Is Meryl Streep Oscar's comeback kid?

Source: hitfix.com

"... On the other hand, a comeback could be stirring for one of the long expected frontrunners during the season, Ms. Meryl Streep.

After having been the bridesmaid at the big show 11 times over the past 26 years, there was a growing consensus throughout the industry that it was time for one of the world's greatest living actresses to finally get that third Oscar statue. It didn't hurt that her two early wins aside, Streep had subtly made her displeasure known on more than one occasion at having lost at the Academy Awards more than any other actor in history. When one possible winner, Carey Mulligan, started to fade following "An Education's" mediocre box office cume this past Fall, Streep's heralded turn as Julia Child in the hit "Julie and Julia" seemed as though it could finally break her through. Then, dramatically, Streep and Sony Pictures got blind sided, literally, by Sandra Bullock's turn in the blockbuster "The Blind Side."

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Now, any publicist or executive at Warner Bros. will honestly tell you they never dreamed in a million years that "The Blind Side" would become the profitable phenomenon its become. Nor, would they have ever thought Bullock had a real shot of landing an Oscar nomination let alone winning an Academy Award after they first saw the film. And yet, over a magical series of weeks, Bullock took home the Golden Globe and the SAG Awards for Best Actress as a smiling Streep looked on (Streep won the Globe for Best Actress - Comedy/Musical). But with the SAG win, Bullock's candidacy truly became about rewarding one of the true "good people" in the industry. You'll never hear anyone who has ever worked with Bullock in any aspect of the business say a disparaging word about her. She's as down to earth, charming and amiable as she seems sitting next to David Letterman or walking down a red carpet. No matter how successful she is, she's always able to give off that genuine "I can't believe I'm still here" vibe. And her fellow actors and many who have worked with her adore her for it. Plus, like Streep, she's worked with a ton of people in Hollywood so her support is strong and wide. But, even with the Bullock momentum growing and seemingly solid, someone decided to kick Steep's campaign into second gear.

After the nominations, Sony started spending significantly more on ads for Streep at times dominating every trade website and blog with ads for her candidacy. And after Bullock made an impressive appearance on "Late Night with David Letterman" the Monday after the Super Bowl, a TV ad for "Julia and Julia" on DVD and Blu-ray appeared touting Streep's critical acclaim in the comedy only a few days later during the same show. Of course, "Julia" was released in early December, so this was absolutely nothing but a national TV spot to garner the attention of however many of the 5,000 members plus of the Academy were watching Letterman that night. Not cheap people, not at all.

Still, while most in the 310/323 will quietly say, "Sandra was good, but the movie was awful," no one has given a proper argument why they should change their vote to Streep. Too many people have it engrained in their minds that Streep's role as Child just wasn't that difficult. And let's be honest, it's clearly not at the level of even her work in "Doubt" last year.

The bigger problem is Streep would never, ever, ever let Sony do what they need to do to end this debate once and for all. If the studio ran a simple black and white ad in the industry trade papers, the LA Times and, shoot, The New York Times, that said the following:

Members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences,
These are the films you have nominated Meryl Streep for since 1984.

"Silkwood"
"Out of Africa"
"Ironweed"
"A Cry in the Dark"
"Postcards from the Edge"
"The Bridges of Madison County"
"One True Thing"
"Music of the Heart"
"Adaptation"
"The Devil Wears Prada"
"Doubt"

She did not receive the Academy Award for any of these performances, but is currently nominated this year for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a leading role for "Julia and Julia."

[end of ad]

That's it. That's all they would need.
If Sony were to put that stark message in front of the Academy to frankly embarrass them into action, Streep would easily win. It's not that the Academy likes to be told what to do, quite the contrary, but there is no body in the entertainment industry that detests being embarrassed by their own actions then the membership of the AMPAS. And at this point, Streep losing for a 12th time to a performance by Bullock that won't be looked upon kindly in a few years, would absolutely fall into that category.

Of course, Streep is too classy -- perhaps too much for her own good -- to let Sony run such a "reminder." Then again, if Streep does make a comeback and win Best Actress on March 7 it won't be because they didn't love Bullock, but because history is finally on Streep's side.

Oscar ballots are due by 5:00 PM on Tuesday, March 2. Start the countdown.

Source: hitfix.com