Did We Forget to Tell You . . .

Well, we couldn't be happier last January to have our new arrival in the Northstom-Bainbridge household. Some of you have met our darling Lisa and have had nothing but wonderful things to say about our new "daughter." I was a little nervous that first week since I knew Mr. Bainbridge would be heading to Vegas for work to leave me here all alone with her; but the adjustment was almost seamless. It has been three months, and we are not ready to give her back anytime soon. Coco Chanel No. 5 thinks Lisa is alright for a hooman.


Well, she looks nothing like us, but she does share our love of Honda Civics. Lisa has my love of reality television and has taught me how to Keep up with Kardashians and understand Big Love. It's been three months and Mr. Bainbridge has already affectionately nicknamed Lisa, "The Prom Queen."

Again we couldn't be prouder to say that Lisa will be graduating from PSU in the Winter of 2010. We are honored to to have Lisa join our tribe from the vast lands of Chanute, the home of the Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum. Welcome to our home, hope you like us as much as we love you!

Happy April Fools Day everyone! Enjoy the day with good ole clean fun!

Love the Northstroms-Bainbridge Household.

The Essentials: Movies for Kansans (Part 1)

Never did I believe that I would become a life-long-Kansan. As much as I've resisted that thought in my youth and on our gloomiest winters, life outside of Kansas is unimaginable. So let's embrace the beauty, art, and talent that stem from our amber waves of grain, shall we. Inspired by the likes of TCM Presents: The Essentials, here is the Nikki Northstorm's Movie Essentials Series: Movies for Kansans.

Spring is upon us and I have the urge to run, visit Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, and watch, Running Brave. Running Brave, (1983) is a true story about Billy Mills, the only American, to date, to win the Gold in the Men's 10,000 meter at the Olympics. Mills attended Haskell and won a scholarship to run track and field for the University of Kansas and as depicted in the movie, had a hard time adjusting to life off the reservation and battling prejudices toward Native Americans.

Watching this movie was part of our yearly tradition around track season in order to inspire us enough to qualify for the Kansas Relays. Personally, this film is dear to me and I love watching the movie because the story is really good and the campus of Lawrence is so beautiful. Revisiting the lovely campus reminds me of the one year I did qualify for the Relays. Several themes including prejudices, inter-racial dating, and overcoming the odds are all quite common themes for today's sports movie genre; however, at the time the movie was made, these themes were deemed as "complex" and possibly fresh.

Even though Mills' win is a small part of Kansas history in sports, the movie is worth watching if you are a runner or love anything University of Kansas. To add more to your historic Kansas notes, our dear fellow Wichita East High alum, Jim Ryun, was one of two other Kansans to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics and was Mills' teammate in 1964. This movie is not critically acclaimed and has its cheesy moments. Robby Benson plays the lead role and is best known as the voice of the Beast in the Disney's animated feature, Beauty and the Beast, and directing a couple of Friends episodes. For your random fashionable tidbit pleasure, Benson's most famous sibling is the Shelli Segal. The most notable of all the actors in the movie is Pat Hingle, who plays the famed track coach, Bill Easton. Please note Hingle. Oddly enough, he will have more of a Kansas connection in future blogs that I have lined up.

Since the movie is more than Mills' win at the Olympics, I'm not spoiling anything by posting this awesome Olympic footage of his fantastic finish in the 10,000 meter run here. It has been deemed by track enthusiast as the most exciting Olympic finishes to date.

The local video stores do not carry this movie. I did plan to check the local libraries regarding this copy, but I got sick and didn't have a chance to make the phone call prior to this post. I assume you can check this rare find through the inter library loan or better yet, Netflix.

Sunday at Confession

Oh Heavenly Father, please forgive me for my undying love for anything Anna Farris. Yes, I just said Anna Farris. Forgive me for thinking she is the funniest actress alive today. Yes, she is that funny to me. Have you seen her in any of the Scary Movies? Indeed, Scary Movie, my guilty pleasure, needs to be watched over and over if it is on TBS, Comedy Central, and HBO. She is quite genius. Yes, quite genius. She is the only actress that makes me laugh so hard, I have to leave and go to the bathroom. When asked if the nightly movie preference is, Just Friends, (please) well, you had me at Anna Farris. And man, if only I could watch her sing with Bono as back up so she could hear him sing all Bono-y.

As much as I tried to fight it, I refused to watch the likes of, The House Bunny, because, really, I shouldn't enjoy it, right? I did. My darling husband was watching it and I couldn't resist the lame-o movie, because she drew me in, again, with her Yoda voice to help her remember names. I have resisted from watching many other movies made with her in it and after researching I don't feel as guilty knowing she graduated with an English Literature degree, and was in the movie, Brokeback Mountain, and was an executive producer of the, The House Bunny.

As part of my penance, I will say three Hail Mary's and resist recording any of the Scary Movies, so I can watch it anytime I want and keep it longer than completely necessary. Because one time is just enough, right?

Nikki Northstrom's Oscar Picks and Concerns

Two co-hosts for the Oscars and a diluted-weighted Best Picture category. Could it work?

Just because we are in a recession, doesn't mean we need to sacrifice good taste. At first I thought the Best Picture's category was to dilute the vote so that the Lifetime made for TV movie, The Blind Side, could have a fighting chance to be nominated. But ranking the top 10 movies could be a good thing. At my "real" paying job, I've seen how weighted categories scientifically assess the strengths of a student. One important factor that will help make this work is a reliable and educated scorer. If you are a proud card carrying member of the Academy, rank the top four in any order: The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, Up, Up in the Air. Take your pick between, Avatar, or, The Blind Side, as a "10." If Avatar, or The Blind Side, wins, I will take your card away from you and personally fund my journey. Because seriously, thou shall not be apart of the Academy. You are not worthy.

Alright, on to my picks.

Best Actor

Jeff Bridges

Best Support Actor

Christoph Waltz

Best Actress

Meryl Streep

Best Supporting Actress

Mon'Nique

Best Picture

The Hurt Locker

Best Director

Katheryn Bigelow

Best Foreign Film

The White Ribbon

Best Animated Film

Up

Best Direction

Avatar

Cinematography

Inglorious Basterds

Costume Design

Coco Before Chanel

Best Documentary

Food, Inc

Best Documentary Short

Last truck: Closing of a GM Plant

Film Editing

The Hurt Locker

Makeup

Star Trek

Best Original Score

Up

Best Original Score

The Weary Kind, Crazy Heart

Best Animated Short

Granny O"Grimm's Sleeping Beauty

Best Live Action Short

Miracle Fish

Sound Editing

Inglourious Basterds

Sound Mixing

Inglorious Basterds

Best Visual Effects

Avatar

Best Adapted Screenplay

Up in the Air

Best Original Screenplay

Inglourious Basterds

Golden Globe Predictions!

Tis the most wonderful time of the year. Ranch stars, olives medley, and mom's cheapo snackies galore shall take up the rest of my evening while I watch the great Ricky Gervais bring on the Golden Globes. Smooth move Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Way to vamp up my already favorite award ceremony.

Why not the Oscars, you may ask? Indeed I do tend to celebrate the Oscars in a more sociable fashion; however, they tend to get a little boring and we must amuse ourselves with conversation, scorecards, food, and drinks. But the Golden Globes! Until today, a first after 15 years, there used to be no host. And that was fine. The awards moved along quickly with no panache. And that was okay. Because the real entertainment is not centered on the stage but at the tables. Seriously. If I was in the industry I would prefer a table with friends, drinks, alcohol flowing, and the banter back and forth in a more relaxed party atmosphere than the stuffy formal ambiance the Oscars portray.

So sit back, don't take it too seriously, enjoy this appetizer before the Oscars air March 7th. Here are my predictions and drinking game!

Drinking Game: Every time someone references the Conan/Leno/NBC debauchery, drink up. Bottom line NBC deserves it.

Nikki Northstrom's Golden Globe Predictions

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
AVATAR Lightstorm Entertainment; Twentieth Century Fox
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE –DRAMA
GABOUREY SIDIBE PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
COLIN FIRTH A SINGLE MAN
BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
(500) DAYS OF SUMMER Watermark Pictures; Fox Searchlight Pictures
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE –COMEDY OR MUSICAL
MERYL STREEP JULIE & JULIA
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE –COMEDY OR MUSICAL
JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT (500) DAYS OF SUMMER
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
UP
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
A PROPHET (UN PROPHETE) (FRANCE)
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
MO’NIQUE PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
CHRISTOPH WALTZ INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE
JAMES CAMERON AVATAR
BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE
JASON REITMAN, SHELDON TURNER UP IN THE AIR
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE
KAREN O, CARTER BURWELL WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE
«I WANT TO COME HOME» – EVERYBODY'S FINE Music & Lyrics by: Paul McCartney
BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
MAD MEN
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES –DRAMA
JANUARY JONES MAD MEN
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES –DRAMA
JON HAMM MAD MEN
BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
GLEE
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES –COMEDY OR MUSICAL
LEA MICHELE GLEE
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES –COMEDY OR MUSICAL
ALEC BALDWIN 30 ROCK
BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
TAKING CHANCE
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
ANNA PAQUIN THE COURAGEOUS HEART OF IRENA SENDLER
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
KEVIN BACON TAKING CHANCE
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
CHLOË SEVIGNY BIG LOVE
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
NEIL PATRICK HARRIS HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER