Who dat say dey gonna beat da Streep?

Who dat say dey gonna beat da Streep?
Who dat? WHO DAT?
Who dat’s role a much harder feat?
Who dat? WHO DAT?

We got da Blind lady
cello lady
‘bused lady
Station lady
Lookin’ for some sta-tues
Pickin’ up some kudos

Who dat cookin’ better den da Child?
Who dat? WHO DAT?
Who dat’s work was da best pro-filed?
Who dat? WHO DAT?

Okay, apologies to the Saints, but it’s the sinners out there that I worry about. The sinners who really feel that Meryl Streep’s Julia Child was not the best performance of those nominated this year. For the nay-sayers who always look at Sophie as the benchmark, let me remind them that even the critics thought that Meryl Streep had finally out-done herself. Others who say that Streep’s two acting Oscars are enough, need to be reminded that Hepburn, Brennan, Bergman, and Nicholson all have more. Even Sally Field and Hillary Swank have, technically, more leading actress Oscars than Streep. Both of those ladies were nominated twice and won twice. Was Norma Rae better than Karen Silkwood? Was Edna Spalding better than Miranda Priestly, Francesca Johnson, Lindy Chamberlain, or Karen Blixen?

I am both amused and puzzled by the inclusion of “The Blind Side” as best picture, which could have easily been a Hallmark Sunday night movie: sweet, nicely done, but not Oscar worthy. I sincerely hope the unwritten Jack Lemmon rule doesn’t come into play when we reward an actor, after years of comedic work, for a good turn at drama. Shame on the Academy if that’s their justification. Sandra Bullock cannot even take herself seriously at the moment. She even felt that her performance didn’t click. Can Sandra Bullock be the first actor to win an Oscar and a Razzie in the same year? Sandra Bullock is a fabulous comedic actor and it would be a shame to reward her for her lesser talents, just as the Academy has not awarded Streep since Sophie.

Let’s address one more thing about Sandra Bullock. It seems that everywhere I see her referred to as a box office queen. Sandra’s last six movies grossed, worldwide, $680,417,483. Meryl Streep’s last six movies grossed, worldwide, $1,004,755,078. Over one billion dollars, folks. Who da queen?

Gabby Sibidie is a bundle of laughs. I like her but I couldn’t believe my ears when she said that she has only seen two of the movies. I think “Up” was one of them. The likelihood of her watching “Julie & Julia,” or any of the other many movies with nominations, is slim. She said that her most thrilling moment at the awards shows was meeting Carey Mulligan. It’s a shame that the youth in pictures today don’t study the portfolios of the past to improve their craft. Sibidie was good but her future may lie in comedy. Mo’Nique, with the more realistic performance, was the star of “Precious.”

Carey Mulligan (An Education) has a great future but again, to those of the Academy who think hers was the performance of the year, I ask, why?  Whereas Streep became Child, Mulligan failed to be the child. The sophistication of her character above those of the adults in the same picture marred the coming-of-age story. Even David (“Boobaloo”) exhibits an immaturity not inherent in his “Minnie” (Jenny). The Academy missed the real star of “An Education” and that was Peter Sarsgaard. Yeah, yeah, viewers, I know she’ll win the BAFTAs. I said it before, the Brits like their Brits.

Including Helen Mirren (The Last Station) in the Academy vote was sneaky. Imagine if the other four ladies, as well as Julienne Moore (A Single Man), Abbie Cornish (A Bright Star), and Emily Blunt (Young Victoria) were all performing their roles on Broadway. Then you sneak Mirren into an empty theater at the last minute; make it almost impossible for people to see her by opening the doors occasionally (for critics), and then make it too racy for the general public. Then you nominate her for a Tony. FOUL! Yes, Mirren is capable but frankly, Moore, Blunt, and Cornish were much more deserving of a shot. I sincerely doubt that very few of the Academy members will sit through “The Last Station” when they get their copies.

So, Who dat?
Who do you say dey gonna beat da Streep?
Who dat?
Really.
Who dat?

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