Streep Cast in Osage County with Julia Roberts
The Weinstein Co. just announced that Meryl Streep will play opposite Julia Roberts in August: Osage County, based on the Pulitzer and Tony winning play by Tracy Letts. Pic will be directed by John Wells (Shameless, The Company Men). Meryl Streep will kill it, you know she will. I can’t wait to see her do this.
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Oh, I am pretty sure that if/when Meryl gets nominated for this, that there will be a good reason, as always and as usual, as to why she will not win.
Wanna bet?
I’m excited to see Roberts test herself against Streep’s formidible talent.
At last, brilliant material worthy of Meryl’s brilliance.
For years we’ve been wondering what kind of a role would win Meryl Streep her third Oscar. If this isn’t it …
I saw this on Broadway and thought it was spellbinding. Personally, I think the character Julia Roberts will be playing is more complex and interesting than Meryl’s role, although hers is obviously more showy.
Wasn’t this announced a while ago? At any rate, this will be huge for both of them. Both roles were classified as lead on Broadway, but I’m guessing Julia will be campaigned in supporting. Anyway, that’s a while down the road. The play is brilliant, and I can’t wait.
The pair were first announced as “rumored” for this film in September 2010. So jazzed this is officially happening! This is an amazing play and I cannot wait to see how it turns out.
I was pretty sure Mike Nichols was gonna direct his two favorite actresses but I guess that ain’t happening.
I thought it was more than a rumor a few months ago. Neither actress is as well cast as the actors who played the parts first in Chicago and then on Broadway but I have faith in Streep if not Roberts. Judy Davis would have been perfect as the mother though.
Aaaaaand heeeere come the Streeeepies!
Actually I love Meryl and The Company Men was a cool flick, so I have faith in this one.
Both roles were classified as lead on Broadway…
and so it begins.
Ahhh… always nice to know that there’s something to look forward to if Oscar doesn’t get it right this year!
So were both main Dreamgirls, both Chicago showgirls, and both witches of Oz. Streep is be lead and Julia will be Supporting (or vice versa). If memory serves correctly Julia’s role has more time but Streep’s has more impact. Think Dench and Blanchett in Notes on a Scandal.
Wouldn’t it have been more strategic for The Punisher to release this news
AFTER the Oscars? I mean, what if we now have AMPAS members who see this and think ‘oh, Meryl will knock this outta the park; let’s give it to Davis now and let Meryl take it in a year or two’.
Just a thought.
I saw August Osage County in Chicago in it’s encore presentation after it won the Tony award. Also saw it’s writer, Tracey Letts who is an alumnae of Steppenwolf Theatre in many plays here in Chicago. Been there many times. Steppenwolf is also home to Gary Sinise, Laura Linney, John Malkovich, John Mahoney, etc. Lots of talent there.
Meryl Streep undoubtedly will play the Matriarch with Julia playing the daughter. They have a tumultuous relationship. This will be interesting and could bring awards.
@Sasha: I’m just a lil worried about having John Wells helm this project. We keep talking about how Meryl really needs to be in a Best Picture contender, a TRULY GREAT film — NOT just an acting masterclass, as is per usual for her — in order to lock down her next Academy Award. Is Mr. Wells really up to the task of creating an truly impressive cinematic experience worthy of this, arguably the best play of the last couple decades?
Wow! people are already talking about Oscars SMH. I can only imagine the amount of pressure weighing down on Meryl when she signs on a new project. Can we go back to simply enjoying movies? I mean at the end of the day, do these awards really matter? Meryl will be remembered as the greatest actress that ever lived, third Oscar or not.
^
and now we have people worrying about Meryl worrying about people worrying about Meryl’s 3rd Oscar.
“Supporting” need not necessarily equate to fewer minutes of screen time. Consider, as mentioned above, Dreamgirls, Notes on a Scandal, Davis/Spencer in The Help and Kidman/Moore in Sasha’s favorite movie The Hours.
ps- Estelle Parsons as Violet in August: Osage County=perfection.
@ Deena I got off the phone with Meryl just now and the poor baby was sobbing:
“Jesse, all these people expect Oscar, Oscar, Oscar. I just want to do great work! I mean, yes, I always show up for awards, yes I do the interview rounds and the talk show circuits, yes, I appear in splashy biopics that seem to scream ACADEMY. But all this focus on awards is leaving me breathless. I can’t eat, I can’t sleep…I mean, really, 11 or 12 more leading roles and 470-480 interviews and I’m calling it quits. I’ve had it. Everyone campaigning for me, for Viola, for Sandy…they’ve ruined everything. When I visit these comment boards on sites like AwardsDaily, I just want a series of responses talking about how delightful the film was. Why bring up awards? Why? I mean, yes, the site is called AWARDSDAILY, but why so literal?”
She went on in a similar vein for another 20 minutes before hanging up to apply her cucumber mask. Look what you’ve all done You should be ashamed of yourselves.
I think Davis will win now. Voters on the fence will see the press release and fall in the Davis camp since she might not get another chance. I really thought Meryl had the momentum, but this announcement may have just killed it. Very rare unforced error from Weinstein Co that may well cost Meryl the Oscar.
Fucking aces. She still better win for TIL
As soon as i saw this thread, i visualised at least four or five of the comments that would be made and they are all there. Is that dejavu in advance? Dave-odamus predicts.
All i have to say is – that will be a film event worth waiting for.
Finish. All Good. Sleep well, y’all!
Honestly, some of your comments made me laugh. Do you really believe that any Oscar voter who would vote for Meryl now would be stopped by this announcement? What? Do you suppose voters think Meryl won’t be cast in anything anymore and once she’s cast in something, they’ll change their mind and vote for somebody else? Come on!
Can we go back to simply enjoying movies? I mean at the end of the day, do these awards really matter?
The name of this site is Awards Daily. The point is to talk about movies in terms of their award winning potential. News about movies that have yet to be made is always posted in terms of its potential in future races. Why else would there be an article on them?
I agree with Zooey. Once again Meryl Streep fans are coming up with all the “possible reasons” as to why Viola Davis would win besides the fact that people actually enjoyed her performance. If Meryl loses it’s not because of this announcement. Most people knew this was going to happen for a while now…
I think it’s cool that Streep is getting all these great roles. Maybe some of her will rub off on Julia Roberts.
jesus meryl streep gets nominated every year she has a film
If Maryl wins this oscar , No one will care about this film
If she loses , She will be Buzzed about in this FTW in a month .
Wow, so happy for this!
As for a possible win for this, wake me up when its 2014 already.
@ Harry, Katharine Hepburn said “you always win for the wrong parts” and she’s quite right.
I’m confident that if “Great Hope Springs” is a decent film and performs well at the box office = “Julie & Julia” OR “The Devil Wears Prada” style => Streep’s nomination is in the bag.
Nevertheless, I do hope she wins NOW!
The SAG Viola Love was humongous, but we need to remember that a HUGE number of the SAG members who voted for Viola are not part of the AMPAS elite.
Super! Meryl Streep will be up for her 4th Oscar.
Jeff — I agree, after seeing Estelle Parsons play Vi on stage I don’t think any actress can match that brilliance.
But does Julia Roberts have the cynicism, weariness, and pent-up anger that Barbara has? This casting decision could destroy the film. Barbara goes through an unbelievable character arc. I’ll guess we’ll have to wait and see if Roberts can match it.
I’d rather have seen Jessica Lange in the role, but Meryl will be superb!
Julia …. Ugh … BAD CASTING
Casting Julia Roberts as Barbara is like casting Taylor Swift as Eponine. Except Swift has bowed out. Sigh. It’s a terrible casting choice and it might just destroy the entire film since Roberts is the freaking lead. Ugh.
Also, Sissy Spacek or, yeah, Jessica Lange would of been the better choice for Violet, but whatever.
The actresses who play Karen and Ivy will most likely be frontrunners for supporting actress the minute they’re announced.
This is a bad idea for Harvey to release this news. Now AMPAS will go with their “Oh look! She’s got another killer role. Why don’t we just wait????” crap and dismiss her once again.
And if she really does lose to Viola this year. The only possible she would get it from this project is put her in supporting category. I’m sure they don’t mind to give Meryl another 5 Oscars but it has to be supporting roles. The lead is for new pretty faces or some old dames only.
Poor Julia. No one will notice she’s on screen.
Let me share something about Meryl Streep and her bad luck when it comes to actually winning an Oscar.
I have a friend – Christopher – who’s probably my favorite American in the whole world. (Ironic, huh?) He’s smart, he’s a non-conformist, he’s witty and well-read and he just graduated from an arts program at Yale. We had a conversation about the Oscars right after the nominations’ announcement. He hasn’t seen any of the nominated performances in the lead actress category. He’s been quite busy. I remember messaging that I would love to see Meryl Streep win! The reaction I expected was: I can’t comment. I’m going to see it soon. But he responded: Not her AGAIN! The first and biggest problem Meryl Streep has is that people actually assume that she has 15 Oscars home. Not that it should matter but it matters to people. To anybody who doesn’t follow the Oscar race as closely as those who are obsessed with it (our community) Meryl wins again and again. I bet there are voters in the Academy who believe that Meryl won an Oscar in the last five years. She’s regularly so good and every performance gets the Oscar talk etc etc that such a misunderstanding could happen easily. That will be the problem with August: OC as well. And the next performance, and the next performance and the next. That’s always the case: she has next year. She’ll be back. And at the same time: hasn’t she won recently?! No?! Really.
Anyway, the Viola/Meryl thing became so ugly that I refuse to comment on the race itself. I promised myself I wouldn’t and I’m keeping my promise so far. I’ll try to be as objective as I could. It will be very close. And I hope Michelle Williams takes it. I simply don’t want people to trash Meryl or Viola and if one of them wins, she’ll get a lot of garbage from the other’s camp.
aren’t all the ballots in by now? I doubt this announcement would have any impact on that. Personally, I hope Glenn Close takes home the gold.
shouldn’t it be like this:
1.wow, this is a great idea/story for the movie – let’s do it
2.the script is written
3.let’s find the actors who would be good for these roles
4.the film comes out
5.reviews are good – let’s do a campaign for awards
and not:
1.let’s find something that might bring this actor/actress an Oscar
Meryl is great actress,of course but talking about Oscar immediately after the news about her taking the new role is ridiculous.And the worst thing is we know she will be nominated again next year.Again she is great but this is getting so booooooring.and it will go on until she finally wins for the third time.And why people talk as if she never won before – she did,twice. Vanessa Redgrave won once for supporting role 35 years ago and she is not any less great.and if I was an actor I would rather want to be nominated 15 times and never win than being nominated once and win.
But what bugs the most about Meryl is when she pretends that she doesn’t care about winning.She does!Otherwise she wouldn’t bother to campaign and even more importantly she wouldn’t have made The Iron Lady.
@alan of montreal
I’m pretty sure you’re right. And if so, this news will not impact the final result.
I finally saw The Iron Lady today, and all I could think of was “What the hell is it going to take for this genius to earn her due?
Davis would not be the first beloved actress forced to wait a while.
@brace
But what bugs the most about Meryl is when she pretends that she doesn’t care about winning.She does!Otherwise she wouldn’t bother to campaign and even more importantly she wouldn’t have made The Iron Lady.
As much I love Meryl, I’d say you are quite right. It bugs me too cuz she isn’t a great actress when it comes to the awards season. Had she only showed her real passion for the third statue, she would have gotten it easily since The Bridge of Madison County.
I saw the play on Broadway it is a great play which was 3 hours 20 minutes long with not one wasted scene . If the movie is much shorter it will be terrible.
Ah, here we go again.
Is it any wonder Meryl gets nominated so often? They just HEAR a new projekt and automatically write her name on the ballot.
They just need the time to find the other 4 actresses for the slots. And I don’t mean the Academy alone.
Anyway, I’m really excited. I hope this movie gets a stellar ensemble and hopefully even a BP nod. And then it’s done.
Come on, people, Meryl was never going to win for TIL.
She has the Drama Globe and the BAFTA. Better than nothing!
Oh, why don’t they imprt Arnaud Desplechin to direct it? Why can’t Meryl work with a great director for once?
Any word on the rest of the cast? Those choices, the choice of director (can he handle the two mega-stars, or will they handle him?), and the possibility of stripping a 3 hr play could be the lynchpins here. I’ll reserve my excitement and file under “interesting – keep an eye open”.
Hope Meryl ties Katherine Hepburn with Osage. This year could be tie so everyone here would be happy. And then she wins again. My favorite actress and my favorite star together will be amazing.
@Sonja: Drama Globe + BAFTA won Kidman and Cottillard Academy Awards. They hadn’t got SAG awards – just saying.
“Meryl Streep will kill it, you know she will. I can’t wait to see her do this.”
But will she? This is the type of role she’s the least convincing in — see: Doubt and The Manchurian Candidate. She tends to overact in these parts (mean-spirited, nasty, etc., old lady) and to ham it up. (The reviews she got for her performance in Doubt were partly some of the worst in her entire career, few other actresses would have gotten that much awards attention for it.)
BTW, in terms of OTHER awards (Emmys!!!): what do you think about the “Game Change” trailer with Julianne Moore as Palin and Ed Harris as McCain and Woody Harrelson as Steve Schmidt?? Have you posted it yet? Please share your thoughts!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPhh7mch5zo
ALREADY people have her nominated again–and they haven’t shot one scene. No wonder though she’s nodded every damn year–she is offered every prominent Broadway or novel adaptation. It never ends.
Roberts will ruin it! She has nowhere near the range she needs for that role (cast Amy Morton from the original Steppenwolf production!), and will feel nothing like Meryl’s daughter. Awful choice.
@bene
Meryl Streep did not receive any, not any, “terrible” reviews for Doubt. In fact, she hasn’t received any such reviews during her entire, long career. I love this kind of revisionist history nonsense not based on fact. It may be your personal opinion that she “overacts” in certain roles, but you are very much on your own with that one.
and all I could think of was “What the hell is it going to take for this genius to earn her due?
You should have thought — when is this genius going to pick better films?? Why is it always the World’s Crappiest Movie she is starring in? She’s always great in those films but Iron Lady is unwatchable.
I’m a little wary about Julia Roberts. John Wells needs to contact Soderbergh for instructions on how to operate Julia’s modulation knobs.
She possesses that peculiar mannerism of some native southerners who sound as if they’re faking an accent they grew up speaking.
Yeah, Julia Roberts is actually a terrible, woeful, choice here.
@FilmFatale: preach it! Meryl was excellent in Doubt, as was the entire cast.
– The reviews she got for her performance in Doubt were partly some of the worst in her entire career
– Meryl Streep did not receive any, not any, “terrible” reviews for Doubt
not any? not any at all?
what snarky blogger said that, I wonder.
(Manohla Dargis, The New York Times)
Violet Weston is a dream role on the level of Scarlett O’Hara. We all know Meryl will make this performance a home run.
Sasha: “She’s always great in those films but Iron Lady is unwatchable.”
It’s nowhere near as bad as you make it out to be Sasha. And if I had to guess why she picks mediocre films, it’s because the parts written (usually for her specifically) are excellent, challenging roles (I haven’t seen Mamma Mia though, but from what I hear that just sounded like a summer vacation for her). But playing Julia Childs, Thatcher, Sister (I forget her name now in Doubt), Miranda Priestly….I think any actress her age would jump on those roles like a cheetah.
It is a shame that the directors of those films are usually sub-par, at best. But it doesn’t diminish her performance, and shouldn’t really stand in our way of enjoying her do what she does best.
I agree with you and Ryan though, August: Osage County is the best material she’s been attached to in a while. Though, I have a question for you guys: did you hate Doubt too? I thought that was the best film she’s been in, in recent years.
Nik Grape
I liked Doubt. Liked it a lot.
The NYTimes Dargis quote about the “gothic horror thriller” element — that’s how I saw it. It’s how Roger Deakins shot it too.
I would’ve rather seen Doubt nominated for Best Picture over Frost/Nixon and The Reader (and I liked The Reader too.)
“the best film she’s been in, in recent years.” …?
yes, by a long shot.
It is too extreme to say that “The Iron Lady” is “unwatchable”. I don´t think the movie is that bad. This is your opinion, Sasha, but it´s not a fact. For example, I found Natalie Portmann´s performance great, but I was dissapointed about the movie “Black Swan”. But I wouldn´t call “Black Swan” unwatchable.
Besides, there were rumors that “Osage County” will take place. So, this is nothing new.
And just a reminder: On Tuesday Meryl Streep received her honoray Golden Bear in Berlin and the reception was phenomenal.
there were rumors that “Osage County” will take place. So, this is nothing new.
erg, you and Jeff Wells.
You two realize there’s a difference between rumors and hard news fact, right?
I don´t think Streep will get her Oscar for this movie. Why? Because next year there will be another actress, who has her “momentum”.
She will get it this year!
@Ryan Adams: Oh yeah, “hard facts”! But it´s still nothing new.
I for one love that Julia Roberts decides to get out of her comfort area from time to time and do projects like this one, when she could be doing The Runaway Bridesmaid, Still Pretty (in Pink). And she brings her A game when she’s facing someone with talent in spades (i.e. Albert Finney). Granted, I don’t know the source material and the thing you mention about her accent, Ryan, is something I can’t even try to grasp as a non-native English speaker. That said, with someone as not very universally loved as Julia Roberts is, to put it mildly, I don’t even want to think about some people’s reaction if both went lead for a hypothetical Oscar campaign.
When I saw the play on B’way 4 years ago (!) my first thought was: Jane Fonda as Violet. One of those once-in-a-lifetime Oscar-comeback type things. Sadly, it won’t happen.
Wow, sorry for that mess of comment above. It’s like I wanted to proof I’m not a native English speaker. Yeah, that was my intention. Definitely.
wolf — we’re well aware it’s nothing new.
http://www.awardsdaily.com/2010/10/harvey-weinstein-brings-together-meryl-and-julia/
October 1, 2010
Thanks for your tolerance as we mention this movie once every 18 months or so.
It’s in the news again because it was fermenting on the shelf for over a year, and now we finally see the gears in motion, ok?
with someone as not very universally loved as Julia Roberts is, to put it mildly, I don’t even want to think about some people’s reaction if both went lead for a hypothetical Oscar campaign.
honestly, iggy, I think it can and will come down to the performances. If Roberts gets raves for knocking it out of the park, then she should go for lead, why not?
but Weinstein might have something to say about that. he’s pretty good at figuring the angles in these maneuvers.
Streep-Roberts is better for the Oscars than Streep-____?
because of the additional instant $50mil+ box-office boost.
Remember when Meryl was cast in ‘Doubt’ and everyone said that this would be number 3…
And when she was cast as Julia Child?
And Thatcher?
It happens every year! And then every year it goes wrong. I’m really starting to lose faith in her ever winning again you know.
@Ryan Adams: I only mentioned this, because there were comments, that said voters would be voting for Davis, if they are reading this headline.
ok, wolf.
just so long as you know that it’s Weinstein himself pulling these strings — to whatever desired effect, I have no clue.
the press release read like this:
Somebody very high up the chain made the decision to raise this awareness right now — someone very close to Streep and Weinstein (maybe inside their very heads).
@Ryan Adams: You have to know that it´s a bit difficult for a non-native speaker to write something in english. Sometimes a non-native speaker means something different compared to what he wrote.
it’s my misunderstanding then, wolf. sorry about that.
thanks for taking time to help me understand.
@Ryan Adams: No problem!
Ryan: “Somebody very high up the chain made the decision to raise this awareness right now — someone very close to Streep and Weinstein (maybe inside their very heads).”
Are you suggesting a conspiracy to ensure Davis gets her Oscar this year? That sounds like something Weinstein would not do, but I’m sure you guys are more connected with the wheelings and dealings of Hwood so it really is an honest question.
About your comments on Doubt, I’m glad you agree with me on that
. For her “Gothic horror” portrayal, I saw it that way too: but I think it was intentional from Streep’s part. Didn’t disturb my comfort levels, if anything it yanked it up
Streep-Roberts is better for the Oscars than Streep-____?
Kidman? I suppose in box-office terms she would be. If you refer to any other aspect, I’d rather not name names
. For Roberts haters, just think it could be worse. It could be Megan Fox wearing look-I’m-older-and-uglier makeup, directed by Phyllida Lloyd. Yeah, now you think Roberts is not such a bad idea, huh?
I think Weinstein or not Weinstein, academy members would have some trouble buying any of those two big names would play a truly supporting part.
An I the only one that remembers when Toni Collette was attached to play Julia Roberts part?
If TIL was marketed as “unwatchable” I would have relished the challenge and had fun with it.
However they didn’t. I envy people who got something out of it but to me it was depressing filmmaking.
Toni Collette….now there’s a great actress. She’d be excellent. Love her so much. I could totally get behind her having an Oscar. And we all know she’d be better than Roberts. Roberts and Bullock are interchangeable to me and I feel so embarrassed that both have an Oscar.
“Are you suggesting a conspiracy to ensure Davis gets her Oscar this year? That sounds like something Weinstein would not do…”
Nik Grape.
The Lord works in mysterious ways.
I was careful to say that I have no clue what’s up with the timing of this announcement. I only wanted to make sure there was no doubt who’s behind it. To avoid the suspicion that bloggers have dug up this reminder of our accord.
This sort of 3D-chess strategy does sound a bit too Machiavellian to have any credence. Until we bring up the word Machiavellian.
For her “Gothic horror” portrayal, I saw it that way too: but I think it was intentional from Streep’s part.
I hear ya.
Meryl Streep has not made an unintentional blink of her eye in the past 35 years.
Oh and I think Oscar ballots aren’t due until next Tuesday. Though I can’t imagine anyone still stewing on it and if they are, they are more thoughtful than to consider something like this when making a choice.
Roberts will be lead, some voices say that Barbara´s role has even more prominence in the screenplay than in the play… as a strategy it would be more likely Violet becoming supporting but the right thing would be Julia and Meryl both for leading category.
@Someone
Well, but neither Kidman nor Cotillard were two time winners before. *sigh*
I hate the “next time” thing. I really hate it. But that’s her curse, I think.
And keep in mind Viola has a BP nod at her back.
Although TIL might win at least one Oscar: best Make Up.
Even that’s not safe, but Meryl would definitely be delighted to see her hair and make up man pick up that trophy.
Once again, the claws are out for Meryl. A mere formal annoucement for a project we already knew Meryl was attached to evokes such strong reactions? She can’t do anything right when some of you are concerend. You know yourselves, so I won’t name names.
By the way, did anyone read some of Meryl’s interviews at the Berlin Film Festival? what she said about Anna Paquin and Olivia Colman was absolutely true. Shame ain’t it? especially for Olivia. Her performance in Paddy’s little movie literally shattered every ounce of me. I having seen such raw emotion since, I don’t know, Sophie’s Choice. Shame that BAFTA refuses to promotes Brits. They will instead nominate Viola Davis in a desperate attempt to predict the Oscars. Shame!
Mattie Fay (Violet, aka Meryl’s, sister in the play) is more of a likely supporting actress nomination. She’s loud, a bit obnoxious, has a lot of screen time. If I’m not mistaking, the woman who played her on Broadway won a Tony for it. Kathy Bates’s agent better be all over this role, cause I could see her killing it.
Ivy is an interesting character and could be someone to watch out for, considering who they cast. I hated the woman I saw onstage–she literally was the weakest link in the whole cast.
“The Iron Lady is unwatchable.”
Methinks thou doth protest too much. The film is not as bad as you’d like everyone to believe, Sasha. You can still prefer Viola Davis’s performance if The Iron Lady doesn’t suck.
And show me a role in the last five years for someone in Streep’s demographic that was in one of these amazing movies you want her to do. Why play a tiny, forgettable character in a good film when she would rather challenge herself with a complex role in a smaller film? Boring.
Jeff
I know right? everyone keeps bringing up Black Swan. Which actress in Meryl’s age group would choose to be Natalie Portman’s mum in Black Swan over playing Margaret Thatcher or Julia Child in average films????? Let’s use common sense people. Seriously! This is getting ridiculous.
It’s funny that Streep is the one with more box-office clout in this pairing. How the time has changed.
@FilmFatale
“Meryl Streep did not receive any, not any, “terrible” reviews for Doubt.”
Are you being sarcastic? I can very much differentiate between my personal opinion and actual reviews, thank you. If that had been just my personal opinion, I would have said that (and yes I do think she’s hamming it up in Doubt, and this is coming from someone who thinks she should have won at least 2 Oscars just in the last decade), but yes she DID receive some bad reviews for her performance in “Doubt”.
Want some examples?
“Streep’s performance scales new heights of absurdity. Like you, I’ve heard all the critical (or, more accurately, not-so-critical) rumbling: “Streep’s performance will surely win an Oscar!” That’s observant: It’s so lousy that it probably will. The nuns in “Doubt” are members of the Sisters of Charity, which means they wear puffy hoods that tie under the chin, instead of the more familiar veil-and-wimple penguin getup. It’s a costumey look that does no actor any favors, but it seems to have had a particularly deleterious effect on Streep, turning her into an overplaying maniac. She glowers from behind her austere little spectacles like Sunbonnet Sue on a PMS tirade.”
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com
“Streep, apparently left to her own devices, lugs a load of mannerisms under the pruny nun’s severe black habit, encouraged by the movie’s literal-minded director. Sister A may be an intimidating, spirit-breaking character — but for all that, she’s also a servant of God unswerving in her code of right and wrong, and we ought to feel her burden. We don’t.”
Entertainment Weekly
“Wearing flowing black robes, a bonnet that squats on her head like an upside-down Easter basket and the kind of spectacles Mr. Pickwick probably wore to read his papers, Ms. Streep blows in like a storm, shaking up the story’s reverential solemnity with gusts of energy and comedy. The performance may make no sense in the context of the rest of the film, but it is — forgive me, Father — gratifying nunsense. … Ms. Streep appears to be in a Gothic horror thriller while everyone else looks and sounds closer to life or at least dramatic realism. … His work with the actors is generally fine, though it’s a mystery what he thought Ms. Streep, with her wild eyes and an accent as wide as the Grand Concourse, was doing.”
The New York Times
“I didn’t know you could hiss, groan, and murmur at the same time, but Streep can do anything. She is, of course, wasted on this elephantine fable; if only “Doubt” had been made in 1964, shot by Roger Corman over a long weekend, and retitled “Spawn of the Devil Witch” or “Blood Wimple,” all would have been forgiven.”
The New Yorker
“It doesn’t help that he encourages stridency from Streep and bluster from Hoffman, which results in theatrical shouting matches where an anguished cinematic hush would almost certainly prove more effective.”
NPR
IF there is a role that could equal the brilliance of Sophie Zawistowski, it is Violet Weston. Can’t wait for this one ! As always, Meryl Streep is an excellent choice.
+ Laura Linney as Ivy, Kate Winslet as Karen, Judy Davis as Mattie Fae ? Now THAT would be a cast, I would LOVE to see !
I would have preferred Diane Lane or Julianne Moore for Barbara, but I’m hoping Julia Roberts wasn’t just stunt-casting and she will actually shock us and deliver the fantastic performance, the character definitely deserves.
Hard to top Deanna Dunigan and Amy Morton in these roles but Meryl will find a way to redefine Violet and make the role her own. I wonder if Laura Linney was ever considered for Barbara. A better choice.
In regards to Meryl’s chances for an Oscar for A:OC? No chance. Jennifer Aniston or Cameron Diaz will have a breakthrough role that year and end up hoisting the trophy. I wish I was kidding!
At least Meryl will lose to a great actress this year in Viola Davis.
Okay, Viola, you can have the Oscar as long as Meryl gets it for this role. I wouldn’t expect anything…but that time, someone will be nominated against her who must be recognized (Bening, Joan Allen, Sigourey, Close, Tyson, Linney, Bassett, Pheiffer….fill in the blank…
‘Eat Your fish bitch’ big line from the play.
Nightmare scenario, given this year, in the meantime the elusive financing for FENCES comes together, starring Denzel Washington and Viola Davis and is released the same holiday weekend as August: Osage County! Noooooooooooo! (Truth be told wouldn’t audiences be lucky to have two such distinguished pieces of material from which to choose.
@ TOM
You don`t need to go that far. It could be Sally Field (AGAIN) or Keira Knightley.
I’m still ticked that they didn’t cast Estelle Parsons as the matriarch in the film version. Parsons was fantastic on stage in the role, and it could have been a great film comeback for one of our nation’s best stage actresses. I can live with Streep in the role, however, as it will be interesting to see how she approaches this material.
BUT . . . as far as Roberts being cast in this movie? Well . . . if I weren’t a gentleman, I’d have spit on my computer screen when I read this announcement. Good God, I’m terribly afraid this thing could turn in to another Steel Magnolias “a-moment-of-something-rather-than-a-lifetime-of-nothing” crap. Give me a break.
There are other wonderful actresses out there who deserved a shot in this film. These fucking casting directors! They are maddening!
I saw this plat on stage with Estelle Parsons a couple of years ago in Boston. I thought the play was tedious and dull. I hope the movie version is much, much better. With Streep, there is a chance.
Chris, oh, your nightmare scenario is a Disney-tale compared to this : August-Osage County comes out in 2013…AND Fences with Viola Davis…AND Sunset Boulevard starring Glenn Close as Norma Desmond…AND Macbeth starring Michelle Pfeiffer as Lady Macbeth…AND a remake of ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ starring Julianne Moore as Blanche DuBois.
@ phantom – are these serious? With the exception of Fences, I’m sitting here going “WHAT?” “WHY?” “Please, no! Take me now.”
steve50
Oh, no, no need to panick, I just envisioned a year when every single contender EXCEPT Meryl Streep, would be Oscarless acting giant. Not happening, don’t worry ! Although FINALLY seeing Glenn Close getting an Oscar AND for an iconic role like Norma Desmond, would be definitely great.
Thanks, phantom- thought you may have gotten ahold of the Devil’s playbook, or something.
Streep and Roberts will both be campaigned as lead ala Terms of Endearment and Thelma & Louise. I’m calling it. It hasn’t happened since the latter, but I can’t see it not happening with August.
There is a host of “Supporting Actress” roles in the play. With the potential, it’s hard to see them mixing in Roberts into the category, when it will already generate one or two nominations in supporting without her.
Roberts will be campaigned as lead.
My guess is, it will be Streep’s to lose.
I’m right. You’re all wrong.
Just kidding. Well, sort of.
I saw both Deanna Dunnigan and Estelle Parsons as Violet and Amy Morton and Johanna Day as Barbara in the Broadway production. I preferred Parsons to Dunnigan (who won the Tony), but Parsons is simply too old to do it on screen–it would have been like Mary Menopause Martin playing Maria in the film of “Sound of Music”–what magic works onstage in the presence of a vibrant actress can make years fade away. Film–particularly of realistic drama–is less able to do this. Visual distance can help. At the time I thought Morton deserved the Tony over Dunnigan (Morton also went to my high school, but I didn’t realize it at the time, so no nepotism there). Day was perfectly fine, but she didn’t have the dead-on fury of Morton. Roberts is simply not equal to the challenge–she hit her dramatic peak in Erin B., and now works best in light rom-com or as the one girl in a thriller-caper film. No disgrace in that. I think even Sandra Bullock would have been a better choice for the role–she showed a dark side in “Crash” that was deeper than anything else she’s done and anything Roberts has ever done.
And if either Plummer or Van Sydow loses this year, the one who loses can do the showy opening scene with the father. I’m sure an Oklahoma accent is within the range of both of them!
Am I the only one getting sick of Roberts & Streep. Esp. Streep who’s turning into the female Gene Hackman.
Expect ex-american idol Fantasia Barrino to take the Oscar from her for starring the musical version of The Color Purple. And everyone will cheer for her. Except us Streep fans, still waiting endlessly for her moment. Next year, always next year.
Love both women for various reasons. But my vote for this material (which I’ve read and the play is AMAZING) the parts should have gone to Judy Davis and someone else other than Julia. That’s All
Streep:#4