Meryl Streep, winner of two Oscars and the current record-holder for the most nominations faces off with Sandra Bullock, who just made history for bringing a film past the $200 million mark. Both Streep and Bullock are box office champs this year, which kind of shatters the idea that women over 40 can’t own the box office. They can’t own the box office? Oh yes they can. The Golden Globes on Sunday will not clear things up at all. While Streep will likely win in her category (musical/comedy) Bullock could win in drama, though she will have some competition with Carey Mulligan. Cute little Carey Mulligan – what a year she’s had.
Somehow, though, even with Gabby Sidibe in the race, and Helen Mirren potentially, it is down to Bullock versus Streep. Both actresses play real people. Both actresses are American and both play American heroes. One legend (Streep) plays another legend (Julia Child). One small town firecracker (Sandra Bullock) plays another (Leanne Tuohy). Both real life people are admirable and beloved. Julia Child is a towering icon who forever changed the way people, especially American women, cook. It had to be someone of Streep formidable stature to play such a woman and Streep nailed it.
Two problems for Streep. The first is that she has been kind of taken for granted as a longtime nominee but never an out-and-out winner. Not only does she has to give the best performance of the year — in some ways, she has to top her best performances, like Sophie’s Choice or Heartburn or A Cry in the Dark. The second is that her part in Julia & Julia is only half of the movie. The other half is the unbearable sequences involving Amy Adams as Julie.
By contrast, Sandra Bullock carries her entire film, for the most part. But Bullock’s film The Blind Side is more problematic than Julie & Julia, which was decently reviewed and was directed by Nora Ephron. The Blind Side is sort of a phenomenon. If you’re talking straight performance and ability, Streep wins hands down. But Sandra Bullock has never been close to Oscar territory before and Streep has. This will come into play. Either way, it’s one of the more exciting races in the game this year.
