There was no test screening of 'Doubt,' Miramax says

Meryl Streep holds the Oscar record for most acting nominations (14 — that's two more than Katharine Hepburn), but she only has two wins (lead actress, "Sophie's Choice"; supporting, "Kramer vs. Kramer"). Hepburn triumphed four times, all in lead. Gossipmeisters say Streep is hellbent to prevail again. Soon. The poor thing hasn't had a new chunk of academy gold since 1982. In the meantime she's lost 10 TIMES. A gal could start getting a complex.

Now the Internet is abuzz over a claim that there was a test screening of "Doubt" in Manhattan last night and, according to one alleged viewer, "Meryl is stunning" in a role that might reap her Oscar No. 3. (Read the full post HERE.) On Broadway, Cherry Jones won a Tony and Drama Desk Award for portraying a nun who's fairly hellbent too — to prove, that is, that a priest molested a boy at a Catholic school in the Bronx in 1964.

The post sounds convincing, but there are a few telltale clues that it may be bogus. First of all, why is this post at a Broadway theater site and not a guerrilla film site like aintitcoolnews.com? Secondly, the timing is dubious. Allegedly, he/she signed up for the screening a few days ago after being solicited on the street. Then he/she claims to have seen it "tonight," writing those words just after midnight late Thursday/early Friday. When carnival barkers are used to round up audiences, it's usually for same-day shows.

A rep for Miramax dismisses this report as "crazy," insisting to Gold Derby that there was no test screening of "Doubt" in Manhattan this week. The film is set to open late this year, on Dec. 5.