"It's Her Year"
Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 12:19PM I think you have to hand it to both Meryl Streep and Viola Davis during this pre-season. The former co-stars (Doubt) and friends are constantly being pitted against each other by eager awards gurus and Oscar fans alike but they're both staying classy in regards to what may or may not be an epic upcoming battle for the Best Actress crown. Perhaps one of them will take the lead this week and never let it go starting at the Critics Choice (Thursday) and Globes (Sunday) but last night at the New York Film Critics Circle dinner they were their usual classy selves. Viola presented Meryl her Best Actress prize.
It’s a testament to her that she’d do this in this year, which is her year."
Meryl reportedly said when accepting the honor.
"It's his/her year"
We hear that each and every year though the faces change. It's fascinating that it looks like it's coming down to Meryl or Viola when they're such gracious vocal fans of each other. Meryl even asked Hollywood to give Viola a big role when she won prizes for Doubt. Here we are a few years later...
Whose year is it anyway?
Best Actress, Meryl Streep, NYC, Oscars (11), Viola Davis, critics awards
Reader Comments (55)
A huge year for both. A hit movie for Viola, endless honors for Streep--both are deserving this year but of course Viola has an edge--she's 40-ish and a one shot deal for Best Actress (Cher, Bates, Bullock).
This anecdote reminds me of the stories going around back in 2002/3, about Jack Nicholson, a favorite to win for About Schmidt that year, encouraging people to vote for Adrian Brody instead. Not quite the same thing, but still...
Here in uk it's defintely Meryl's year,she is everywhere,morning tv shows and everything,all my colleagues are going seeeing The Iron LadyThe Help did not score here with the public in October,Meryl wins the bafta for sure.
Michelle Williams' s year?
I'm with Ferdi... Why are more people convinced it's between Viola and Meryl when Michelle Williams is the one hogging the majority of the critics' prizes?
I'm betting it's Williams vs Meryl and I guess Michelle will win, just because I think Michelle's movie is more Academy-friendly than The Iron Lady which won't warm any hearts AND won't score any other nominations apart from Meryl and Make-Up and of course the 'Michelle IS Marilyn Monroe' hoopla. Meryl wins Drama Globe, Michelle Comedy/Musical, SAG goes for Michelle, BAFTA for Meryl. BFCA I'd say Meryl gets it because they have recently shown her a lot of love (2 ties? Consecutively?)
I love Viola Davis and I prefer her work to the other two but I can't seriously envision how Academy voters will vote for her instead of Meryl and Michelle.
Gotta show my support for Michelle! Even tough Blue Valentine was better.
I tend to agree with the Michelle Williams posts. I love Viola Davis, but The Help was such an ensemble piece, and her performance didn't stick to me like the one in Doubt did.
How can you watch Williams and not fall in love a little bit? She's playing one of Hollywood's biggest and most elusive icons and she hit it out of the park!
Still rooting for Williams, but if it ends up Streep OR Davis OR Swinton... dear God, I've been spoiled this year. It's OUR year, folks.
^ Lol, Ryan.
I still think Viola has it. And maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part, but whatever. It's definitely between Viola, Meryl, and Michelle though. I do think Viola will get the Globe and has a good shot at the SAG (and if she doesn't get it, I think Michelle will). As for the critics, I think Michelle will get it. BAFTA, probably Meryl. I honestly think this year won't be like the last few where someone sweeps. I think Oscar night could come and we could have one of those three win even if they didn't pick up any of the other three big ones. Fun fun fun. I love all three ladies immensely, but I'm still rooting for Viola. :)
This is gonna be Michelle's year!
Honestly there's the politics that come into play. And every single year Meryl is up for an Oscar, there is a reason to give it to another actor because that particular actor may not get the chance again, however Meryl keeps proving that she's fantastic and is nearly nominated for every performance which helps and hinders her chances. With Viola, if she were a white actress it would be understood that she would still have some time to garner enough attention in another year for another film and the nomination would be the prize. But then who knows? Black actors are rarely nominated and this may be Viola's only shot ever. But with Viola's talent, and with true evidence that Hollywood is racially becoming a bit more open, I don't see it being her only time. I agree that The Help is such an ensemble piece, and with Meryl she has all the politics with The Iron Lady to FINALLY win a third alluded Oscar. And she's great in the film to boot. The film ittself rely's on the actor playing the main charcter to carry the movie. Margaret Thatcher in itsself is the award. Kind of like when Jennifer Hudson played Effie in Dreamgirls. Whoever got the part and didn't fuck up was going to win the Oscar. Just give Meryl the award already yall!!!!!!!!
I have no idea whose year it is??? Seems like the accolades are being spread around. People are even prediciting Glenn Close to win the Golden Globe this weekend???
JAMIE: Golden Globe for Best Song, that must be it.
I will never understand how people say it's Michelle's year based on critics. Critics don't mean anything actually. They could help - yes, but their power is limited. The only three critics' groups that really DO matter are the NYFCC, LAFCA, NSFC (and the Critics' Choice). Williams LOST each one. Meryl has NYFCC. I believe it's Meryl's year. She will win the SAG and the BAFTA!
zooey: If last year taught us anything it's that even the movie that gets every critics' prize in the book can lose the Oscar. 2010... and 2005, a year which I shouldn't even mention or remember in this blog. I don't want Nathaniel to get ill. #Brokebackstillhurts
I too believe the Oscar is Meryl Streep's to lose and being a very enthusiastic fan myself, I'd love for it to happen. Nevertheless... Like 2008 and 2009, I don't feel confident. 2008 saw Winslet surging full speed, 2009 was The Sandra Bullock's Erin Brokovich Show and this year... They don't owe her anything (they've given her 2) and they have 1) a black actress working her ass off in a adored summer hit and 2) an American actress at the top of her game, giving top notch performances year in, year in (in less than a year she's given 3 very good performances) and at the right age for Oscar to come calling.
The way I see it... I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Meryl losing again.
comment of the day RYAN. Hell... comment of hte week. I am going to try to remember this one every time I feel the urge to complain. Even though I am not very consensusy this year on Best Actress All four of those women and Glenn Close and Rooney Mara and Charlize Theron should the fifth spot go wherever it goes are FABULOUS actors. I mean seriously. We're spoiled this year. spoiled. spoiled. spoiled. i love being spoiled.
Overall I agree with Tory Smith.
The point is what does "one's year" mean?
In terms of outstanding performances apparently both Meryl and Viola did their parts. I only saw Viola in the Help and found her brilliant, but I read around very positive reviews on Meryl and Michelle Williams too, which for Meryl are not surprising at all - her being nominated 16 times and acknowledged as from another planet- but for Michelle sound as a sort of consacration. Sure, The Help is a big hit at box office so, looking at the recent past (Bullock) it could be Viola's year.
Yet I have a feeling that the race is still Meryl vs Michelle. In terms of buzz, consensus, media, critics... well all I read everywhere is "Margareth Tatcher" and "Marilyn Monroe". Especially Streep as achieved lots of acknowledgments, among which Kennedy Centre Honors, the cover of Vogue, the prize at the Berlinale...
I put my money on Streep. It's definitely her year!
Viola is an amazing actress, but as someone has already said the performance is not the best she can do has done. In those 15 minutes Doubt's appearance she was much more incisive than in the entire The Help, where I'm not sure she can be considered as leading.
Michelle represents the real threat to Meryl's 3rd Oscar. She has given one great performance after another, she's loved by the critics, she has potrayed one icon and she is young. But she has lots of time yet to give more stunning performances and gain Oscars so... I say Meryl. It will be a tight race, though.
Terris & Tory -- every time i read people doubting the quality of Viola's performance i feel like we saw a different movie entirely. That performance is just amazing to me. So much nuance. So much extra character detail that the script isn't deep enough to go into. To me she is doing exactly what a great actor does to make the most of their material.
anyway my main concern with Streep this year is the weird feeling that the academy would be showing extreme distaste by celebrating a divisive right wing hero who championed the 1% and fought against common workers in THIS particular year. but perhaps i should save this for a full post.
Don;tbe so sure that Michelle is locked just because she is sweeping the critics. I know its been the trend in recent years, but remember when Julianne Moore swept the critics for Far From Heaven, then Nicole Kidman won the big 3. I think if Viola wins the globe drama she will become front runner
Nathaniel--- I'm not doubting about the quality of Viola's performance, that is definitely high. I'm still not sure if it's really leading in the movie. But appareantly I have to surrend to the fact that it is, since Viola has always been nominated in Leading category for her role in The Help. But this is not a problem to me... It's just that I don't see her winning for THIS role in THIS movie, as great as they could be and I have appreciated it myself. I don't know... probably I should watch The Help once more time to catch all the aspects you underlined about Viola performance... or probably it's just a matter of perception and personal taste. To me Michelle Williams is much more deserving and yes, this is just a sensation, a perception from the few clips I saw from the movie. But I wait to see My Week With Marylin, and The Iron Lady of course, for a more complete opinion.
Yeah, your concerns about Streeps are also mine. But IF, as I've heard and read the movie is much more a Shakespearian drama on the story of a woman rather than a political leader, I mean if it's more story than politics maybe all the controversies could be put aside and Meryl's performance could be judged from a more impartial point of view.
Nathaniel--- I'm not doubting about the quality of Viola's performance, that is definitely high. I'm still not sure if it's really leading in the movie. But appareantly I have to surrend to the fact that it is, since Viola has always been nominated in Leading category for her role in The Help. But this is not a problem to me... It's just that I don't see her winning for THIS role in THIS movie, as great as they could be and I have appreciated it myself. I don't know... probably I should watch The Help once more time to catch all the aspects you underlined about Viola performance... or probably it's just a matter of perception and personal taste. To me Michelle Williams is much more deserving and yes, this is just a sensation, a perception from the few clips I saw from the movie. But I wait to see My Week With Marylin, and The Iron Lady of course, for a more complete opinion.
Yeah, your concerns about Streeps are also mine. But IF, as I've heard and read the movie is much more a Shakespearian drama on the story of a woman rather than a political leader, I mean if it's more story than politics maybe all the controversies could be put aside and Meryl's performance could be judged from a more impartial point of view.
But Nat, Viola is not better than Williams! Williams had courage of a lion to take that role and she pulled it off! She became Marilyn! Viola did most out of her material, but that isn't much! Haven't seen Streep. We are not talking what great actor should do, we're talking about performances! Viola is great actress, but that doesn't mean she deserves Oscar for The Help.
Judging by the heaps of critics awards she has won so far, wouldn't Michelle Williams be the favorite to win the Critics Choice Award? But judging by the fact they gave it to Sandra Bullock two years ago with not a single critics group mention makes me think that they are more into predicting the Oscars than sticking to their guns (which means they will prob have a tie with Meryl and Viola). However, if Michelle wins Friday and she wins her expected Golden Globe Sunday, then I think she will have an edge. But I agree with what someone said earlier...this year we have been spoiled. Although I am not the biggest fan of The Help, Albert Nobbs, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, etc., I can't deny that all these women are terrific actresses.
Aaron -- yes. the "critics choice" is just a name for the BFCA's awards. It's not totally a critical thing. even if it does sometimes lean that way.
tupsy -- i am definitely in the minority on the Williams performance. It feels too effortful to me. I was always aware of her trying to capture Marilyn. Maybe I'm too much of an actual Marilyn fan for it to work that well for me. The performance definitely has beautiful moments but for me as a whole... well, she doesn't make my top ten this year (though she is definitely one of the best actresses on earth!)
@ Tupsy...I loved what you said about Michelle Williams. Her performance has grown on me so much since seeing the film and I'm totally in awe of what she did. She goes so much further than simple mimicry and delves into the tragic nature that defined Marilyn. It really is a brave, vulnerable, intricate, and deeply touching performance.
Nathaniel: She doesn't make you top ten this year for 'My Week With Marilyn'. But what about for 'Meek's Cutoff'? She's still in my top 5 of the year for that performance.
"comment of the day RYAN."
Aw, shucks. Thanks. But I do believe it wholeheartedly. Unless something insane happens during Oscar nomination morning, I should be plenty happy whoever wins this year.
@ Aaron...I haven't seen Meryl, but constantly hearing that her performance is empty impersonation. On the other hand Michelle Williams did impersonation, but also invested so much in her inner life and feelings...Mazursky called it one of the greatest performances of the last 50 years... Fingers crossed for Michelle on Thursday!!!!
@Nat...i hope your opinion on Davis is in minority! ;)
Streep has finally gotten the media attention she has lacked with prior performances. I just don't think she can lose:
Kennedy Center Honors
Golden Bear Lifetime Award
NYFCC
60 Minutes Interview
Vogue Cover
Newsweek Cover
I mean, my God, the Oscar is hers to lose.
I think Viola is too much part of an ensemble cast to win Best Lead Actress. Meryl is the entire film, she carries the whole show. Advantage Streep. To Nathaniel's point about validating the 1% if Streep/Thatcher wins, let's not forget Forrest Whittaker and Idi Amin won Best Lead Actor. He was a tyrant and murderer! I bet there are plenty of examples of loathsome characters who have won Oscar. Petrhaps it took real courage for Streep to portray Thatcher???
Nat it seems to me that you worry to much about the "Thatcher" factor instead of the actual performance, I think the movie doesn't take sides actually, to me it's an existential movie, about the loss of power, and it was really interesting to me that they chose to make a movie a bout a leader from that point of view and not only their rise in power but also the what happens after, and maybe for you that makes it look like they are taking Thatcher's side and making a sympathetic portrayal but I think that would happen with any historic character no matter how evil, because that's what happens when trying to show the whole human being, I mean with flaws but also virtues.
So to me, Meryl's performance is the best and definitely deserves to win, it's been obviously her year (in comparison with the past nominations and publicity) and I think is time for the whole "she can win next year" thing to end.
If others have won for mediocre performances in the past why not award an Amazing performance from a gifted actor after almost 30 years.
Nat, tell us what you're hearing from AMPAS members?:)
I just saw your top 10 lists. Affliction (1997) and Nell (1994) are my guilty pleasures from 90s, so glad Nell made your top ten of 1994. What you think of Affliction?
The argument that because Thatcher was/is a 'divisive right wing hero who championed the 1% and fought against common workers ' is an issue with me. Yes, I completely aggree with the opinion that she is divisive, and I don't in any way support her politics. That being said, I don't see why or how this factors into a reflection on the academy, if they choose to vote for Streep. Of course, they tend to vote for the character (ie, Miss Daisy, Leigh Anne Tuohly), but they don't they often vote for the actor and acting, regardless if the character is 'good?' Or is this a sexist issue?
No doubt men actors are given the best actor trophy more often for unlikable characters (Daniel Plainveiw, Capote, Idi Amin, Hannibal Lector .. but women, too, win for unlikable characters, yes? Off hand I can think of Hanna Smitz, Aileen Wuornoss, Virgina Wolf .. but maybe there are two things going on here. One is sexist, the other is the difference between a character that is unlikable, and a character that is repellent to you. And maybe that's where Maggie lies. I still think somone as loved as Meryl can overcome this issue, but I still wish it weren't an issue at all .. but then there is no reason complaining that the race is not only about the acting ..
I liked Williams' performance very much, certainly just as much as Streep's. The problem with Streep is that the movie is so bad. I only stayed to watch her performance, otherwise I wanted to get up and leave the theater. Maybe Davis will win because the Academy will want to give The Help something. But that could happen in the supporting actress category.
@tupsy
I have not heard or read one comment or review that Streep's performance was 'an empty impersonation'. to the contrary, i have read nothing but heaps of praise for Streep in an otherwise mediocre film. please back up your inflammatory claim. inquiring minds want to know.
FWIW, I also agree with Greg.
Agree with Grey also. Even if I want Williams to win. Streep is my second choice and Swinton is my last choice. These women totally deserve the oscar. They give the best performances for more than 2 films.
Hey, since I haven't seen a single one of these performances, then I feel I'm probably in the same boat as the academy voters! ;-) So, thinking that way, which of these movies (well, let's get real, DVDs) do I want to sit through? Well, obviously The Help. It's supposed to be good, made a lot of money, kinda light, just a tad controversial.
I'll give the Marilyn flick a few minutes to see if Michelle is even close to Marilyn, ditto Meryl. Are there any others I should bother with?
Tilda? Too grim. Glenn? Bad reviews and dull.
I wish Olivia Colman was getting more attention. Or someone who didn't get on the radar at all like Anne Coesens from "Illegal." But I guess this group will have to do, and I'd prefer Michelle over Viola and I'm guessing Meryl too once I see it.
nathaniel: i guess i am the one of the few (the only one?) who saw greatness in viola davis' performance: the way that you've described her work in "the help" is spot-on. i also agree with you about the political problematics of "the iron lady." the problem isn't that streep plays a despicable person, it's that she plays a despicable person in a film that somehow twists history and turns despicable person into some kind of hero/ role model. hannibal lecter, aileen wuronos, idi amin were NOT valorized as heroes in their films. streep's performance creepily contributes to the false vaolrizationof thatcher. personally, i am so over actors mimicking famous people; i'd rather they perform the definition of their profession and create characters that evoke new emotions and ideas. to that end, i also found michelle williams' work derivative. i'm rather sad that lizzie olsen and keira knightley (playing a real person, but not mimicry) kind of fell off the map.
Theron!
Williams FTW.
I am still hoping for a Meryl win......the audience would go wild!!!!! And we would get another amazing speech....
If not....maybe in the future...only actress almost guaranteed another nomination...more so than anyone else.....and if she does not win I will just have to chant to myself...."oscar does not matter",,,,,"oscar does not matter....what is one more oscar in the grand scheme of things to someone like meryl streep" :(
Come on Oscar....prove me wrong...let the streep drought end....do not give it to the pretty young thing that proved she can do more than we thought capable.....do not give it because you feel "wouldn"t be great to honor an African American actress because we may not get a chance to again"....
Or better yet....can meryl never accept another nomination?....or just give up on attending all together?....Can we just name the Best Actress Award "the meryl streep award" and get it over with?....
Viola Davis has been so great in the wonderful performances she's given in tiny roles and supporting roles. It's wonderful that she finally has (almost) a lead role. And she makes that role so much better than it is. And no, she probably won't be suddenly deluged with lead roles, much as she deserves them. There are even fewer leads for black actresses than actresses as a category. Streep (and Williams) will have a lead every year.
From what I've seen so far, Williams gives my favorite performance, but I would vote for Davis. I would be very surprised if Davis did not win.
Hey, Kevin Spacey! You've got a theatre. Did you hear Viola say on the HR Roundtable that she wanted to play Hedda Gabler? Make her an offer. You can play the husband.
meryl has won :
nyfcc
NYFCO
southern critic
denver critics (just announced)
and :
kenedy centers honor
honory golden bear
60 minutes
Vogue Cover
Newsweek Cover
so of course it's her year
In the end it will probably be Michelle Williams' year, if history is any indication. The thirtyish sex object who has had two previous nominations is a far more typical winner than a 60-something who already has two Oscars or a middle-aged black (African-American for those who prefer that nomenclature) actress. Again speaking in historical terms, Davis is more likely than Streep - she's younger, she hasn't won yet and her film is a likely best picture nominee...
amir -- how are the southeastern or denver critics indicative of someone's year ;) furthermore how are vogue covers else jennifer aniston and Angelina Jolie might have 4 oscars by now. but yes... she's working the media like she usually doesn't.
"do not give it to the pretty young thing that proved she can do more than we thought capable"
Is this supposed to describe Michelle Williams? Because it's not like this will be her first Academy nomination. She didn't have to prove much of anything. Also it's pretty funny to describe her as a "pretty young thing" because she more often than not de-glams. MWWM was one of those rare times she HAD to glam it up.