Meryl Streep will be run in Supporting, not lead, while Emily Blunt will be the lead actress contender for Into the Woods, a rep from Disney confirmed. Sometimes the “category confusion” as my friend Nat calls it can lead to odd happenings when the award nominations come down. There was Kate Winslet getting a supporting nod for The Reader but then winning for Lead in that category. There was Jennifer Connelly for supporting in A Beautiful Mind being nominated for Lead by SAG then going for and winning in Supporting at the Oscars. It happens sometimes as voters (Academy or SAG) are not required to put any actor in any category. They do what they want. But much of the time, if it’s done early enough, ducks get put in a row and things line up as expected, especially lately with so much publicity around the Oscars now.
When there are so many contenders in one film it becomes harder to decide where to put them, especially when there are kind of gray areas. For instance, Channing Tatum is actually lead for Foxcatcher, along with Steve Carell, where Mark Ruffalo is Supporting.
In this case, both Meryl Streep and Anna Kendrick will be in supporting for Into the Woods, which could also be in line for a SAG ensemble nod given the talent involved.
Right now the Supporting Actress category is led by Patricia Arquette for her astonishing work in Boyhood. She is joined by Laura Dern for her heartbreaking turn in Wild, Keira Knightley who is ferocious in The Imitation Game, Emma Stone hard hitting in Birdman, Viola Davis paying against type in Eleanor Rigby, and Kristen Stewart who is said to be great in Still Alice. Melissa McCarthy for St. Vincent, and Naomi Watts for Birdman AND St. Vincent.
Kendrick and Streep, Anne Hathaway in Interstellar, yeah, it’s going to be a crowded year for Supporting Actress.
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I believe that a great bunch of voters are into writing history and that they would vote for Meryl even if she wasn’t the best of the year, but I think it will come from a role where she goes out of her “comfort zone” which – to add – is a bloody wide range. Something really wacky – as if Adaptation came out this year. Something like that. Accent is not going to do it. She has also sung many times in the past, so just singing is not going to do it either – like it has for some, unfortunately (this should not be American Idol). Rufus says that the Witch is a lot more than singing, so I can see the 19th nomination. Maybe she has to be nominated at least 20-something times to be considered a winner again…? Academy also knows that she keeps coming back for at least the next ten years – no pressure.
@ Rufussondheim,
Actually at this point in her career Streep is much more respected/beloved as an actor than Hepburn has ever been, not to mention that Streep had a great streak in the early 00’s with films that presented her to my generation (The Devil Wears Prada etc.). I believe she’ll win a fourth Oscar one day, I’m not sure it’ll be this year, but actually if you read something about Hepburn’s fourth win, it was a surprise (as was her controversial Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner victory) and it’s not true that she had no competition.
I believe Streep will win a fourth Oscar, maybe for her her film next year (Diablo Cody’s script). Does it come out next year? It looks like something that could be really special. Streep needs a great film with a respected director and a role that feels fresh and this one could be it.
Don’t forget, Streep is a former Best Supporting Actress winner and has three nominations in that category (Kramer vs. Kramer, Deer Hunter, Adaptation). You can easily make the case she should’ve won for DH or Adaptation, too.
I don’t see why there’s category confusion for Arquette. Eilar Coltrane is the only lead role in ‘Boyhood.’ It’s HIS story. Arquette and Hawke are the top supporting players and should both be nominated, in my opinion, but they’re clearly supporting roles.
I’m extremely hesitant to believe that Streep has a realistic shot at a fourth win. I mean, it’s only ever happened once, and there were some special circumstances around Hepburn’s fourth win for On Golden Pond. Between the lack of competition and the subject material of the film it was hard to deny her that victory. Awarding her the Oscar alongside Henry FOnda was pretty much a foregone conclusion. The situation for Streep with Into the Woods is not in her favor.
But then I think through it a second time and I have to admit that my initial thoughts could be quite wrong. There’s a lot in favor for Streep winning if she gives a great performance and the film also turns out to be great (Some mild but vague spoilers ahead.) First, this is a role pretty much unlike anything she’s ever tackled. She’s never had a role this broadly comedic that also consists of some very traumatic and tragic events. She gets to be somewhat of a villainess (not a true villain, just not the protagonist – the character possesses a certain self-righteousness that some prefer to call villainy, but others, myself included, prefer to see as pragmatism). In other words it’s a morally complex role that will cause discussion and interest. And, perhaps most importantly she also gets to sing in wildly different fashions which will showcase her vocal abilities in ways she has never had a chance in the past (trust me, it’s far more challenging than an ABBA song). And I=if that’s not all, she undergoes a major transformation halfway through the action that will allow her to embody an entirely different set of mannerisms and vocal stylings. In other words this role has a tremendous amount of range. This is a role that she can not do in her sleep, she will use a wide range of her talents. She has the potential to anger you and break your heart within mere seconds of each other. If she gets the nomination she will probably have utilized her legendary talents more than many of the other four nominees. If none of the other four can’t corral the category’s narrative then Streep just might be undeniable.
While I do believe it’s essentially a supporting role, the reason the part has been considered a lead on Broadway is simply that the role is so sought after that top level names want to play it. And if you don’t know the rules of the Tonys they are pretty simple. If you’re name is above the title on the marquee, you’re pretty much guaranteed to be considered in the lead actor/actress categories. (They actually have a committee that determines such things, it’s not left up to the voters)
I too am happy to see Streep in Supporting. I think she’s got a real shot for a fourth win in this category.
I’m so happy to see Meryl will be up for s supporting actress this year at the OSCARS! Congrats to her as she deserves this award for her great acting in this Disney Film! We’ve only seen the trailer but this is Meryl’s award! The Best of luck Meryl
I’m more confident about Meryl’s chances (of at least a nom for ITW) in Supporting more than in Lead.
Every role is possible in Supporting. Yes, even a singing witch.
Of course she has won just recently in Lead, but that does not make it impossible for her to maybe winning a fourth in Supporting.
For me Supporting is anything but a “lesser” category.
I have seen the musical at least 30 times and the Witch is a lead role. The Baker and The Bakers wife are also leads. I have no idea disney’s adaptation so I can’t say if the witch is now supporting in the film or not but it is certainly a lead role on stage. Vanessa Williams was nominated for Best Actress at the tony awards when she played it in the revival.
as usual, i’m an optimist and hope for the best where WOODS is concerned. i’m a little dubious about Mr. Marshall. CHICAGO was a wonderful film but I give a lot of credit to Bill Condon, his collaborator. whenever Marshall is on his own, the results are disappointing at best. NINE and GEISHA were hard to sit through. The third (or was it 4th?) PIRATES of the CARIBBEAN was pitiful…but it made over a billion dollars. Hence, Marshall became a sure bet for studios. his real talent lies in choreography, where he’s brilliant. his work on Broadway’s KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, DAMN YANKEES, and CABARET were beautifully realized. his direction is not as outstanding. WOODS is a book musical, not a dance spectacle. he’s out of his element. yet…i hope he pulls it off.
Oh Daveylow, and what an emotional song that is! If it works in the film, man, I think Corden will get that nomination.
Minor lyrical spoilage ahead…
Character A: We disappoint, we leave a mess, we die, but we don’t.
Character B: We disappoint in turn, I guess. Forget, though, we won’t.
When it comes to lyrics like these, which repeated listening/viewing reveals to be extraordinarily profound and complex within their context one should be left in awe. But I’m afraid most people will not truly grasp the thoughts exchanged here upon first listen. They just go by too quick.
My fear is that people will say “Oh that was light and fun with just the right amount of tragedy and redemption” and then dismiss it. And that they will miss that this show explores how we pass down morality from one generation to the next in both grand and subtle ways. This is really meaty material deftly disguised as simpler fare.
Streep should be in supporting. The witch has never been considered the lead in Into the Woods. The Baker’s Wife part is more of a lead but the show is really an ensemble piece. The Baker is the closest to lead because he has a big emotional song near the end.
I’m far more excited to see Blunt and Kendrick than to see Streep here. I do worry that Streep will suck singing “Stay With Me” which is gloriously sung by Bernadette Peters in the show. It’s such a belty yet gentle ballad, it takes a great singer/actress to achieve that mix. I’ve heard Streep sing, but not something as challenging as that song. It’s really hard to belt out those big notes while sounding emotionally vulnerable.
On the opposite end is Blunt, who is singing the much more difficult Moment in the Woods, which requires a great range and the ability to communicate tricky emotions while performing difficult (but very subtle) vocal acrobatics. What’s going to work against Blunt here is that very few will recognize how difficult her songs are. It’s easily the hardest part in the show.
But I’m glad Streep is going Supporting. It’s where the role belongs.
Am I the only one who thinks that Patricia Arquette does not deserve to be nominated for Boyhood? There’s not a real good scene with her in the movie, Ethan Hawke did a way better job. I really hope Meryl Streep or Julianne Moore (maps to the stars) win this.
Scott is right. It was all about the three-decade wait. Things have calmed down – considerably.
IF MERYL STREEP WILL BE NOMINATED BECUASE SHE IS DESERVING!!!!SHE WAS ROBBES A LOT OF TIMES!!!!!!
I am hoping that Disney turned this into a pleasurable product. The Academy loves to nominate Streep but hopefully she, the rest of the cast, and the film deliver.
I think it’s because Meryl Streep has won three Oscars. The mission is not so frantic these days. The goal was achieved. Oscar history-wise she is in a higher stratosphere than most already.
So strange that the Streepers haven’t horded in these plains yet. It’s October already and I haven’t witnessed any abuse.
Chastain is going Lead for AMVY.
I’ll believe it when I see it on the FYC
Wasn’t there an official announcement that Patricia Arquette will be campaigned in supporting? Granted, she could easily be considered a lead, she probably had a lot more screen time than many actresses campaigned in lead. In any case, she’s a lock for a win, isn’t she?
While we’re at it, let’s throw into the mix Kristin Scott Thomas who is supposed to be fantastic in “Suite, Francais” and Tilda Swinton in “Snowpiercer”, a scene stealer if there ever was one. It’s shaping up to be one of the more interesting and overcrowded races this year (along with the Best Actor category).
Sometimes, for me, it’s not who will actually obtain the nomination. The real burn for me is who will get shut out! (For example, last year Robert Redford, Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson I thought were all shoe-ins.) With only 5 slots and overcrowded acting categories, accurately predicting the nominations in 2015 will be difficult.
Having said that, I believe the critics will embrace “Boyhood” in major categories in December. I know AD has listed Patricia Arquette in supporting. But I think she has a major chance of being nominated in the lead category. She had a LOT of screen time in “Boyhood”. And I walked out of the theater actually thinking only Ethan Hawke belonged in the supporting category. Patricia A. in lead.
I’d like to see Blunt get her first nom at some point. One of the more hard working actresses out there. Effortlessly likable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8vp6AdjlY8
Wouldn’t Jessica Chastain be lead for A Most Violent year? Seems like a meaty role.
Early on we ALWAYS think that : http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/2013/08/meryl-streep-to-go-supporting-for-osage-county/
Although, if the studio doesn’t expect the film to be a hit with critics, this placement makes sense : if Penelope Cruz could get a supporting nomination for a Rob Marshall musical that flopped, Meryl Streep most certainly can – and IMO will – as well.
No category fraud here. It is very much an ensemble cast, but the Baker and the Baker’s Wife (Blunt) are clearly the lead characters in Into the Woods, and for all the other roles an easier argument can be made for supporting than lead. I’m basing that on the stage version of course, but with the movie reportedly hewing close to the original stage version (and any additional material tried out for the Witch reportedly ending up on the cutting room floor), my expectation is that Streep will have clearly less screen time than even Kendrick and especially Blunt. Lead is not inconceivable for the Witch, because it tends to be a “star turn”, and Streep is undoubtedly the big star in this cast, but Disney probably rightfully and uncontroversially assumes that their best chance for an acting nom is campaigning Streep in supporting. It’ll raise Blunt’s chances for a nom in lead this year, but will probably hurt Kendrick’s chances for supporting.
Anne Hathaway is going for lead for interstellar http://www.awardscircuit.com/2014/09/30/confirmed-anne-hathaway-compete-best-actress-interstellar/
if ITW is a big mess (like everyone who already got the oportunity to see in screening) MS is going to be anyway just because she is MS ?
Interesting. Still could get a GG Lead nom in C/M. I had thought Streep could be the 5th in Lead. But now … What happens with Felicity Jones??