Pre-Oscar nomination jitters

So the Golden Globes have passed us, and everything is looking more and more solidified. I'm still going to say that despite the (dreadful) win by Sandra Bullock, Meryl Streep is on her way to winning her LONG over-due 3rd Academy Award for Best Actress in "Julie & Julia". Here's what she has going for her:

- Golden Globe, Best Actress (Comedy/Musical)
- New York Film Critics, NY Online Film Critics, Boston Film Critics, Broadcast Film Critics, National Society of Film Critics (runnerup)
- Two box-office hits- "Julie & Julia"- $94 million, "It's Complicated"- $100 millon +. That's a lot considering she's over sixty, and the latter is rated R. Harder for R rated films to make more then PG-13 unless you're Russell Crowe in a loin cloth.
- It will be her 16th nomination. Voters will know its her time.
- "Julie & Julia" gnarled Streep the best reviews by a female actress since Oscar-winner Helen Mirren in "The Queen" (2006).

What does Sandra Bullock have going for her?

- Golden Globe, Best Actress (Drama), Broadcast Film Critics, SAG frontrunner status (its between her and Streep and Mulligan and Sidibe)

- HUGE boxoffice! "The Blind Side" has earned more then $230 million domestically, and "The Proposal" earned damn near $170 million. That's a shit load of cash for a actress almost 50 who carried both films on her name-basis alone. (Streep can also brag "Mamma Mia!" made $700 million worldwide, but remember that film is more of a culture cult for fans of the music then for Streep's star power)

- Her donation of $1 million to Haiti- nothing against donating to charity, but its kind of a coincidence she donated this RIGHT when Oscar ballots are due.

- Her 'due' factor. For what, I can't really fathom. But apparently her performances in "Murder by Numbers", "Speed" and "Miss Congeniality 2" were supposed to make Oscar's shortlist. Honestly, only "Crash" came close to getting her on serious stepping stone territory, but I can see why many feel she needs to be recognized.

- Likability factor- this should also pertain to Streep. Both women are LIKEABLE. Unlike Eddie Murphy or Bill Murray (or hell, Julie Christie for that matter), who sat in the audience when their name was called like they WERE Jesus Christ, these ladies are fun-going veterans of their day who just show up for the champagne. Right? Well, I could second guess Bullock.

- The Media. Perhaps the one dying force in Streep's path since the MEDIA, as dumb downed as they get, probably feel Streep has enough awards and therefore can get the dumbed down public to feel Bullock is the IT girl of the moment. The media is a awful commodity when it comes to picking sides. After all, they're the ones who made it a race with "Brokeback Mountain" and "Crash" in 2005 even though we all knew the former was way out front- until homophobia and E! News changed the playing field.

In the long run, I still expect Meryl Streep to win the Oscar. If Sandra wins the SAG on Saturday, do not be alarmed. Streep won it last year for "Doubt", so there is no 'over due' factor from the guild.

By the way, don't mean to toot my own horn, but I just got the news that I placed 2nd in the awardsdaily.com Golden Globe contest, getting 12/14 right! I apparently get a "Star Trek" blu-ray movie for it. Cool stuff!

OSCAR PREDICTIONS AS OF JAN. 20TH, 2010 (just the basics)

BEST PICTURE
"An Education"
"Avatar"
"A Serious Man"
"The Hangover"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"Precious"
"Up"
"Up in the Air"
"Star Trek"

BEST DIRECTOR
Katheryn Bigelow for "The Hurt Locker"
James Cameron for "Avatar"
Lee Daniels for "Precious"
Jason Reitman for "Up in the Air"
Quentin Tarantino for "Inglourious Basterds"

BEST ACTOR
Jeff Bridges in "Crazy Heart"
George Clooney in "Up in the Air"
Colin Firth in "A Single Man"
Morgan Freeman in "Invictus"
Jeremy Renner in "The Hurt Locker"

BEST ACTRESS
Sandra Bullock in "The Blind Side"
Helen Mirren in "The Last Station"
Carey Mulligan in "An Education"
Gabourey Sidibe in "Precious"
Meryl Streep in "Julie & Julia"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Woody Harrelson in "The Messenger"
Christian McKay in "Me & Orson Welles"
Christopher Plummer in "The Last Station"
Stanley Tucci in "The Lovely Bones"
Christoph Waltz in "Inglourious Basterds"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Vera Farmiga in "Up in the Air"
Anna Kendrick in "Up in the Air"
Julianne Moore in "A Single Man"
Samantha Morton in "The Messenger"
Mo'Nique in "Precious"

ADAPTATION
"An Education"
"In the Loop"
"Julie & Julia"
"Up in the Air"
"Precious"

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
"A Serious Man"
"The Hangover"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Up"
"Inglourious Basterds"