Every year Oscar time rolls around and there a number of things that are guaranteed; beautiful dresses, too much press, one surprise win, and at least one nomination for Meryl Streep. Meryl Streep has been nominated for 15 Academy Awards in the past 20 years, and is the record holder for the most nominations by a performer. She has been nominated in a leading role 12 times, winning in 1983 for Sophie's Choice. The other three nominations were as a supporting actress, with a win in 1980 for Kramer vs. Kramer. Despite this illustrious record, the question is whether or not all of these nominations were warranted. Does Meryl Streep get nominated for her brilliant performances, or purely because she is Meryl Streep.
There are a few movies and performances that cannot be doubted for their integrity and exemplary performances. The Deer Hunter, Kramer vs. Kramer, Silkwood, Sophie's Choice, and Bridges of Madison County have all become classics to a degree. However what about other nominations, and films that still made the list. In 1982 there was The French Lieutenant's Woman where she lost to previous female nomination record holder, Katherine Hepburn. That film is not as highly regarded as many of its contenders, and many doubted whether or not she deserved such accolades for the performance. Her English accent was a particular point of doubt, as viewers found it a lacking resemblance. Her accent and nomination was again doubted in Out of Africa, for which she was nominated in 1986. Here she was even listed amongst Empire Magazines list of the top ten film accents, yet she was still nominated. Had the tradition of nominating Meryl Streep purely because she was Meryl Streep already begun?
After Out of Africa Meryl was nominated for a sting of easily forgettable films. Ironweed, Evil Angels, and Postcards from the Edge all garnered leading actress nominations within only four years time. It seems difficult to imagine these films and performances were nominated when the competition included: Holly Hunter in Broadcast News, Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction, Jodie Foster in The Accused, Sigorney Weaver in Gorillas in the Mist, Anjelica Houston in The Grifters, Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, and Kathy Bates in Misery. Though debate can wage over Strep's performances in each of these films, what is certain is that they have not lasted as well as those by the other contenders. Even regarding these films there was a certain element of critical and viewer backlash regarding accents, overall performance, and the films quality. It can even be said that Shirly McClaine had stolen the film Postcards from the Edge right from under Streeps feet.
This series of unmemorable performances in less than Oscar worthy films happened again only a few years later. Following her Bridges of Madison County win Streep was nominated for the likes of One True Thing, and Music of the Heart. In the former, she isn't even generally regarded as the lead character, despite her lead actress nomination. The latter is generally regarded as one of her weakest Oscar nominations. The film not only was a box office flop but costared Gloria Estefan and was directed by Wes Craven. Normally those very un-Oscar worthy characteristics would eliminate it from any of the competition, but Streep still managed a nomination. Both films were commonly panned by critics and the competition at the Oscars remained overrun by legendary performances, to which these films cannot compare.
Finally, there is the Devil Wears Prada nomination, which surely deserved a second look. Streep was again nominated as a lead actress, despite the fact that Anne Hathaway was clearly the films lead. Streep's performance was praised as Miranda Priesly, a character that was created in the image of a real life Vogue editor, but was it truly worthy of an Oscar? First of all this is meant to be a comedy only on rare and exceptionally brilliant occasions are actors nominated for comedies. (read: Kevin Kline in A Fish Called Wanda) In this film Streep was mean and stylish but that doesn't necessarily deserve Oscar credit. The cruelty her character displayed was not a stretch, actors from Spanish soap operas achieve it all the time. As for the physical image of her in the role, that credit should go not to her but to the team of wardrobe people, the head designer, and hair stylists. There were only a few moments in the film where Streep had to stretch the character to demonstrate any form of humanity in her, and though she was good enough within these scenes they didn't merit another nomination.
I proffer these arguments so that whenever Oscar season and that familiar name is nominated you can begin to question why, if you haven't already. Is it that her facial structure naturally lends her to dramatic roles where her red eyes can be used for weeping, and her high cheekbones lend a harsh image to a cruel character. Is she nominated based upon the films current esteem, or just because it seems so natural by now. She is currently nominated once more for Doubt and though I have not seen the film yet, the past begs me to ask why. What once was the highest honor for film actresses now seems common place for Streep, and there comes a time when the tradition must end.
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