'Mamma Mia!' — Could Meryl Streep make Golden Globe history?
Though "Mamma Mia!" may not have impressed all of the critics, audiences worldwide are flocking to this celebration of the music of ABBA starring Meryl Streep. Last weekend, amid all the hubbub about "The Dark Knight," this frothy film set a record of its own. Its domestic gross of $27.7 million edged out "Hairspray" by $200,000 to become the movie musical with the highest-grossing opening weekend ever. And in its first two weeks of international release, "Mamma Mia!" has made an additional eye-popping $72.6 million.
Proving she can indeed do it all, star Meryl Streep is the clear favorite to win a record seventh Golden Globe, says Paul Sheehan, my colleague here at The Envelope. A certifiable Broadway and kudos nut, Paul reminds us all that Streep is even more beloved at the Globes than she is at the Oscars. In her three decades of collecting awards hardware, she has won six Globes out of 21 nods for film and TV work versus only two Oscars from her record 14 Academy Award nominations. That impressive track record with the Globes puts her only one nom behind Jack Lemmon and tied for wins with her pal Jack Nicholson. Granted, one of her wins was for a TV appearance ("Angels in America"), but she also has Globes for her Oscar-winning roles in "Kramer vs. Kramer" (supporting) and "Sophie's Choice" (lead drama) as well as "The French Lieutenant's Woman" (lead drama), "Adaptation" (supporting), and "The Devil Wears Prada" (lead musical/comedy).
By rewarding lead performances in both drama and musical/comedy, the Globes need double Oscar's number of nominees. While Meryl Streep got an Oscar nod in addition to that Golden Globe win for her marvelously over-the-top 2006 role in "The Devil Wears Prada," as well as duplicate noms for singing the blues in "Postcards From the Edge" back in 1990, the Globes have also singularly recognized her flair for comedy with nods for "She-Devil" (1989) and "Death Becomes Her" (1992). In "Mamma Mia!" Streep shows she is a triple threat, playing a beleaguered mother, unsure of her daughter's paternity, confronted with the three possible fathers on the eve of the young girl's wedding. She gets to take a pratfall or two, kick up her heels and break our hearts when she sings of her turmoil.
And though she is sure to be a musical/comedy nominee this year, Streep could well be in contention on the drama side too as she stars in the upcoming "Doubt," the film version of the 2005 Tony Award-winning best play. In the role that won Cherry Jones her second Tony Award, Streep is unrecognizable as a nun who accuses a priest (Philip Seymour Hoffman) of molesting a boy.
He's no lock like "Mamma Mia!" costar Meryl Streep, but leading man Pierce Brosnan might get a nomination for best actor in a musical or comedy too. Though his warbling may not always be in tune, Brosnan hit the right notes with Globe voters in 2005 when he got a musical/comedy nod for the little-seen film "The Matador." And Globe voters may well want to reward him again for once more playing with his usual suave image in "Mamma Mia!" The big issue Brosnan faces is category placement. If he goes supporting he has less chance of being nominated because competition is fierce: The supporting acting categories combine dramas and musicals/comedies. Dramas usually dominate. He's probably better off shooting for lead, because the Globes sometimes have trouble filling out those five slots for musical/comedy chaps.
In the role of Meryl's hapless best friend, Julie Walters could follow in Judy Kaye's Broadway footsteps and get a supporting nod. This English rose won the musical/comedy lead actress Globe a quarter-century ago for her film debut, "Educating Rita," and competed in the catch-all supporting category in 2000 for "Billy Elliot" (she lost to Kate Hudson for "Almost Famous"). And as the cougar on the prowl, two-time TV Globe nominee Christine Baranski ("Cybill") could surprise with her first movie bid.
(L.A. Times)
I Loved this movie, Im going for the third time,My eight year old granddaughter loved this movie was the best.Thanks JoAnn Beaudette
Posted by: joann beaudette | August 22, 2008 at 03:23 AM
Meryl Mia!!!!!!!!! Thank you Meryl and Company for bringing us a feel good, beautiful, wonderful film during these times. Meryl..as usual..you proved once again that there is no actor or actress out there like you. Saw the film SEVEN times and intend to see it again this weekend. When you sang Slipping thru my fingers and The winner takes it all there wasn't a dry eye in the audience. You have a great voice, your a wonderful comedian and you look stunning. Julie Walters was wonderful as well but it was you Meryl that made this movie the best movie of this summer and summers before. I have been a huge fan going back to Kramer. You are the only actor who has endured, grown and becomes more beautiful as time goes in. I had the pleasure of recently attending yu Lincoln Center award eariler this year. You were so gracious to everbody. Mamma Mia passed the 100,000 million mark here in the US. To those not so nice critics..especially Mr NY Times....The Winner took it all!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Tony Mazza | August 12, 2008 at 06:36 AM
Thought the film was brialliant but we all thougth that Meryl was a little old to be cast as a the mother.....
Posted by: telbeng | August 03, 2008 at 04:55 PM
It for me was just not believable Meryl was too old to cast as a 40 yr old woman who was shunned by he family when she got pregnant at 20.
Posted by: michelle60422 | July 29, 2008 at 03:09 AM
Meryl,
Your performance in Mamma Mia was absolutely outstanding!
Congratulations!
Rachel Kalmar
Posted by: Rachel | July 28, 2008 at 09:05 PM
I saw this movie this twice this weekend!! I absolutely LOVED Meryl Streep and her singing was surprisingly awesome! Pierce Brosnan...not so much but who cares!! He's very handsome!! Let's face it, critics do not like any movie that does not have a bunch of sex, swearing and nudity in it!! I go to the movies to be entertained and I definitely got my $$ worth!! I will be seeing it again and again!!!
Posted by: JoAnne Jocis | July 28, 2008 at 06:37 PM
definately got to get an oscarr girl.what a performance u were brill makes me smile everytime i hear the soundtrack xxxxxx
Posted by: cathy bell | July 28, 2008 at 02:32 PM
I can't add much from what other folks have said. I saw it three times in one week taking different friends. Enjoyed their reactions (all positive). Took one who doesn't like Meryl Streep and she also loved it. have always loved Baranski and Firth. They are good once again with everyone else. Great job and keep up the good work.
Posted by: Millie Lange | July 28, 2008 at 08:31 AM
The thing that goes down the hardest with the anti-MM crowd is that for every person that loathed the movie and/or Brosnan's singing there are a hundred or 1,000 who were enchanted.
Curiously, although the critics were fairly unanimous in pointing out the movie's many flaws, 90% of all critics still found it enchanting--unless you factor in "Rotten Tomatoes"--and I don't see why you would.
Posted by: J. Carpenter | July 27, 2008 at 03:27 PM
What can I say. I absolutley loved this movie.!! I never have returned in the same week to watch a movie again so this was a first! Meryl was such an inspiration to all as was the rest of the cast...Thanks for the great entertainment...
Posted by: Beth Monti | July 27, 2008 at 01:51 PM
Mamma Mia is Brilliant, Awesome, Uplifting , the Best movie ever, mainly because Meryl Streep. She is the GREATEST actress of all times!
I'm going to it again tonight.
Thank you Meryl!
Posted by: Nataliya | July 27, 2008 at 10:42 AM
I absolutely loved this movie its just so uplifting I have seen it Three times and will probably see it many more congratulations to all involved in its making
Posted by: Suzanne Bromley | July 26, 2008 at 09:17 PM
I couldn't stop smiling, laughing, and shed a tear or two! Tremendous work done by very talented actors! I'm going to take my teenage girls and see it again! Kudos!
Posted by: kate | July 25, 2008 at 09:19 PM
The best movie I've seen in a hundred years..Thank you Rita and Tom for bring all this talent to the screen!! It made my week and I've been singing along with that ABBA music all week!!
That cast deserves all the awards they give for musical comedy..
Posted by: Meryl Fan | July 25, 2008 at 05:52 PM
Tom --
The quote under the photo is from Meryl's acceptance speech at the 2003 Globes, but Just Someone is right about the photo.
The photo is from the 2007 Globes, where Meryl won for "The Devil Wears Prada."
Posted by: From the Archives | July 25, 2008 at 12:19 AM
Meryl for an Oscar!!!
Meryl for an Oscar!!!
Meryl for an Oscar!!!
Meryl for an Oscar!!!
Meryl for an Oscar!!!
Meryl for an Oscar!!!
Meryl for an Oscar!!!
Meryl for an Oscar!!!
Meryl for an Oscar!!!
Meryl for an Oscar!!!
Meryl for an Oscar!!!
Meryl for an Oscar!!!
Meryl for an Oscar!!!
Meryl for an Oscar!!!
Meryl for an Oscar!!!
Posted by: Malinda | July 24, 2008 at 11:58 PM
Loved the movie! When was the last time an audience applauded at end of show? Saw it with a crowded "senior" crowd and they cheered Meryl and company. A friend said, "I really got my $ worth today! What fun!" Am still humming Abba's tunes several days later!
Posted by: sheila buhse | July 24, 2008 at 05:25 PM
This movie was amazing! i especially loved amanda seyfreid, Her voice was awesome and her adorable spunk and energy she brought to the movie definetly made me want to see it again. Thet tmosphere in the movie is breath taking!
Posted by: Kelsey | July 24, 2008 at 12:43 PM
How about Amanda Seyfried! She was the glue that held the movie together!
Posted by: Mamma'sGrandmama | July 24, 2008 at 12:05 PM
Sorry, Just Someone, but you're mistaken. That really is the acceptance speech Meryl gave for 'Adaptation'
Posted by: Tom O'Neil | July 24, 2008 at 08:49 AM
Just a note: The caption on the photo is incorrect. That photo and quote is from 2007 and her Golden Globe win for "The Devil Wears Prada."
Posted by: Just Someone | July 24, 2008 at 07:52 AM
Went see this movie. Never listen to critics. This was a GREAT MOVIE, and a great cast. Meryl and the rest of the gang were AWESOME!!!
Posted by: Suise | July 24, 2008 at 06:28 AM
went to see mamma mia on wed 23rd july and just had to comment on how fantastic the film was and how amazing meryl streep was. it was funny entertaining and with all the singing and clapping and dancing in the audience i thought at one minute i was in a broadway musical theatre
i certainly think meryl deserves every award going for that performance!!!!!!! awesome!!!!!
Posted by: carolyn strickland | July 24, 2008 at 01:13 AM
Meryl Streep Deserves an Oscar and a Golden Globe she is absolutely Fantastic in this Film
I Absolutely Loved it and so did every body in the Cinema them to were clapping and dancing at the end You can not say Meryl Streepdoesnt deserve it because she has put so much into this movie i can tell you i have never seen a 59 year old women do the splits in mid air She is such a Beutiful Strong Women,
Great Work Meryl!
xxx
Posted by: Malinda Gray | July 24, 2008 at 12:44 AM
Momma Mia was brilliant, incredibly funny, the best entertainment, best comedy, best musical I've seen in a very long time. The theatre was packed, people roared with laughter, feet tapped, bodies swayed, throughout the movie and the audience clapped at the end. Meryl Streep does infact deserve not only the Golden Globe and Peoples Choice awards, she deserves an oscar!!! The entire cast was great, she was superb!!!! Loved it, will see it again, will buy the DVD and watch it many more times!!!! Thank you for the wonderful experience!!!!!!
Posted by: Sharon Johnson | July 23, 2008 at 10:06 PM