Internal Conflict & Streep's Third Oscar
Monday, February 27, 2012 at 8:19PM My own personal history with the Oscar stretches back to the early 80s but there's so much self-mythologizing about it that I sometimes get confused about when I finally figured out What It Was. I know with certainty that the first ceremony I was aware of was in Spring 1983 because I had seen Gandhi, Tootsie and E.T. with my parents. But if I watched I remember nothing from that ceremony. My first sure Oscar ceremony memory was watching Shirley Maclaine win Best Actress for Terms of Endearment (which I hadn't seen). I remember being excited for Maclaine who I already loved but I don't remember why (probably TV airings of musicals?) and I remember being super excited by Meryl's Silkwood clip. Before I ever knew Meryl Streep as an actress -- her movies were always rated R and I wasn't allowed to see them -- I knew her as The Great Oscar Winning Actress. I think my first Meryl movie in the theater was Out of Africa (1985) and I desperately wanted her to win her third Oscar now that we were well acquainted.
Meryl finally wins her third
When they called my name I had this feeling I could hear half of America going 'OH nooooo, oh come on. why Her? Again?' You know? But whatever.
First, I'm going to thank Don because when you thank your husband at the end of the speech they play him out with the music and I want him to know that everything I value most in our lives you've given me. And now secondly, my other partner, 37 years ago my first play in NYC i met the great hairstylist and makeup artist Roy Helland and we worked together pretty continuously since the day we clapped eyes on each other. His first film with me was Sophie's Choice and all the way up to tonight when he won for his beautiful work on The Iron Lady thirty years later EVERY SINGLE MOVIE IN BETWEEN. And I just want to thank Roy but also I want to thank -- because I really understand I'll never be up here again -- I really want to thank all my colleagues, all my friends. I look out here and I see my life before my eyes. My old friends. My new friends.
Really this is such a great honor but the thing that counts the most with me is the friendship and the love and the sheer joy we have shared making movies together. My friends thank you, all of you, departed and here for this, you know, inexplicably wonderful career. Thank you so much. Thank you.
I waited and waited and waited and waited and waited. I waited through backlashes, box office poison, comebacks, astounding technical biopic work (Cry in the Dark), and mysteriously moving original creations (The Hours), through thrilling musical/comedy (Postcards from the Edge), improbable rebirth as box office mega-sensation (Devil Wears Prada), less thrilling musical/comedy (Mamma Mia!). I wasn't always rooting for her but I was always rooting for her if you know what I mean.
My heart danced a bit when she spoke, just a bit since I was upset. And I laughed at her psychic opening (you know that's true!) and teared up at what sounded like a lifetime achievement speech which is what it essentially was. Meryl finally won her third.
Be careful what you wish for.
Two great actresses. Only one statue.
Though I've desperately wanted Meryl Streep to have a third Oscar -- who deserved a third more? -- it became suddenly tied up with my single biggest Oscar pet peeve (the Academy's relentless all-devouring soul-crushing belief that biopic mimicry is the highest form of acting) and tied up with the defeat of a new(ish) actress who I genuinely think is one of the greats... just without the roles to continue proving it.
Though I find roughly half of the regular charges of racism levelled at the Academy tiresome and ill thought out (it has to be about the movies that are released and the performances inside of them or it holds no water -- that's all Oscar has to choose from!) it's hard not to look at Viola's loss and bemoan Oscar's (and Hollywood's) resistance to women of color.
Here we had a great actress headlining a major blockbuster hit, giving an astoundingly deep, moving performance and singlehandedly elevating her movie into the substantive kind that gets nominated for Best Picture (we can argue all we like about how "substantive" The Help is and how much other actresses contributed but it's Viola that gave the movie its only sharp edges and its soul and made it however substantive that it is). She also managed to win a few key awards and stay in the press for months and months and months on end.
It's hard to imagine all those plusses and still coming up empty-handed on Oscar night, especially in favor of a previous winner in a movie that no one likes. It's also hard to imagine a year like Viola had not being followed by major offers for major roles but so far... crickets. And this last is more anger-making than an Oscar loss, and something we'd all hoped an Oscar win might've helped to overcome... though this is perhaps wishful thinking; Hollywood is as resistant to great black actresses as the Oscars which reflect them.
In some ways you can argue that it's just the luck of the draw. Meryl was always going to win a third. It was just a question of when. But it's hard to look at the way Meryl's third was shoved aside for a Movie Star Queen doing her best but hardly statue-worthy work just two years ago, and it's hard to look at other performers who've sailed to Oscars with ease that aren't anything like Viola Davis's caliber.
In Halle Berry's Monster's Ball Oscar-winning speech she spoke movingly of her historic moment as the first Best Actress of color.
This moment is for Dorothy Dandrige, Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll. It's for the women who stand beside me Jada Pinkett, Angela Bassett, Vivica Fox, and it's for every nameless faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened."
Did the door quietly swing closed again?
Reader Comments (246)
I'm gay. I can use fag if I want to.
People: Meryl Streep is very good, yes, but there is only ONE performer I could reasonably think would be deserving of more than ONE lead acting trophy, regardless of gender: James Stewart. Beyond that, if you really want her to have more than 2, I can only support her winning in supporting.
@Volvagia: Please, don't make people laugh. So all the people who got more than One leading Oscar were overrated? Katharine Hepburn had 4! Sure, Swank did not deserve to have two leading Oscars - but this is one of the rare exceptions.
Yes Someone, someone can ACTUALLY think that Viola Davis gave the best performance of the year. Certainly of the five nominees, which is all that this convo should be about if we're focusing on the Oscars.
We're at page 5 people!
So you use a homophobic slur when you're a part of the gay community and are aware of the stigmatizing (I know that's a big word--go get a dictionary) effects of that usage in the mainstream? Wow. You really are an idiot.
Meryl Streep displayed her selfishness by choosing to have so many children naturally. Self-indulgent and burdensome on the planet's resources. Viola adopted her baby!
"I wish we could all get along like we used to in middle school... I wish I could bake a cake filled with rainbows and smiles and everyone would eat and be happy..." ;)
I was debating with myself yesterday, if comment or not about this subject, but I guess I need to. I will begin comparing two categories, best lead actress and cinematography. Emmanuel Lubezki was the front-runner, he won even more prizes than Viola or la Streep, and the Academy gave the Oscar to Robert Richardson (his third too) to an old white male, Lubezki's work is much better than Richarson, Hugo looks great, yeah, Richarson is a gifted DP too, but The Tree of Life is just superior. I could also argue racism in this case too, Emmanuel is mexican, but why bother with that? he is amazing, with Oscar or Oscarless, people is still writing articles of his past work as if were new films, talent is not always rewarded, sad fact, but true. I prepared myself for his loss (thanks for that Nat, you were right about that). I am happy when good work wins, so I'm ok with Richardson's win, even if it's not the best-best of the year, the Academy has committed lots of crimes against cinema, even when I love watching it, the Oscars are not a standard of quality, because they are very fluctuating with the quality part, but an Oscar win is immediatly written in the history books, that's true, but history comes with a variety of shapes. Coming back to actresses, I was histerical happy for Meryl (finally) I do believe she gave a stunning performance, also I think Viola was better, but I am happy that one of my top 2 won. Viola deserved it, but when was the last time your best actress really won at the Oscars? and Meryl lost more than once, with stellar work.
The two sad things about this subject are, first, that Viola is not receiving lots of offers (something which Lubezky doesn't have to worry) second, how people are handling the issue, as if Meryl had won by undeserving work, I know is not her best, but it's much better than other performance that have won in the past. The Iron Lady is shit, but the overall movie and her individual performance are different things, for me is as if people say that blockbuster pop-corn movies don't deserve nominations in the technical categories, just because the scripts, directions or acting are awfull. If that were true, we would never have more than one or two nominees in special effects.
I think we all love cinema, and we all love actresses. Films are an comunal experience, that bring us together, I despise when awards divide us in this way, especially when we all have a lot in common, we all have different tastes but we share the love in common, love, not hate.
"I wish we could all get along like we used to in middle school... I wish I could bake a cake filled with rainbows and smiles and everyone would eat and be happy..." ;)
I was debating with myself yesterday, if comment or not about this subject, but I guess I need to. I will begin comparing two categories, best lead actress and cinematography. Emmanuel Lubezki was the front-runner, he won even more prizes than Viola or la Streep, and the Academy gave the Oscar to Robert Richardson (his third too) to an old white male, Lubezki's work is much better than Richarson, Hugo looks great, yeah, Richarson is a gifted DP too, but The Tree of Life is just superior. I could also argue racism in this case too, Emmanuel is mexican, but why bother with that? he is amazing, with Oscar or Oscarless, people is still writing articles of his past work as if were new films, talent is not always rewarded, sad fact, but true. I prepared myself for his loss (thanks for that Nat, you were right about that). I am happy when good work wins, so I'm ok with Richardson's win, even if it's not the best-best of the year, the Academy has committed lots of crimes against cinema, even when I love watching it, the Oscars are not a standard of quality, because they are very fluctuating with the quality part, but an Oscar win is immediatly written in the history books, that's true, but history comes with a variety of shapes. Coming back to actresses, I was histerical happy for Meryl (finally) I do believe she gave a stunning performance, also I think Viola was better, but I am happy that one of my top 2 won. Viola deserved it, but when was the last time your best actress really won at the Oscars? and Meryl lost more than once, with stellar work.
The two sad things about this subject are, first, that Viola is not receiving lots of offers (something which Lubezky doesn't have to worry) second, how people are handling the issue, as if Meryl had won by undeserving work, I know is not her best, but it's much better than other performance that have won in the past. The Iron Lady is shit, but the overall movie and her individual performance are different things, for me is as if people say that blockbuster pop-corn movies don't deserve nominations in the technical categories, just because the scripts, directions or acting are awfull. If that were true, we would never have more than one or two nominees in special effects.
I think we all love cinema, and we all love actresses. Films are an comunal experience, that bring us together, I despise when awards divide us in this way, especially when we all have a lot in common, we all have different tastes but we share the love in common, love, not hate.
EVERYONE -- I am really totally baffled by some of these comments. But i understand this topic makes people (including myself. guilty as charged) crazy. Like someone suggesting i didn't mind / didn't complain about Sandra Bullock winning? That year was A MESS. and i was rooting hard for Meryl because there was no way that Gabby or Carey (the two most deserving) would win and it was so early in their careers that it might have been a bad thing for them anyway.
and BRANDZ suggesting that nothing sifts through Streep in terms of roles. Brandz, i'm sorry but that is INSANE. She *does* get first pick of all those roles. suggesting otherwise is very very strange. Holllywood has always lived on hiearchies and it's always a struggle for everyone who isn't first to fight for the good parts. Unfortunately in Streep's case they more often than not just don't make ANY movies led by women of her age unless she agrees to star in them. I've been on record for a long time for instance saying that AUGUST OSAGE COUNTY is a great play but it's absolutely not the right role for Streep but of course, she got it without any question or any consideration of the other women who could've aced it. And she's not even old enough for it really! I mean she technically is old enough to have 40something daughters but it'll still be weird.
JANICE -- amen sister. The oscars prove time and again that if you're not a "hot young actress" it's now or never for the gold when you do great work that gets real traction.
GAGE CREED -- you have a point there :) but we are full of conflicted feelings.
Maybe Meryl brings people to the movies... Hence the reason she is cast in August Osage County??
Jamie -- oh yeah sure. that's absolutely why. Bankability.But unfortunately bankability doesn't know from "wrong for the part".... so it can be frustrating. and history has beautiful occassions where the movies took a risk on someone who wasn't "bankable" and it paid off. every new star for example. so one wishes it would happen more often. It's kind of funny to me though because for so long streep was considered box office poison.
Yes... She used to be box office poison and bad medicine. Nathaniel, can you be happy for Streep at least a little? I am so happy that Hollywood even gives a damn about her. And the truth is 8 think Meryl would love it it other women her age were getting the roles and recognition. I mean the lady just likes working... And I cannot fault Hollywood for trying to cash in on her legendary status. I remember seeing Meryl in Marvin' s Room in an almost empty theater thinking to myself .."well, that was a good ride. Now no one wants to see Meryl in her 40's". Who would have guessed this career resurrection she has had. And I think ALL WOMEN benefit now from her changing the landscape for older actresses... Including Viola.
Does anyone hating on Nathaniel's Streep attitude actually read this blog? Nathaniel clearly adores Streep. As well he should; she's a national treasure.
Just because he has a sense of perspective, and recognizes that not everything Meryl does is THE BEST THING EVER (or even, in his opinion, THE BEST OF THE YEAR), doesn't mean he's being too hard on her, or that he's not a fan, or whatever.
(Sorry to speak for you, Nathaniel.)
Steve,
I am not hating on Nathaniel. I am sorry if it sounded like it was. What drew me to this site was Nathaniel's love for Streep. And do I wish she had won a third best actress without beating other actresses I love? Sure. I would love to have seen her beat J Lo or Jennifer Annistion but gosh darn it she beat other talented actresses! But as an avid Streep fan I am prod and glad that now she has third after all those losses. And I think a Streep fan like Nathaniel should still feel happy for Meryl finally for the win.... Even if it came at another actress' expense. And it did for Meryl 14 times.
Jamie - I was sort of exaggerating, I realize, and I wasn't talking specifically about you--this thread has become a madhouse on all sides (with certain Viola fans becoming as unhinged as certain Streep fans were in the run up to Oscar), and you're.
But your last point sort of highlights what I was talking about re: perspective. Why look at Meryl's nomination tally in terms of losses? She's been nominated 17 times... that is freaking awesome, such an incredible achievement. It's silly to diminish the prestige that goes along with a "mere" nomination (there's a reason trailers love announcing the film's cast members as "Academy Award Nominee..."). On top of that, she's won two Oscars for acting, something very, very few actors could ever even hope for.
It was really great seeing her win her third, though. She's just so cool. Once I got over my initial disappointment that Davis, my personal favorite, lost, I was able to really enjoy Meryl's win (it helps that I also thought Streep was really good in The Iron Lady).
i think what hurts the most for people who rooted for Davis is that it's clear that long-term prominence for black actresses is so hard to maintain. Please note that I am NOT saying that Davis should have won because she's black. I'm just worried that her time in the sun may soon be up, and the Academy might not have another opportunity to honor her for a truly magnificent performance. I'm less concerned about Streep in that regard.
I mean, look at our black actresses who should have had much more prolific careers: Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, Margaret Avery, Alfre Woodard, Angela Bassett, Halle Berry, Jennifer Hudson, Ruby Dee, Mo'Nique, Kerry Washington, Regina King, and on, and on, and on. (I realize some of those people are relative newcomers, but even in the case of Mo'Nique, it's not like casting directors have been clamoring to hand her a plum role, despite giving one of the best performances ever). I guess there's just a greater sense of urgency, because the window for recognition seems so much smaller (harder to say that there will be a "next time").
But anyway. Happy for Streep, happy for Davis, and happy for everyone who won/was nominated. It's all good!
Just realized I trailed off midsentence in that first paragraph. should have gone "...you're certainly not in the group of worst offenders."
I agree Steve! But I do not mean to sound crass... But I also do not think Meryl needs to lose an Oscar for a political statement. Really... What should have changed if viola had won? I am sorry. I hate that that is the state of things. But I think people went to see The Help to see Emma Stone and not Viola Davis' wonderful work. I am sorry to say that Halle's win did not really open the door. Even looking at the speech she made and the the contemporaries she mentioned... Are any of them still working today? I just do not think we should blame Meryl for how the Academy votes.
Count me in as someone who does not think Viola Davis "deserved" the Oscar, anymore than the other nominees. Sandra Bullock and Reese Witherspoon have Oscars, so it's not exactly a process that rewards greatness. 4 people have to lose every single year. Glenn Close has never won and she has been nominated more times than Viola Davis. It's very hard to win an Oscar and when it's over, you stop crying and move on.
Jamie - that wasn't my point. I don't think she should have won for a political statement (race has nothing to do with the merits of her performance). I'm just disappointed she lost because of the way the industry works... Viola won't have the same opportunities as Meryl, and there is a race element to that. And part of the sting is that Meryl has been getting awards he entire career (granted, because she's been great her entire career). Like I said, I'm happy for Meryl, but, based on Hollywood's past treatment of black actresses, I'm not sure Davis will have another chance. When someone is as deserving as Davis (I'm not saying Meryl didn't deserve it), and that same person might not be in the same position again, it would be nice for the Academy to take the opportunity to recognize that performer. I'm sure everyone would agree that we're much more likely to see Meryl back in the nominee circle before Davis. Right?
That is probably true Steve. But right now I am happy for the win. I will worry about Viola and the state of Hollywood later. For me this was a long time coming and for me... I do not want to be unhappy in anyway. And I do hope that Viola wins an Osar and so does Meryl.
Jamie - sounds like we're on the same page ;-)
Like I said, I'm really happy for Meryl. But I was also disappointed for Viola (while also being happy for Viola... she got a whole lotta love this season). I was trying to explain why I feel both things at once.
I don't know many people in Europe who think that Davis SHOULD have won. This whining is SO American. Because of your history. Now you want to repair your past mistakes.
And you forget that the Academy gave 3 Academy Awards this year to Afroamerican people. THREE! This was the first time in Oscar history when two honorary Oscars were to black people! Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to Oprah Winfrey and the Oscar to James Earl Jones. Both awards were like "WTF" for me - there are so many people more deserving than them - but hey, Academy wants to be OK with black community - and people still think that they are racist. They gave 8 acting Oscars to black people in the last 11 years. EIGHT! They gave Oscar to Geoffrey Fletcher for the screenplay of "Precious" (also undeserving one - but hey, they were trying!). But no, they are still bad and racist. And white. And male! :0
Maybe they simply liked Streep's performance more? I liked it more so they could also. But no, this can't be the case. Because Davis is black and she should have won.
Laughable.
Steve your pointless complaining makes no sense!
Viola won't have the same film opportunity as Meryl? True, but I am guessing she won't have the same opportunity as Glenn Close, Michelle Williams or Rooney Mara either. Her African American descent was obvious BEFORE the damn Oscars, so how is this a reason for her to win and not Meryl?! If Williams had won, would you be arguing the same thing? So any white actress basically has a better film opportunity then Viola, right? She knows this working in the industry, as roles for African Americans are scarce- as they have been for decades. It's pointless dribble because you wanted Davis to win strictly because she's black. Again, let's just give every black person an Oscar when they're nominated and forget about the merit of their performance, because "this could be their last chance to ever win one. Meryl will have other opportunities." Get real. The best performance won, and I'm so SO glad that it was Streep that broke the 'SAG winner always wins Oscar' mold this year, since apparently everyone forgot the 2007 race with Christie and Cotillard.
So apparently Viola needs a prestige piece. Someone (Weinstein?) should make a biopic about the "Iron Lady of the Caribbean", Dame Mary Eugenia Charles, Prime Minister of Dominica from 1980 to 1995, longer than Thatcher was prime minister.
I think a film about her would be more interesting, with two coup attempts (one by white supremacists) and her role in the invasion of Grenada. So it would be total oscar bait just like the Thatcher biopic.
But of course Hollywood won't make prestige pieces for women of color unless the subject is absolutely iconic and box office gold. So I expect in 40 or so years to see "Child of Destiny: The Beyonce Story" starring someone who can't hold a candle to Meryl or Viola. I hope to be dead by then so I don't have to put a bullet in my head.
Unfortunately, my fear is that parts for Viola will dry up and we'll see her in ten to fifteen years third-billed in a new police procedural on TV for which she'll receive an emmy nomination but no award.
Sorry, but if Viola Davis had won would her roles in the future be any different then they are now? Probably not. Sorry, but she played a maid. And she played a similar type character in Doubt. She's not really demonstrating much range despite the same one-note character she always plays. When Halle Berry became the first black woman to win lead actress, she did nothing to demonstrate it was validated. She did Catwoman and Gothika, and crap that only mainstream audiences could enjoy with popcorn. She did not go on to do stellar work. I personally feel Davis is better then Berry as an actress, but that wouldn't stop her situation now. Whether she won or not, her future roles wouldn't be much different because again, look at what she would have won for. A maid. A total stereotype. Spencer, sadly, also won for playing a maid but she seems to be more versatile in her acting style, and has unique approaches to characters that Ms. Davis lacks.
So now, the Viola supporters wanted her to win to "make up for past mistakes"? God, you foreigners.
Viola Davis earned that Oscar win, and she would have been a wonderful winner. Meryl Streep won over politics in a shitty film. And watch when she really deserves to win, she won't because of this. Nathaniel was right. Be careful what you wish for, Meryl trolls.
MAC? Do you know how many times Meryl really deserved to win an Oscar and did not???!!!!! A lot.
OK, "The Iron Lady" wasn't good - but it doesn't mean that Streep was bad also. She was great and I'm pretty sure that in the future people won't regret this choice. Well - at least outside the USA - because American people are always weird. :P
Streep's past snubs don't mean shit now. She won THIS OSCAR for her poor performance in a terrible film, and history won't be as kind to Streep as you trolls are being to her right now. You'd have her win her third for reciting the phone book. Sad and pathetic all wrapped up in one.
And even the IDEA that somehow Octavia Spencer has more range than Viola Davis does. I can't even go there with that utter and complete foolishness.
Wouldn't it be funny if next year "Great Hope Springs" gets released and turns out Meryl gave the best performance since Sophie's Choice, gets nominated along with Viola Davis's next film ("Won't back down") and loses to her? Even if Viola's movie was poorly received, the due factor edges Viola out and win her an Oscar.
Someone: I'm just generally against the idea of someone having more than one leading trophy, James Stewart being the mentioned ONE exception that proves the rule and I put Hepburn's best bet for a (single) win as Alice Adams or Morning Glory. (Her other three wins in real life are taken on my personal ballot by, respectively: Bancroft (Jeanne Moreau most likely takes 1962 for Jules and Jim), Claudia Cardinale (Other two wins are supporting ones in 1963 and 1982) and (as of this moment, having not seen Body Heat or The French Lieutenant's Woman) Karen Allen.)
Mac,
Thie sad thing is that history will not be so kind to Viola and the merits of The Help. Never question..... Meryl's reputation and greatness were already in the history books before the third Oscar. And history will see she won the third for playing a real person and mimicry and a powerhouse performance... Something MANY reverted Oscar winners have done.
Sorry
Should say revered
Sorry, but you're an annoying and useless Streep troll. Nothing you say is relevant to anything, and you have no perspective on how great Davis was and the reasons why Streep won for this awful film and role.
Mac: let's just agree to disagree. No need for name calling. I respect that our opinions differ.
I used to love that blog, every comments were respectful, but now this is the last time I'm checking it!
What shocks me is that the biggest robbery of the century was Sandra B's win (her movie wasn't even released in theaters in France!), but nobody on this blog called her names like you talk about La Streep or V. Davis!
We have here a living legend and a very talented actress, and this is the discussion we have after a great year for actresses! well, it's a shame!
I can't believe you're surprised that Miss Streep won!
First we have the big news, Meryl will play Thatcher, the entire world already say that she will win an Oscar for this role! then we have a big buzz every time a picture or a teaser is released on the net regarding THE IRON LADY, a lot of people were waiting for this film, I don't remember it was the same thing for THE HELP (not in Europe anyway)!
The movie is finally released for the Oscars race, Weinstein delayed the release in the USA to be sure M will be on covers magazine (btw she was the VOGUE cover girl! That's a first, especially for a 60 something) and in the news just a little bit before the awards shows (knowing she doesn't campain!). All the critics I read sayd that the movie is crap, but that Meryl is fabulous and should win the big O! Finally she won NY (and some others), the drama GG and a BAFTA (so reading some people here, all these voters have awful taste!).
So quite honestly I'm not surprise at all that she finally won her 3rd. But I'm surprised that Viola Davis was in the lead category (a great role, yes, but not a lead), and that there was so much buzz in the media last month about her role , especially after the SAG which are sometimes wrong, it's different for the GG, if the Drama winner didn't get the Oscar, then it's the comedy Actress who won it (Felicity HUFFMAN-Reese WITHERSPOON; Julie CHRISTIE- Marion COTILARD...), and who won this year, well....
it was Meryl STREEP.....
it's a well desrved win, and you should be glad that this fabulous and so talented actress is finally honored...after the Kennedy Center honor and a golden Bear at the Berlin festival...
it was her year... it was about time....
NB : Meryl normally doesn't campaign, but this year she plays that game, and I won't blame her for that!
Sorry if there is any typos, or any mistakes in my text, I'm French!
The difference between Davis and Streep is that no one will remember Davis in 50 years and Streep will be remembered - for her multiple nominations and more than two wins. And for her talent and great acting. Yeah - it's possible that "The Iron Lady" will be considered her weakest role rewarded an Oscar (as is the case with "Guess who's Coming To Dinner" of Hepburn) but for sure no one will say that she didn't deserve her third. If not for this role - than for the other. And all will say - hey, this was one of the greatest actresses in the history of American cinema.
What will be said about Davis? Probably nothing.
But I'm kinda glad that you are so shocked - because if Academy hears it than maybe they will think that now they should reward Streep for less controversial performance - and they will give her the fourth in less than 5 years. That would be great. :)
Nathaniel,
We're too deep into this thread, so you may not see this response. I hope you do. Meryl Streep most certainly does not sift through EVERY script, only having the dreggs offered to other actresses. It's foolish to think it would work that way. If it were true she'd have 4+ nominations by now. It would be impossible for her (plus staff) to do so. I bet I could name 20 roles she was NOT offered and some other actress got the part (I'm at work so I don't have any references handy). You know, people complain all the time that Streep gets EVERY role, yet, on the other hand they complain she never works with cutting edge directors. What hypocrites! I'm sick of the all of you, especially the critics and bloggers. You all have to eat crow now because Meryl Streep won her THIRD Oscar on Sunday night.
BTW, she was too old to play an 86yo Thatcher and she did it beautifully. And, on top of that, she won an Oscar for BEST LEAD ACTRESS for playing an 86yo. She is absolutely age appropriate to play Violet Weston, you just don't want her to play the role.
brandz could you leave too like the French person?
brandz is right: It's not true that Streep gets the best roles. She makes them look the best. Because she is great actress.
Davis is not.
should say....40+ nominations by now.
Roles Streep wasn't offered (off the top of my head):
In the Bedroom (Sissy Spacek)
Notes on a Scandal (either Judi Dench or Cate Blanchette)
Requiem for a Dream (Ellen Burstyn)
Away from Her (Julie Christie)
Grey Gardens (Jessica Lange)
Darling Companion (Diane Keaton)
Lincoln (Sally Field)
And if Streep gets so many roles it's beacuse she's good at what she does and she's bankable.
More Meryl trolls and their incessant, whiney, inane nonsense. It never stops, does it?
Well, probably not, Mac. Because Streep will always be great. :)
And I wonder why Davis' fans are so childish and have to call names their interlocutors? I mean: can't you say ANYTHING in defense of Davis? Only insults?
To me it's like you admit that she can't be defended and that even you know (down deep in your hearts) that Streep should have won. Thanks for your cooperation in singing praises for Streep: she surely deserves it!
I haven't been online enough lately but I'm closing this comment thread it's disheartening to me that so many people are being uncivil with each other. I have one of the most civil movie sites on the planet and i hate to see that destroyed now. So play nice from now on or i'll have to start moderating comments WHICH I DO NOT HAVE TIME TO DO.