LaQuesha Watson vs. Meryl Streep
It’s that time of year again- as the 2049 Oscar race gets closer to the finish line, the Best Actress contest is down to two amazing women- 36 year-old LaQuesha Watson (in her film debut) and 100 year-old Meryl Streep. Watson plays an incredibly difficult role- its about a struggling urban mother living on the south side of Chicago who has to deal with her racist boss who refuses to let her move up at the bank she works in because “she just has too much attitude with the customers”. This doesn’t stop LaQuesha from filing a lawsuit against the company, overcoming poverty and starting her own business. The film, simply titled Now what, Bitch? has been a huge hit at the box-office, and after Oprah had Watson on her show, we all saw the film could actually be closer to home then we thought. “I grew up on the south side of Chicago, so this story was really about what I struggled with. As a black actress, I struggle every day to find roles.” Oprah Winfrey, who recently said she will retire (for the fifth time), told her audience of mostly middle-aged white females to get out there and support LaQuesha’s nomination.
“When I saw LaQuesha Watson, I cried. How could I have not realized that black women deal with this every day in the office?” Said a teary-eyed Caucasian Oscar voter who appeared anonymous in the crowd.
But what about Meryl Streep? The mega star just celebrated her 100th birthday, and also her 40th Oscar nomination for playing the title role in God, a movie about…well, God. The movie, co-directed by David Fincher, Christopher Nolan and Katheryn Bigelow, is the biggest movie of the year, up for 20 Oscars including of course, Best Picture- something Now what, Bitch? sadly couldn’t manage. However, despite giving the most critically acclaimed performance of the year again, Streep still has only won 2 Oscars- her last in 1982, nearly 70 years ago. After losing her 39th nomination to a toddler (that’s right, the baby actress Susie Satin was barely 7 months but still managed to give a great silent performance in the indie hit I Cry for Milk) Streep told reporters due to her ailing health she probably would retire. But when she was offered the part of God, she claimed, “How could I say no? It is, after all, the role all actors wish they could have the chance to do.”
Streep has won the Golden Globe, SAG, BAFTA, Cannes, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Kansas, Las Vegas, Florida & People’s World Choice award for Best Actress…however LaQuesha just found out she’s pregnant with her brother’s baby, and now most voters are feeling ashamed…and guilty they may never get another chance to vote for a newcomer minority actress, who after hearing this news, may never get another chance to be in a movie again. Jason Travis, LA Times Blogger reporting.
