SAG Live Blog: Bridesmaids, Silent Stars and The Help
Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 6:35PM 6:30 I was writing an (unrelated) short little note about Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy moments ago and am suddenly thrust onto a red carpet with fast talking E! reporters uttering inanities while stars explain who they're wearing. These are things old spies never have to think about. But tonight is not about the spies. It's about bridesmaids, silent film stars, time travelling writers, Hawaiian land barons and maids. The first four things I hear are two engagement stories (good news for Bridesmaids or mere coincidence?), one ode to George Clooney via The Good Wife herself. Then Octavia Spencer -- love that bun (is there are name for those high buns on steroids?) -- announcing that she's robbed Cougar Town of Josh.
Which begs the question: Is anyone in Hollywood not friends with Octavia Spencer?
6:37 Armie Hammer on his wife's bakery. He's not the baker, he's the, uh, taster. The reporter or his wife I can't recall calls this "out of the closet taster?" which he confirms. I'm not making this up.
I'm an out of the closet taster and Elizabeth is the master baker: lemon pies, tiramisu, many cupcakes. Let's just say we now have the most special red velvet recipe there is.
For some reason when he's talking about food it sounds utterly filthy. I'm having a flashback to Rock Hudson talking about recipes in that one movie.
6:40 Rose Byrne is wearing a sparkly jumpsuit and reminding me that she is Australian. I always forget the she's Australian and that jumpsuits exist. The latter by choice. Although she says Scarface was her inspiration and I can sort of see Michelle Pfeiffer circa 1983 in this look. The BEST part is when she leaves the reporter who is going to commercial and Glenn Close (Damages reunion!) looks her jumpsuit up and down... more than once. She doesn't know what to make of it until...
No, she definitely doesn't like it. Hee.
6:53 Viola Davis is talking about her new daughter. I didn't realize she had adopted. Somewhere I missed that. She sounds happy and nervous and she definitely isn't completely comfortable in her Jimmy Choos. Since we're talking about feet, I feel the need to share this photo.
Regina King tweeted "toes done" an hour ago.
I did not retouch this photo so either her camera phone has some issues or her feet are sunburned. Ouch. Put some aloe vera on that. If feet horrify you I apologize. But, true story, it's how I remembered it was time to live blog.
This live blog is brought to you Regina King's pedicure.
7:02 Jonah Hill says everyone can't believe he was Oscar nominated. To his credit he says that he can't believe it either so he understands.
7:08 Michelle Williams, who clearly does not like talking to reporters about her personal life, does a pretty good job of pretending to be okay with it whilst astrally projecting herself away. I'm reasonably certain she was floating somewhere over Montana whilst Guiliana was inundating her with questions about child rearing.
7:17 E! talks to so many people I don't care about. I sometimes wish I was their boss so I could redirect their energies. But then I'd probably not bother and just fire them all.
7:20 Giuliana is so intrusive into celebrity lives. She's constantly asking about children and boyfriends and romance and underwear and personal stories. Jesus! I'm actually shocked that she restrained herself and didn't ask Sofia Vergara how big her boyfriend's dick was once she started grilling her on her own body parts.
7:27 It's weird to be annoyed with George Clooney but I really really am. It's like the Charm Offensive. Stop it. "Is it still so humbling to you? It's really nice."
7:29 NOOOOoooooooooooo Guilana. Down girl. I didn't mean to be predictive. She is now asking Clooney about his dick. I'm not making this up. "Would he ever drop trou for a movie?"
7:34 A conundrum. I watch Glee and though it's totally wrong, I look forward to doing so. But when Glee actors are interviewed I always astral project myself away. Right now I'm headed north trying to spot Michelle Williams.
7:39 Brad and Angie have arrived. I tried to take a photo but they're all blurry like a mirage. A mirage of beauty. Movie Stars. Two people you can say that about with a straight face.
7:41 Meryl Streep was talking to Guiliana and it seemed so unnatural. Curiously, perhaps momentarily stunned by the realness of The Meryl, Guilana was gazing at her as she left and narrating Meryl's conversation with Steve Carrel once she had left the stage -- Meryl and Steve looked like they were laughing and Meryl did this cute little crouch thing as if she was giggling/giddy. Guiliana "This is obviously a real moment, a real conversation. Not like some Hollywood conversations.' GUILIANA SAID THIS.
It is 2012. I worry.
7:53 And Ross and Guiliana talking to Brad are suddenly all sincere... talking about particular moments they loved in Moneyball (like they've actually seen it). Ross telling Brad his kids won't be embarrassed by him when they grow up and see his movies is somehow endearing against all odds.
The Mayans were right.
THE SHOW !!!
8:03 The writing on this SAG Awards info is hurting me. "Have a great night Brad and Angelina". "Jean Dujardin. No words are needed. And now they're starting with Ducky (Jon Cryer forget his name for a sec). Not a good sign, Jon Cryer not my forgetfulness.
8:06 SUPPORTING ACTOR goes to Christopher Plummer
Heartfelt speech, longer than he's been giving with a nice shout out to Ewan McGregor for making acting look so effortless. Exactly. That's why he never gets nominations.
8:13 George Clooney is mysteriously bad at a teleprompter tonight
8:15 SUPPORTING ACTRESS goes to Octavia Spencer
Team Help is really good about playing their awards wins for emotional narrative value. She let's out a squeal of Ohmygooooodddd as she leaves the stage. Octavia and Plummer are now mortal locks for Oscar wins... not that they weren't before.
I believe Joe called The Golden Globes a "bullet train of awards" on the last podcast but honestly that's even more descriptive of SAG. There's no time to type before they're handing someone else an actor.
8:23 They're showing clips from Supporting Actor in a Comedy and Two and Half Men feels like such a dinosaur. Laugh tracks are so anachronistic. Ugh. Stop it. If you can't make people laugh on your own you don't deserve a nomination as "Best"
8:24 ACTOR TV COMEDY goes to Alec Baldwin, his sixth consecutive win! After a bunch of squealing "ohmygoddddd"s he gives a bunch of credit to Tina Fey's writing. Nice.
8:26 ACTRESS TV COMEDY goes to Betty White
My dears. My dears. I don't think they can read. I think they made a terrible mistake."
Gooey Love for her castmates with just enough bite to also be funny.
8:30 This is maybe my favorite thing I've ever seen on the SAG Awards. Theyre highlighting dayplayers by showing clips of various movies with these unknown actors getting their names on screen. It's like my bit player awards (coming soon) only less specific.
8:35 BEST COMEDY SERIES ENSEMBLE goes to Modern Family
The speech, naturally it's a joke, doesn't quite come off. Which is weird for this cast. I do feel the need to point out that young Nolan Gould (who got speech duties today) who plays Luke Dunphy on the show is the brother of Aidan Gould who played Tilda Swinton's kidnapping victim in Julia.
ISN'T THAT CRAZYYYYYYYYY?
8:43 BEST ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE goes to Kate Winslet for Mildred Pierce. She's not there so Glenn accepts on her behalf.
8:46 Team Help is on the stage introducing their movie clip. The clip has this really sitcomy music over Viola's "you a godless woman" bit. Awkwaaaaard.
8:50 BEST ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE goes to Paul Giamatti for Too Big To Fail. He's also not there. The other nominees look around for him like he'll spring up from a seat heretofore unknown.
8:56 I'm sorry I'm so slow with the live blogging tonight. Computer acting up and I don't have $1,500 for a newbie.
9:07 Fact: There has not been enough Bridesmaids up in my awards season.
Their Scorsese drinking game --" drink every time you hear the word "Scorsese". It happens more than you'd think" -- will get you very very drunk here in NYC. The only single name that might rival it in terms of speedy inebriation would be "Woody" or "Tarantino"
9:10 MARY TYLER MOORE TRIBUTE
Lovely to see her and Dick Van Dyke again. I couldn't buy MTM as a nun in that one clip. Ah well, you can't win them all. I love career tributes. There is a strange gap when she finishes speaking where she says nothing on stage and there is no music and no cut to commerical. Dick Van Dyke rescues her with a kiss and they cut to commercial. Whose fault was that? Was someone chatting in the control room or did Mary just space out? This is not necessarily a sign of age as I've been doing that since i was like 10. Sometimes you're just suddenly not there. Like Michelle Williams on the red carpet.
9:15 Commercials. But maybe everyone is just tired. Nick being his brilliant self, tweets:
His math seems right.
9:19 BEST ACTRESS DRAMA SERIES Jessica Lange for American Horror Story
It's her first SAG Award and it's spooky that I name checked her super-fan Nick just before she won it.
It's great to play such a BIG character with so much to do."
Ummm. what other size characters do you play, Jessica?
9:28 Meryl Streep introduces the In Memoriam segment: Farley Granger, John Wood (in Ladyhawke clip no less!), Betty Garrett, Doris Belack in Tootsie (LOVE) Jane Russell, two principal cast members of They Shoot Horsese Don't They? (Such a great movie. See it!) Elizabeth Taylor gets the ending "Bye now". Okay, I'm sad. Thanks a lot Meryl! There will never be another La Liz.
9:35 The SAG Actor statue looks so indecendent when it's brightly lit what with that huge package. I always want to move one of its face masks down for a fig leaf. #Prude
9:37 BEST ENSEMBLE DRAMA SERIES goes to Boardwalk Empire
I just can never become interested. But I have too many shows anyway. I'm okay with my lack of interest.
9:41 BEST ACTOR FILM goes to Jean Dujardin !!!
Zoinks. I think this needs three screencaps for the excitement.
Love Penelope Ann Miller's reaction. She's feeling what I'm feeling. Although I'm also feeling what Bérénice is feeling at the end there, glowing pride. Not that I had anything to do with it. But it really is quite a performance.
He says "mygodmygodmygod" a bunch of times. God has been name checked a lot in a comic way tonight. He reads his speech (he doesn't speak much English) with nice shout outs to his cast -- which prompt him to finally look up from the page. Lovely. Clooney & Pitt both seem totally fine with it, happy even.
10:01 My laptop all but froze up for the last 15 minutes of the show. So sorry. Time for it to go to... where do old computers go? A few observations about Viola Davis and The Help, which won all three of its awards tonight... (give me a sec)
Amazing reaction from the crowd and another really heartfelt speech with very specific inspiring honors going to Cicely Tyson (the first actress that made her want to be an actress) and Meryl Streep in her college years for inspiring her. Lots of tearful eyes in the crowd. She's clearly loved. Viola's speech about racism is beautiful and I'm thinking back to the Peggy Siegal luncheon I attended in which she talked about the controversy surrounding The Help and she and Octavia both understood some of the criticisms of the film but were completely proud to be a part of a movie that had sparked so much dialogue and discussion.
10:15 I must power down. But congratulates to all the winners! Did you enjoy the show? Do you think all these winners will repeat on Oscar night?
ADDENDUM: "Dream Big. Dream Fierce" Notes on the Viola Davis Win
Bridesmaids, Meryl Streep, Octavia Spencer, SAG, The Help, Viola Davis
Reader Comments (115)
Now I'm happy because it might not be George's Oscar afterall. :D
George
BFCA
GG
Jean
GG
SAG
And I feel like even Brad could end up with the Oscar. Woottt.
If it ends up still going to George, that might be the single most disappointing moment for me since I've been watching awards shows.
VIOLA FOR THE WIN!!!!!
Viola!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't know. I do not think all 4 are going on to the Oscar. Either best actor or best actress is the fluke tonight.Won't find out till oscar!
Yay for Dujardin's win! :)
And how cute was Steve Buscemi, bringing his wine glass to the stage during his best actor acceptance speech to play the Scorcese drinking game? When the show took best drama, he even got some of the front dinners to play along - I saw people raise their glass and salute!
Can't believe that The Help cleaned up the way it did. I suspect that Viola and Octavia are locks to repeat at the Oscars, along with Plummer of course. Speaking of Plummer, he even mentioned 'Cosmo' the dog in his thank you speech!
I think Meryl's still in the fight, but I think Viola has it more locked up than some people would like to believe.
Octavia and Christopher are locks still.
And now, the category that seemed like a lock before, Best Actor, I feel is up in the air between George, Jean, and Brad.
SAGs snub of Streep was expected since no actress has ever repeated a win on the film side (Streep won for Doubt). On to BAFTA where Streep is a lock to win which should propel her to Oscar.
^ Yeah, but if anyone were to win a second best actress SAG, it would be Meryl, so I don't think that's a completely legitimate argument in this case.
I do think Meryl has a very high chance of winning the BAFTA, and that should even the playing field a little, but not much since the Brits clearly responded to that film.
I think Viola still has the edge.
I really didn't like anyone's speech tonight, although Jean's was cute and I like how Christopher Plummer actually gave props to the actors and crew who made the film. Generally, I don't like it when actors make these weeping, grandiose speeches without acknowledging the people who helped make the film...it's such a collaborative effort that it feels disingenuous to think it's only about you...
And I guess it's nice that The Artist didn't sweep one awards show, but it's a pity that it had to be The Help that took it's place. :((( ...kind of wish Bridesmaids won Ensemble, just to hear those hilarious and talented ladies give another speech!
Yes but viola still does not have the golden globe and the critics prizes that Meryl does. Or the Oscar history. I do not think that since she snagged SAG alone and nothing else that that means she is the clear winner for Oscar! Yes, SAG is very good predictor of who wins oscars but it is only 18 years old... And you have to take into consideration what other awards that have also won. It was a "help" lovefest tonight bit that will not repeat at Oscar. Besides, Meryl just won in 2008. Meryl has not won the Oscar in 30 years! Never doubt that she is a wild card especially if she wins BAFTA! I still feel it is streep and clooney for Oscar!
@jamie
I agree with you. Some flukes tonight. I still think it's Streep and Clooney for Oscar wins.
Not sure why Clooney has never won a SAG except for Ensemble. I don't think he's ever been better than he is in The Descendants.
As far as the Oscar goes, maybe he won't win as payback for not deserving to win for Syriana (Gyllenhaal would have made more sense that year).
I couldn't watch most of this tonight. Tired of award shows. I caught the last 10 minutes so missed Dujardin's win. Nice surprise but I'm sick of The Artist winning awards.
You know Meryl Streep won't ever win another best actress Oscar and years from now you all will state your disappointment. She'll never get the media attention again. She's nearly 63, she's been nominated on a regular basis and there's always somebody who they want to recognize more. She gets major push from critics, the HFPA, but the guild never goes with her. The SAG went with her only once and that year it was clear they could go with her because the front-runner was nominated there in supporting. She's been snubbed for great work. And you all say NEXT YEAR: but NEXT YEAR won't happen, because there will be somebody else. Even Viola Davis, who isn't somebody who exactly paid her dues to the film industry is a more touching story, so they go this way. And Meryl won't get the attention again. Yes, she could be in a best picture nominee, just like she was in The Hours. And that year she was in Adaptation that got a lot of attention, was one of the most critically acclaimed of the years, Meryl delivered a delicious, quirky, funny and sad performance and then lost the Oscar to somebody who was more of the type they'll go for - Catherine Zeta-Jones. You can't say they didn't like Adaptation a lot. But they liked Chicago better. Anyway, Streep didn't lose because of that. It simply wasn't her time. So how exactly could she win again? Why is it that people don't want Meryl to win? Why is it that bloggers never seem to be on her side? Yes, she won't win. Sandra Bullock, now Viola Davis, there will be somebody else.. there will be a performance they'll want to honor. And then somebody who didn't have the career Meryl does and didn't deliver these performance would have an easier time winning. Imagine Lincoln becoming a favorite next year and Field would win without the slightest problem. That's a pity. Years from now with Meryl not working anymore, we'll look back at these performances and we'll still enjoy them. And it won't matter all that much that she didn't win the Oscars to me, but it will be sad. At the Golden Globes Meryl paid tribute to Viola as a friend. Tonight Viola thanked her as a friend and a winner. And nothing against her, but to me she doesn't deserve to be there. Probably I'll never see Meryl win an Oscar in my lifetime. I've been reading all these attacks against her, all the insults and probably the Oscar race takes the worst out of us and it's a game and everybody wants to win, but it's the last Oscar race I follow and I won't follow it again. Meryl has a minor film next year and it doesn't sound like an Oscar movie and next year there will be at least ten Oscar-less sexy stars etc., so at least we won't have this conversation next year. Or anywhere in the next few years. But anyway soon it could happen again. She'll get critical raves, awards, a major award and people will start blaming her: she's not in the right picture, the performance isn't big drama or the performance is too much drama, she has Harvey or she doesn't have Harvey etc etc. You could find thousands of things to say. But in the end it doesn't matter. She's still a great actor. She'll lose again and again, but who cares. You all think she got more than enough.
You know Meryl Streep won't ever win another best actress Oscar and years from now you all will state your disappointment. She'll never get the media attention again. She's nearly 63, she's been nominated on a regular basis and there's always somebody who they want to recognize more. She gets major push from critics, the HFPA, but the guild never goes with her. The SAG went with her only once and that year it was clear they could go with her because the front-runner was nominated there in supporting. She's been snubbed for great work. And you all say NEXT YEAR: but NEXT YEAR won't happen, because there will be somebody else. Even Viola Davis, who isn't somebody who exactly paid her dues to the film industry is a more touching story, so they go this way. And Meryl won't get the attention again. Yes, she could be in a best picture nominee, just like she was in The Hours. And that year she was in Adaptation that got a lot of attention, was one of the most critically acclaimed of the years, Meryl delivered a delicious, quirky, funny and sad performance and then lost the Oscar to somebody who was more of the type they'll go for - Catherine Zeta-Jones. You can't say they didn't like Adaptation a lot. But they liked Chicago better. Anyway, Streep didn't lose because of that. It simply wasn't her time. So how exactly could she win again? Why is it that people don't want Meryl to win? Why is it that bloggers never seem to be on her side? Yes, she won't win. Sandra Bullock, now Viola Davis, there will be somebody else.. there will be a performance they'll want to honor. And then somebody who didn't have the career Meryl does and didn't deliver these performance would have an easier time winning. Imagine Lincoln becoming a favorite next year and Field would win without the slightest problem. That's a pity. Years from now with Meryl not working anymore, we'll look back at these performances and we'll still enjoy them. And it won't matter all that much that she didn't win the Oscars to me, but it will be sad. At the Golden Globes Meryl paid tribute to Viola as a friend. Tonight Viola thanked her as a friend and a winner. And nothing against her, but to me she doesn't deserve to be there. Probably I'll never see Meryl win an Oscar in my lifetime. I've been reading all these attacks against her, all the insults and probably the Oscar race takes the worst out of us and it's a game and everybody wants to win, but it's the last Oscar race I follow and I won't follow it again. Meryl has a minor film next year and it doesn't sound like an Oscar movie and next year there will be at least ten Oscar-less sexy stars etc., so at least we won't have this conversation next year. Or anywhere in the next few years. But anyway soon it could happen again. She'll get critical raves, awards, a major award and people will start blaming her: she's not in the right picture, the performance isn't big drama or the performance is too much drama, she has Harvey or she doesn't have Harvey etc etc. You could find thousands of things to say. But in the end it doesn't matter. She's still a great actor. She'll lose again and again, but who cares. You all think she got more than enough.
OK. Zooey, take a "chill pill"...
Actually, Daniel Day-Lewis and Kate Winslet have both repeated for individual SAG honors (the first for Gangs of New York and There Will Be Blood, and the latter for Sense & Sensibility and The Reader). Also, Helen Mirren won individual SAGs for Gosford Park and The Queen, so it was possible for Meryl Streep to repeat this year, but she didn't. I think it's going to be Viola for the Oscar, and I'm happy for her. I have a lot of problems with The Help as a film but it's elevated by the cast. Even the people who are given severely under-written roles give it their all, so I am happy for these women. I'm okay with The Help winning Ensemble here, but don't anyone think this translates to an Oscar win for the film (without nominations for Director, Screenplay or Editing, that is very difficult). I am also very happy to see Jean Dujardin take this one (love the movie, love him in it), as I was also kind of cold on Clooney's performance (I still think he shines in several moment, but it pales in comparison to Up in the Air which is a much less labored performance). Now, if only the TV categories showed just a little bit of originality (6 trophies for Alec Baldwin? Seriously? You have Ty Burrell and Eric Stonestreet in that category now...). It's not my favorite show, but I did enjoy some of the speeches and it's always a treat to see clips of performances (although, that woman who said the nominees should be fired just for that horrible mispronounciation of Demián Bichir's name).
I really don't see how anyone can call Clooney's performance as labored.
When people say she could not repeat what they mean is no actress has won the SAG award for best actress twice! Kate Winsletbwon in supporting for The Reader. And Meryl does have 2 SAGs .. One for Doubt and one for Angels in America for miniseries!
Zooey....I do admire your passion and believes as a long time Streep fan I agree with everything you said but.... We Streep fans cannot want the Oscar more than Streep wants it herself! She has a legendary career, respect in the industry, a beautiful stable family outside Hollywood and every award known to man! She will win a 3 rd oscar one day but it will always be about the politics! But I am sure Streep does not measure her life's worth on howard oscar's she has on her shelf. If viola wins, she will still be happy! And the best thing about being a Streep fan ...is that she is always nominated!! So every couple of years we get to go thru the whole award season and "will she or won't she win" drama all over again! I can say that out of all the nominees this year ....she will be the next one returning with a nomination! I look on the bright side.... 17 nominations.... My god! Oscar does love her... They know she is phenomenal....most actors kill for one nomination or one win. Meryl does have so much :) and you will see a 3rd oscar win in your lifetime Zooey! But who knows when?
^ Jamie, you're awesome. That's the best thing I've seen a hardcore Meryl fan write, ever.
zooey boo fucking who
Meryl Streep isn't going to be forgotten.
If you really think life is unfair to Streep look at the Oscarless bunch -- Joan Allen, Annette Bening, Glenn Close, Helena Bonham Carter, Gena Rowlands, Mia Farrow, Julianne Moore, Sigourney Weaver, and Michelle Pfeiffer etc -- then you have the group of actresses who have won who can't catch a break -- Holly Hunter anyone? Bates and Lange doing TV!! Streep doesn't want to work with demanding filmmakers whom would call her out on her shit.
^ Exactly. If you're measuring her success on shining trophies and feeling pity for her, that says all about you. She has an amazing career any actress would kill for and is pretty much considered the greatest actress ever. I think that says a lot more.
No... Meryl Streep works with who she wants....if the role and project interest her and is for a 62 year old....great!
Who says Meryl will be forgotten? But it's not fair. Of course she will be back again. And she'll lose again and again. And in the end of her career they'll throw her a supporting actress victory for some forgettable movie. By then I wouldn't be too surprised if Hilary Swank or more likely somebody like Sally Field has three lead Oscars. And with Sally people will start yelling how cute she is and how funny her speeches are and she'll win easily. And Streep will be invited again and again and won't win. No matter what. Do you believe she'll win soon? I doubt it. There will be ANOTHER performance. There will be ANOTHER actress.
^ Well it was be a sad life to be a pessimistic Streep fanatic, then.
@ Philip,
just realistic. Enjoy!
Meryl Streep has two competitive acting Oscars, which is two more than Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, W.C. Fields, Mae West, Cary Grant, Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin, Gary Oldman, Michelle Pfeiffer, Julianne Moore, Peter O'Toole, Glenn Close, Richard Burton, and Paul Giamatti have between them. The idea that she is somehow "overdue" for a third competitive acting Oscar is ridiculous.
Zooey and other Streep fans -- as i have mentioned statistically in other posts, Streep has not waited as long as Hepburn (and hepburns was just for a second Oscar!... and then the 3rd one came immediately after and then less than 15 years later the 4th). Meryl's still got another two or three years before she reaches Hepburn's waiting period and they're the two most beloved Oscar actresses so neither has much to complain about if anything.
i have every confidence that Streep will win a third. But i think as i've said many times they're going to have to love the film too. That's just the way these things go. all of Streep's nominations for a long time have been from films where Streep is (almost) the only thing they loved about it. That can work for a powerhouse performance (charlize in Monster, or maybe... the race is not oever yet... meryl in Iron Lady) but it's far more likely to happen when you are in a film people like.
people loving your film goes a long way. Just ask Hilary Swank and Sally Field -- the two most derided double actress winners whose second Oscar came from Best Picture contending big deals.
I think people are missing the real story of this year and that's that Glenn Close will tie Deborah Kerr and Thelma Ritter for most nominations without ever winning. ;)
@ Claude North, REALLY?
And if you won an Oscar and then delivered:
SILKWOOD
IRONWEED
A CRY IN THE DARK
THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY
ADAPTATION
and even THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
you wouldn't be overdue? She's overdue because she's been snubbed way too many times. Because let's face it-- Sally Field and Hilary Swank have two each. Sandra Bullock and Reese Witherspoon and Halle Berry have just as many lead actress Oscars. It's supposed to be: You delivered the best performance. You win. But in Meryl's case it never happens. Why could it happen to Nicholson, Ingrid Bergman and Katharine Hepburn? Each of them won for lesser performances. Why can't it happen to Meryl? Why does Meryl get the blacklash? Why do people use excuses all the time?
You'll have no trouble with George Clooney winning more Oscars than Meryl, because it's likely to happen at some point. But why isn't Meryl overdue?!
And of course you state Gary Oldman, Michelle Pfeiffer, Julianne Moore, Glenn Close? All great actors. But have any of them delivered all these performances year after year?! It's not just about being a great actor, but the amount of great work she has. And of course there will be people who'll never accept that and there will always be somebody else. So yes - Meryl has all these people as if it's her fault that they never won. But somebody like Hilary Swank doesn't. I really promise to not care next year. Not that Meryl will be nominated next year.
"It's supposed to be: You delivered the best performance. You win. But in Meryl's case it never happens."
That has nothing to do with Meryl, sweetheart. That almost never happens, plus it's all subjective as to 'best.'
"You'll have no trouble with George Clooney winning more Oscars than Meryl"
And now you're just assuming things...
God-awful television winners this year. They rubberstamped EVERYONE except Jessica Lange? They would have picked Claire Danes and Al Pacino again for the same performances if they could have. Bullshit. Enough of them.
On the film side (where it really matters!), big cheers to "The Help"! Didn't think it would win ensemble and two acting awards. Dujardin over Pitt and Clooney? Scandalous. Lead actor is finally a race, though that could be interpreted as having to award "The Artist" somewhere instead of going home emptyhanded. Supporting actor and actress seem done. I'm still not calling lead actress for Viola Davis just yet. If Meryl somehow pulls off BAFTA, I think that voting bloc just might put her over the edge. Notice that BAFTA has never picked a black woman to win lead actress. And here you have Davis going against three British productions and Bejo. But maybe that film nod for "The Help" shows stronger support than we realize there. I'm ready for BAFTA to totally fuck with us and pick Oldman in lead actor. Ha! Then give the Oscar to Pitt. That would be kinda amazing.
I'm glad for these results for the SAG.
-Best Actor: I knew Dujardin will have a late surge!. Sorry guys, At this stage of the race, Brad Pitt is OUT of the race. Only a BAFTA win could revived his options, but "Moneyball" underperfomed in UK (Also happened with "The Descendants"). Right now, the race is between Clooney and Dujardin with the edge in the Frenchman (Vann, don't hold up high hopes. The BAFTA has a weird relation with the british actors -Christie, Sheen, McAvoy lose in home even when starred BP favorites- and Oldman is not the exception. It took 25 years for another acting nomination)
-Best Actress: A battle between Davis-Streep. The BAFTA will say the last word. If Davis win, the race is over, if Streep win is 50/50.
@Leon...I also think Michelle Williams stands a good chance at BAFTA considering how well My Week with Marilyn performed there. I would be a little surprised if Davis won it, as I think Streep is undoubtedly the frontrunner (she also hasn't won since The French Lieutenant's Woman and she was inexplicably snubbed for Sophie's Choice. WTF?!).
Well done actors! Very classy choices this year! Dujardin, Davis... You almost make me forget you voted for Sandra Bullock!
I am really happy for the Help win in ensemble and not a predictive Oscar win award as The Help with not many below the line nods is a long shot Best Picture winner, which is how it should be. With the exception of maybe Slumdog and King's Speech SAG has actually gotten the spirit of this award right most of the time which is good to see.
Williams is pretty lightweight compared to Streep. It'd be a slap in the face not to award Streep the BAFTA. I know Thatcher is hated and all, but that's not Meryl's fault. Can "villains" not win too? If Streep wins BAFTA, I think she's winning the Oscar too. I think Oldman's losing just b/c his film is a bore. They'll reward either Clooney or Dujardin (I'll say Clooney). Sadly, my favorite performance of the year (Pitt in "Moneyball") is out of the race.
<Why could it happen to Nicholson, Ingrid Bergman and Katharine Hepburn? Each of them won for lesser performances. Why can't it happen to Meryl? Why does Meryl get the blacklash? Why do people use excuses all the time?>
So zooey, by your own words, you want Meryl to win for a lesser performance too? That's okay with you? Really? Don't you want her to have her juggernaut like "The Queen" where her win is indisptuable? You'd rather her win for something awful like "The Iron Lady"? Ugh, these silly Meryl fangirls. Go to bed, please.
I love Streep,but i dont think shes overdue considering she has two oscars when many other talented actresses of her caliber have none. I want viola to win ,not only for her but for black actresses in Hollywood. Lets not forget that in the years that the Oscars have been around only ONE black actress has taken a leading Oscar award, count that ? ONE. None has follwed up since then, that door that Halle Berry claimed was opened for “woman of color in Hollywood” has yet to be in my opinion. If they can give Sandra Bullock an Oscar for The Blindside for which she didn’t even deserve hell Viola should get one. VIOLA FOR THE WIN.
Yes Meryl is hardly 'overdue', I mean it's incredible achieving that many nominations in her career, and most of them deserved. BUT , one has to wonder if all of them are . Was she really that incredible in Music of The Heart or One True Thing or even Julie and Julia to be nominated. The thing is she is automatically in the conversation every year because she is MERYL STREEP and that is a big advantage for her come nomination time. I would have liked to see her win her 3rd for Devil Wears Prada as that to me is her most iconic role.
You guys, I have no problem waiting to see Meryl win for "August: Osage County" when she's finally in a Best Picture nominee.
Samson -- i've actually been surprised at the acclaim for Williams but i've read in at least one major place (i think it was the LA times) that they said williams one the best biographical performance. so apparently not everyone thinks Streep gave the best performance of the year, even among the people who automatically find Biographical Performances the be all end all. Perhaps Michelle Williams is getting in her way as much as Viola is.
Alex -- unless they give AUGUST to a reallly really talented director i wouldn't bank on that. It's a glorious play but wow it could be a mess with someone less than stellar guiding it to the screen.
rami -- i agree. I love it when ENSEMBLE seems to be about a group of actors rather than 'Best Picture'. But that said I really think of their nominees that BRIDESMAIDS deserved the win in that regard. Such wonderful chemistry and interaction and all of them singing in the same key as it were. Great Group Performance if you ask me.
i can't wait for the george clooney trend do end (one nomination every 2 years).
'good' directors/screenwriters, stop working with him!
(this is a real case of only having to show up to work to get nominated.)
//a nice shout out to Ewan McGregor for making acting look so effortless. Exactly. That's why he never gets nominations.//
Exactly, Nathaniel. I finally saw Beginners (and on the big screen - yay!) here in New London Friday night, and am still processing it. (There's a lot more going on - lonliness, loss, frustration, inability to connect - than the trailers, or even Mike Mills in the featurettes on the website, would lead you to believe.)
The main thought in my head as I left the theater was "Was hasn't Ewan gotten ANY awards attention? Why hasn't he been in the conversation at all?" Plummer was very good, of course - but he also dies in the film. The awards bodies LOVE that. Is it a worthy performance? Yes. But I can imagine other actors taking the role. I CANNOT imagine anyone else playing Oliver (Ewan's character) and doing exactly what he does with it. Best of show, IMO. (You put him in your top five in the Film Bitch Awards - good call.) And he's so generous - he's not chewing scenery and spitting out the splinters, he underplays, he finds the layers of this character, and lets everyone else seem to shine a little brighter. His performance never felt "acted" to me. But again - we know the voters love "acting". (Which probably explains why Pitt has underperformed at the awards, as well.)
As a Streep fan.... I am looking at 2007 where Julie Christie won both golden globe and sag but cotilliard won for la vie in rose, a great performance in a weak biopic, by winning BAFTA and oscar!
Not over yet....you think Weinstein left happy last night?
@ zooey:
"It's supposed to be: You delivered the best performance. You win. But in Meryl's case it never happens. "
Probably because people have different opinions about who gave the best performance. In 1995, maybe you think that Streep gave the best, but Sarandon or others were arguably just as great. Same in 2006. Same in 1988 when actually it was Glenn Close that gave the performance that went down in history. And so on. I agree she was one of the best everytime, but "the" best is too subjective.
"And of course you state Gary Oldman, Michelle Pfeiffer, Julianne Moore, Glenn Close? All great actors. But have any of them delivered all these performances year after year?!"
Gary Oldman actually did, from 1986 to 1994, he had an incredible run. And then here and here in the 00s. And as he just received his first nod, he is arguably way, way, way more overdue than Streep, that, at least, had received official recognition for all her great performances, and even for the lesser, as some of the nods she received seem way too generous.
Zooey-I'm also a big Meryl Streep fan, but the films you listed, one could make the easy argument that there were better performances than Streep's in every one of those years:
1983: Shirley MacLaine giving the performance of a lifetime (winning her first and only Oscar)
1987: Glenn Close giving the most iconic work of her career (and as Nat said, the true actress story this year is the fact that Glenn will now join the 0 for 6 club)
1988: Again, Close getting left out for genius work, Susan Sarandon not even getting nominated for brilliant work in Bull Durham, and Sigourney Weaver losing twice in one night
1995: Susan Sarandon getting her first and only Oscar for a genius performance, and let's not forget how good Elisabeth Shue was that year
2002: CZJ hoofing with one of the best performances in a musical ever-yes, Streep was brilliance, but this was simply a coin toss that she lost.
2006: Again, another coin toss race in terms of quality, but Helen Mirren was giving the iconic performance of her career, and who wants to live in a world where Helen Mirren doesn't have an Oscar?
People always bring up Bullock, as well, and yes, Bullock didn't deserve the Oscar, but then again, when you're competing alongside the bravado work of Carey Mulligan and Gabby Sidibe that year (not to mention the unnominated Tilda Swinton), Meryl didn't really deserve it either.
And again, as good as Meryl is in The Iron Lady, Viola Davis is just as good this year (in my opinion, better). The point is, as much as Meryl deserves a third Oscar when you list all of those performances, none of those races can be taken into a bubble, and when people like Sally Field and Hilary Swank were winning their second Oscars, the Best Picture factor was the deciding factor in distinguishing them from a field of very similar contenders for Field and very small films for Swank.
And though I think she'll eventually win a third, even if she doesn't, all Streep fans should take heart in Bette Davis, Meryl's acting god predecessor, winning a pair of Oscars and no more, and yet decades later, when you think of Bette Davis, you think of Charlotte Vale, you think of Baby Jane Hudson, and you sure as hell think of Margo Channing. Even without an Oscar, the films (and legend) will live on and on.
Also looking at 2008 when Streep won SAG.... The last actress to win SAG to not win Best Actress ( though due to winslet category confusion)
When I awoke this morning...of course they voted Davis! She just has the better narrative! And streep just won.
Davis will not win BAFTA...
I agree John T....Streep's iconic status will live on more than a 3rd Oscar win.
That she is even havin the career she is having right now!!!! I mean... She is still relevant 30 years after her last Oscar win. Most are irrelevant a couple of years later!
John T - VERY WELL SAID. (And very civilized as well. Bravo.)
Nathaniel I loved the ladies of Bridesmaids don't get me wrong, but I thought as a group working together The Help actresses sort of did a marginally better job, the really elevated some of the shortcomings of the script, and I am a bigger fan of Bryce's work more than I think you are :)