Michelle has also given 2 critically acclaimed performances in 2 indie movies this year. if the Marylin performance is great. she is a lock for a nomination.
It almost seems cliché to declare Meryl Streep the frontrunner in Best Actress for "The Iron Lady." In 2008, she would have won the award for "Doubt" had Kate Winslet not been upgraded from supporting to lead for "The Reader." The same held true in 2009 with "Julie & Julia" before Sandra Bullock ("The Blind Side") gained momentum. But with no clear frontrunner in 2011, Streep at last stands ready to win her first Oscar since 1982's "Sophie's Choice."
This year's Best Actress race certainly has its contenders. But even more than Glenn Close's gender-swapping in "Albert Nobbs," Streep disappears in the role as Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. While a lack of resemblance assures that we never quite forget we're watching Michelle Williams -- not Marilyn Monroe -- in "My Week with Marilyn," the illusion is completed here. Though she is not noble like Viola Davis' besieged housekeeper in "The Help," Streep does something far more difficult: she makes us understand one of history's most polarizing figures.
Her performance is at once commanding and witty. After declaring Argentinia will rue the day they invaded the Falklands, for instance, Thatcher amusingly asks Secretary of State Al Haig how he'd like his tea. Critics have been quick to point out scripting problems in the film, which is why it's easy to credit Streep with giving the film all its sublime moments.
All the ingredients for an acting win are in "The Iron Lady." It's an important film that defines Thatcher as it spans the decades. Streep would be the first actress nominated for playing an elected official in her first star turn in ages. It's a role unlike any Streep has been cited for before.
David Gritten of The Telegraph raves, "Streep is splendid, giving a detailed, authoritative performance that goes way beyond accurate impersonation to evoke Thatcher’s spirit. One can think of a few talented British actresses who might have acquitted themselves well in the role, but it’s hard to imagine them doing it better than Streep."
Streep's constant excellence has been an awards liability. She is the most nominated performer in Oscar history, contending 16 times, but winning only in 1982 and 1979 (Best Supporting Actress, "Kramer vs. Kramer"). The question this season is not whether or not she can get nominated for her acheivement here; it's if she can finally score her long overdue third win. Surely nearly three decades is a long enough wait.
This time of year irks me sometimes. "The Help" clearly is a fave and Viola and Octavia will probably get noms. But in order for Viola to win, she would have to go to supporting. I believe Glenn Close will win this year because it's typical Oscar bait. She's never won and now is the time to reward her for her transformation. Meryl will get nominated just because she's Meryl. She already has two Oscars and that may just will have to do. I think the locks for Best Actress are Meryl and Glenn for now. Tilda, Michelle Williams, and Viola Davis are possibles..We'll know more as the year ends.
Viola deserves an Oscar win, so she better get that Supporting Actress nomination so she can lock down a win. This woman is one of the most gifted actresses of our time and often gets swept under the rug.
Viola deserves an Oscar win, so she better get that Supporting Actress nomination so she can lock down a win. This woman is one of the most gifted actresses of our time and often gets swept under the rug.
That would be category robbery of the most insane degree. She's clearly the lead character of the film; I can't imagine they would actually be so bold. (Just think of the ridiculous justifications: "All the performances in The Help were supporting because the actresses were all supporting each other in this film.")
Three movies lead the predictions absolutely tied at number one right now: The Descendants , The Artist and War Horse . This leads us to one thing of note in this category – right now, as we approach the end of November, 5 out of the predicted movies have yet to be screened for the general public, and nothing honestly feels like a frontrunner. The best reviewed movie of the year so far is Moneyball , a film that has been losing steam by the minute. After that, the name that has been mentioned as current frontrunner the most often is The Descendants, that just opened in limited release to good numbers.
CURRENT PREDICTIONS: The Descendants , The Artist, War Horse, The Help, Midnight in Paris, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Moneyball, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
ALMOST THERE: The Tree of Life, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Ides of March.
CURRENT PREDICTIONS: Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady (The Weinstein Company); Viola Davis, The Help (Disney); Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs (Roadside Attractions); Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn (The Weinstein Company); Charlize Theron, Young Adult (Paramount Pictures).
ALMOST THERE: Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin; Elizabeth Olsen, Martha Marcy May; Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
CURRENT PREDICTIONS: Octavia Spencer, The Help (Disney); Vanessa Redgrave, Coriolanus (The Weinstein Company); Shailene Woodley, The Descendants (Fox Searchlight); Berenice Bejo, The Artist (The Weinstein Company); Janet Mcteer, Albert Nobbs (Roadside Attractions).
ALMOST THERE: Sandra Bullock, Extremely loud and incredibly close; Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids; Jessica Chastain, The Tree of Life.
CURRENT PREDICTIONS: George Clooney, The Descendants (Fox Searchlight); Brad Pitt, Moneyball (Columbia Pictures); Jean Dujardin, The Artist (The Weinstein Company); Leonardo DiCaprio, J. Edgar (Warner Bros. Pictures); Michael Fassbender, Shame (Fox Searchlight).
ALMOST THERE: Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy; Woody Harrelson, Rampart; Joseph Gordon Levitt, 50/50.
Do Oscar Voters Really Hate Leonardo DiCaprio? The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has nominated him three times, for Blood Diamond, The Aviator and as a supporting actor in What's Eating Gilbert Grape. No statuette.
I have to say... I am completely shocked about the praise she's received. I guess it's just Secret Life but I always had the idea she was a really terrible actress. I'm seeing The Descendants tomorrow so I'm excited.
As much as I love/adore/worship Kate, they will not give her another one so soon. Oh and that video of her winning - I watch that monthly. Queen Kate
Meryl really needs to win. Its a disgrace that so many lesser actresses (e.g. Foster & Swank, who I love but are not in the same league as Meryl) have the same amount of statues as her.