he wanted to confess then, but his lawyers told him not to do it.

I also was expecting this story. When McGwire was hired last fall to be the Cardinals' new hitting instructor, I knew this announcement would come before spring training. I knew he decided it was time to face the music so he could come back to the game he loves. Now here it is.

To be angry at McGwire is to be angry at him because he was better than everyone else who was using (except perhaps, Barry Bonds). It is now widely believed steroids were all over the place in the '90s in baseball. How many people have confessed? Five, maybe? And everyone's angry at McGwire when he actually apologized? There are better places for my anger.


FOR EXAMPLE...

Roger Ebert just about nailed my reaction to Rush Limbaugh's deplorable comments this week involving Obama and Haiti. Go to his site and read it. I'll just add, ditto.


WHILE WE'RE TALKING POLITICS

What exactly is Fox News accomplishing hiring Sarah Palin? If you want analysis, this is not the person you hire. You hire someone behind the scenes at the campaigns who actually does analysis. Not her. I'm looking forward to her explanation of the best way to get rid of global warming is to cut corporate taxes.

I do have a question for Sarah Palin, since your answer for everything seems to be to cut taxes. Why did you go into government in the first place, if all you seem to be interested in is getting rid of it?


PERSONAL HEALTH UPDATE

No weight change. Blood suger at the doctor's this week was 163. Normal is 100. Though my daily readings are dropping after this latest medication change. Maybe there's hope for me yet.