From the moment it was announced that Meryl Streep was playing Viola Weston in the film adaptation of the acclaimed stage play August: Osage County, people were already predicting that Meryl Streep would win her 3rd Oscar, a trophy that had seemed to escape the legendary actress after being nominated again and again for over a decade. This was despite the fact that Streep was already in a heated Oscar race against Viola Davis, a favorite to win a leading Oscar for her role as maid turned novelist in The Help. Streep herself, a former co-star of Davis' from "Doubt", campaigned for Davis' win. Alas, despite the announcement of the new, buzzy role, Streep's turn as British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was the winning performance that year.
Now Streep finds herself in a bit of a pickle this year with her bid in August: Osage County. Though she's won her usual raves (albeit the film's reception has been up in the air; everyone has a different MVP and co-stars Julia Roberts and Margot Martindale are winning stronger raves than Streep), her place in the race isn't certain. Many are predicting simply because it seems Streep can get nominated for anything.
A win is simply out of the question. I don't think any of the major awards players (Globes, SAG, BAFTA, Oscars) would hand her an award so soon after her 3rd (and divisive) win. Not even her biggest fans, the New York Film Critics Circle (who have awarded her a record 5 times) came out to bat for her this year, instead they awarded Cate Blanchett.
But it's less about her winning, and more about if she'll be amongst the final five. 3 of the slots seem to be already locked up; it would be very strange if Emma Thompson, Cate Blanchett, or Sandra Bullock missed out on nominations. The last 2 spots are much more fluid, and open for various guesses as to who will end up taking them.
I'm personally predicting Streep based solely on the fact she's Meryl friggin Streep. She's playing a loud, drug addicted mother; the role is one of the Oscar baitiest roles she's accepted in awhile. But then there's Judi Dench in Philomena, and Amy Adams in American Hustle, both of whom have films with more critical appreciation, and more supporters in their corner than Streep. And if you count the fact there's usually a "breakout actress" slot in the leading actress category, then you can't forget about Short Term 12's Brie Larson who won an award at the Gotham awards the other night, and delivered one of the most critically acclaimed performances of the year next to Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett.
Meryl Streep as she appears in August: Osage County (courtesy of The Weinstein Company)
So where does that leave Streep? Not in a very good position from a certain standpoint. Especially when you consider that another Oscar favorite with a loud and baity role (Helen Mirren in Hitchcock) was left hung out to dry in favor of 9 year old Quvenzhané Wallis last year when nomination day came around.
I've compiled a timeline of all Streep's 17 (wow) Oscar nominations, which you can view here. What do you think? Based on this information, do you think Streep will make it? Or will she be left out?
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