I think the official story for why Meryl Streep didn’t come to Toronto to promote August: Osage County was some kind of illness. I missed seeing her at TIFF because A) I love her, B) I enjoy when Meryl promotes any movie, and C) if Meryl had come to TIFF, she definitely would have made Julia Roberts take a seat. When everything was said and done, though, Julia made sure that TIFF was ALL ABOUT JULIA and just as soon as critics saw Osage, Harvey Weinstein made the executive decision to ensure that only Meryl was put up for Best Actress. So, Julia might have gotten the attention, but Meryl wins in the long run because she is, as Samuel L. Jackson would say, Meryl Motherf—king Streep.
So is that the end of it? Nope. The Enquirer has some interesting backstory/conspiracy theory as to why Meryl now hates Julia Roberts and why Meryl refused to go to TIFF:
A disgusted MERYL STREEP never wants to work with JULIA ROBERTS ever again! WHY? Because Julia isn’t about to let anything get in the way of her close-up – even fellow Oscar winner Meryl!
A source says the “Pretty Woman” actress hijacked the ending of the stars’ blockbuster new movie, leaving Meryl – and the film’s original closing scene – on the cutting room floor.
“Julia can’t get enough of herself on the big screen,” a Hollywood insider told The ENQUIRER. “When she got the chance, she threw Meryl under the bus for more screen time, a glowing close-up of her alone and a brand-new ending to their film. “Meryl’s so disgusted she boycotted the premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.”
Meryl plays Julia’s mother in the upcoming film version of the Broadway smash “August: Osage County,” which also stars Juliette Lewis, Ewan McGregor and Dermot Mulroney. The film, about three generations of a dysfunctional Oklahoma family, is already generating Academy Award buzz, including possible Best Actress Oscar nominations for both Meryl and Julia.
While the two women reportedly got along on the set, the original ending was a shot of Meryl alone after she’d been abandoned by her daughter. But the scene didn’t test well with audiences.
“That’s when Julia made her move,” the insider said. “She told (director) John Wells, ‘I love her to death, but she looks so sad on screen it’s a downer. Maybe the camera could just hold on me for the final image.’ ”
Although the ending of the movie could still change, it appears Julia ultimately got her way. For now, the final scene is a shot of the 45-year-old actress driving away alone.
“Meryl was livid,” the source added. “And she never wants to work with Julia again.”
I haven’t seen the film yet, but now I’m dying to just to see which ending they went with. If the last image is Julia, then I’ll totally believe this conspiracy. If the last image is Meryl, then I’ll believe that Harvey Weinstein knows in his heart of hearts that audiences will ALWAYS prefer Meryl to Julia no matter what. Meryl could be playing an ax murderer and people would still be like, “Yeah, still more likeable than Julia Roberts. Meryl turns in another Oscar-worthy performance!” That being said, I don’t believe Meryl is quite this petty. If Julia really did convince the director to change the ending, I could see Meryl being peeved, but not “I never want to speak to Julia again!” pissed-off.
But what do I know? If they were making this film just for me, it would be two hours of Benedict Cumberbatch sitting at a piano, naked, and singing a special song just for me.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Ummm … can we have that Benedict Cumberbatch movie? Someone needs to make this, NOW.
I don’t see – or want to see – Meryl as being this petty but in Hollywood, you never know.
Still, I’d watch Meryl Streep reciting the alphabet over Julia Roberts’ histrionics any day of the week.
How about Meryl Sheep?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa_IFtuR9RM
(1980s Sesame Street)
The only way I could believe that Streep was upset about this is if it detracted from the integrity of the film. Maybe Meryl just thought the final image of her character was a more suitable ending for the film?
Otherwise, I’m not buying it. Even being the most talented actress in the history of Hollywood, Streep has always remained humble, and put dedication to the craft ahead of fame.
I think it (the Julia ending) does mess with the book/intended message.
But.
But, but, but…a different version of this story came out at the very end of TIFF, and sounded like it was Harvey’s call to end with Julia. And that he might release both versions – depending on what will work better with the audiences AND awards circuits. Nobody gets Harvey to make a call he doesnt want to make.
I can definitely believe it was Harvey’s call, but then I definitely DON’T believe that Meryl GAF about it. She’s just too badass to care about something so trivial.
This has got to be made up. Right there in the middle it says test audiences didn’t like the ending so it was changed. Simple as that.
As if – Meryl is in her own league – why would she care? She’ll be the one we want to watch in the movie, and she’ll be the one in the spotlight come the Oscars.
I think this story is overblown, though I don’t doubt that Julia was a diva from front to finish. To paraphrase Samuel L. Jackson – yeah, she’s “Meryl Mother-f*&#ing Streep”. I am sure the final scene ranks low on Meryl’s radar, she is always more about the body of work, not attention wh0ring.
Def on board with more ‘batch singing and playing the piano naked. Just for me, though. 😉
I’m not buying it either. First, does anyone really believe Weinstein would allow this? He also generally uses the same editor and actors rarely get involved with editing. This is just a story for Julia haters. I mean look at the photos above. Every pic of Roberts is pretty awful.
I don’t buy Meryl bailing on her promo duties over a hissy fit like that. She is THE pro.
i totally agree. meryl’s relaxed and has a sense of humor — i think she’d laugh it off.
Agree. Sounds made up to me.
It was a battle of queen bees, and apparently Meryl lost out, and yeah, she’s petty enough to be miffed about it. She’s great, a actress for the ages (which Roberts will never be) and hilariously funny in RL situations, but she’s also highly protective of her status as such. Cross her and you’ll know the reason why.
The National Enquirer IS strangely accurate.
Just the contrast in those two pictures says it all! Class or crass?
Guess we have to wait and see who get’s the big ending. Merly has more Oscars I would think she had more pull then Julia does.
Ummm no. Julia is a bitch no doubt, but the ending was a studio call. Something about test audiences and generally speaking audiences are pretty much stupid (this award winning play’s ending is too sad!!!). Seriously look at the top 20 grossing movies of all time, maybe 7 of them are actually good. The studio was trying to cater to mass audience, this one is not on Julia, crazy bitch that she is!
Amen. I’m no fan of Roberts, but the cock-up here is that a test audience determined the ending (assuming that’s true). Why must everything be a People’s Choice Award. Most audiences are made of The General Public, and most of The General Public are raging morons.
I don’t buy that Meryl would care that much about something so small. That said, I do buy that Meryl may find Julia to be arrogant, suffocating and not worth her time.
Oh, I believe it. My old acting teacher was with John Cazale before Meryl. He left the teacher his loft in Tribeca when he died. Meryl contested the will took teacher to court. Lost in court. Then proceeded to talk trash (Joseph Papp) about the teacher, did not invite the teacher to John’s memorial. This is when Meryl was fresh out Yale. Talk to her fellow classmates. Yes, she is talented but ruthless.
In this business, you have to be ruthless.
So Cazale went both ways?
John Cazale was not gay. Maybe you’re confusing him with his role in Dogs Day Afternoon.
Here’s the link I found about the place M.S. shared with Cazale….little different version so truth may be somewhere in the middle. However, Joseph Papp is listed everywhere as M.S.’s mentor, and he produced Plenty several years after Cazale’s death, which seems unusual if his former mentee had sued him.I have no dog in this game, but since I like M.S. I thought I’d research.
http://www.simplystreep.com/content/magazines/198003ladieshomejournal.html
I can totally buy Julia saying something like that to the director. I know it isn’t her call to determine the ultimate cut of the movie, but I could completely see her vying for that final shot and it pissing off Meryl. You have to be self-absorbed to survive the business. That’s true of men and women. Men just go about it differently, I’m sure.
Meryl will always win in the long run.
As for Cumberbatch: Sitting at a piano, naked, will do nicely. Singing would be the icing on the cake.
This story reeks of BS. Although Julia Roberts is completely full of herself, I can’t see Meryl doing anything like this. She’s just too gracious. She’d think it but wouldn’t say anything.
I can see this. It’s not petty if it’s not about screen-time. Maybe Meryl just thought the original ending was a far better ending, and now feels the quality’s been compromised.
I agree. If this story is true, it’s more about professionalism and movie quality against people who lack both and have massive egos…
Yes!
I hate Julia’s dress
I hate Julia.
Both 🙂
This sounds like a PR catfight.
I could believe both sides, people don’t get to their level without being totally self obsessed and ruthless. Much as I love to love them both I bet they’re both terrible b*tches!
You’d never say that about male actors.
And how the hell would you know how someone else thinks, Ann?
The director would have the ultimate veto power on what remains, so this is a bunch of nonsense.
That’s what I was thinking. It’s the director’s call (or producer). And is there really any competition between Meryl and Julia? Meryl is pretty much awesome in everything. What has Julia done where she has come close to or surpassed Meryl’s greatness?
It’s almost never the director’s call, *especially* when Harvey Weinstein is involved. He never gives directors final cut. Whatever happened to the ending, happened because that’s how Harvey wanted it, probably because he thinks people are too dumb for movies. The headline shouldn’t be “Meryl vs. Julia” it should be “Harvey thinks we’re too stupid for this one, too”.
Yep, Harvey Scissorhands strikes again.
Ha!
Always for Meryl, even in a phony Enquirer throw-down.
(and Julia, stop with the fake pouty mouth expression, you’re going to look like Janice Dickinson if you keep that up!!)
Yes, Meryl forever!
The face reflects the inner self in this case.
I doubt Meryl cares who is in the last shot – she’s Meryl Streep! Why should she care, she has done it and won it all.
I also doubt Julia has that kind of influence on the director/editor/studio. If a change was made, I think it was up to them, not her.
That said, I still would believe that she’s awful to work with, but I bet was sweet as pie to Meryl so she could hang all over her come award season.
I thought this would be a movie my mom and I would like to see together until I read the play this summer. It is a real downer and ends as a downer. There is no resolution. And the play doesn’t deal with only dysfunction but rather a very particular type of dysfunction- incest. If this was to be a successful film, and not an artsy film, it was going to need a different ending.
The dogs bark but the caravan continues on.
I doubt that Meryl Streep gives two pellets in a rat’s arse about this issue. She’s so above Julia Roberts that, no matter how loud the barking, Streep just sails on by, secure in her awesomeness.
Jeff Wells, a film blogger, wrote about how ceappy the Julia ending is. Apparently the film makers prefer Meryl’s.
I’ve no trouble believing Julia Roberts made a move to get another final scene shot, but I still find very hard to believe that she was the one deciding what would stay in the film, what would be cut off. She’s neither the director nor the producer.
Executives in suits rely on tests with audiences.Their decisions may coincide with Roberts’ wishes, but no way she called the shots on this.
I blame it on Harvey Weinstein. He is infamous for cutting the movies the way he thinks they will appeal to the lowest commom denominator.
He told the director of Snowpiercer to cut the movie:
“TWC people have told Bong that their aim is to make sure the film will be understood by audiences in Iowa… and Oklahoma.”
He is a pompous asshat.
Pompous, indeed. And he probably doesn’t realize he picked two states with high literacy rates.
Maybe this was the straw that broke the camel’s back, so to speak.
This might be just the latest in a long string of ‘incidents’ where Meryl Streep, because she is a professional and not a diva, ended up taking the back seat to Julia Roberts. I could see Meryl Streep taking one for the team because she is such a professional, while Julia Roberts does not strike me as that type.
I don’t blame Meryl at all for this…sometimes people can just drive you to the edge, and then one little tiny thing pushes you over.
Meryl has likely forgotten more about acting than Mrs. Moder has ever known.
It’s always about Julia. I realized that when she gave an award to Denzel Washington years ago. The constant me,me,me was an embarrassment to the award ceremony.
Meryl could play Julia in a movie about Julia and still be more likeable than Julia.
+1!!! That is the funniest comment I’ve seen in a long time.
lol 🙂
And after winning an Oscar for her portrayal of Julia, she wouldn’t preface announcing the Best Actor Oscar the following year by announcing that she loves her life, thereby making it ALL ABOUT HER.
Unless, of course, she hadn’t dropped character.
Although I think the DVD commentary would have been done by then.
LOL! And true.
True! This reminds me of Nora Ephon’s speech at a tribute to Meryl Streep, wher Nora strongly recommended, if you ever get the choice, choosing Meryl Streep to be the actor to play you in a movie.
I don’t want to give away the rest of Ephon’s talk but it’s hilarious.
Just caught Kramer v. Kramer last weekend and even back then she was killing it. My seven year old calls Meryl Mamma Mia because that is what she knows her from. We watch that movie all the time! It’s cheesey but we love it!! Who knew she could sing too.
You should watch “Postcards from the Edge” some time — Meryl sings in that movie, too.
When praising the cast and director of Osage, Benedict Cumberbatch never mentioned Julia Roberts once. I think that’s very telling.
Its also telling that Julia’ favourite scene is the one with Cumberbatch and Cooper. She wouldn’t even give Meryl that. I wash shocked she name dropped Benedict at TIFF.
Love you Meryl!!!
I’ll only be seeing this film for the few minutes of Cumberbatch. Apparently his scenes with Cooper and Nicholson are the ones ones where there isnt any over acting. Cumberbatch always knows where to pitch a performance even if the others don’t.
I’m not a big fan of Julia Roberts but I personally think Streep is way over-rated and has had more than enough of her share of glory. Time for someone else to have their turn.
Funny, how you feel about Meryl is exactly how I feel about Julia. If girlfriend didn’t “act” in roles that were basically her own personality, how many movies would she have been in? Versus … “Sophie’s Choice”. Or “Bridges of Madison County”. Or “Death Becomes Her”, even.
+1
The thing is, Streep seems to be universally revered, and Roberts is not. Roberts seems to be disliked (and she deserves this dislike). My point is that Meryl is so loved and revered by everyone everywhere and I just think she is so over-rated to the extent of nausea. Shes had her time. Shes earned plenty of awards. Time for someone else to get the limelight.
In other words, let’s stop rewarding quality character acting (what Meryl does) and reward some shallow semblance of that (the posing that Julia does). Makes sense.
No, you’ve read me wrong. Totally wrong. This isn’t about Streep vs Roberts. I’m just saying that I think Streep, whilst a good actress, no doubt about that, is too hyped up and not as good as the hype. I think hype carries her, rather than talent. I think she is far too over-rated, over-hyped, and over-exposed. I think there are better actors and actresses out there (no, I do not include Roberts) that don’t get a look in because of the hype and fawning over Meryl. I think Meryl has had her fair share, shes won accolades, awards etc, I just think someone else should be given a chance to shine.
I don’t believe Meryl would throw a tantrum over something so small, I don’t believe she would make a big deal over 30 seconds at the end of a movie. She is not at the beginning of her career and she doesn’t need that. On the other hand though i believe Julia Roberts is a nasty bitch so yeah, Long live Queen Meryl.
Am I the only one who thinks Roberts is a terrible actress?
I think she’s very VERY mediocre. I wouldn’t go so far as “terrible”, but so…meh. Never really brings anything unique or interesting to the roles she plays.
FTR, I feel the same way about Sandra Bullock, who is universally revered around here.
Sandra Bullock seems quite funny to me.. i loved her in ‘2 weeks notice’ and ‘the proposal’ and i thought she was quite genuine and believable in ‘the blind side’ but i see your point. Probably people on this site base their reverence on her because of her life off set where she is said to be very humble and polite, plus after the ex husband case i think she deserved a bit of support from the woman’s world. she’s been very classy through the whole story while stories about Julia Roberts’ life out of set are not as good. I’d take Sandra over Julia Roberts any time. In a drop of a hat.
I never understood how either of them became superstars or how Sandra Bullock could have married that disgusting POS.
Sandra Bullock might indeed be on a level with Julia Roberts as far as acting ability goes, but everything you hear about her gives one the impression that she’s a good-hearted person, which is why I think there’s so much love for her in these here parts. Versus Julia, about whom one hears … not such good things.
So do I. I think Sandra is a good actress, but she always plays the same characters–uptight, bossy, controlling, etc. I don’t mind it, per se, because I think she’s talented, but it wouldn’t kill her to mix it up a little.
Julia Roberts–ugh. I think she’s lucky she had a good head of hair, because like Jennifer Aniston she plays as herself in every single movie she’s ever been in.
And I think neither of them deserved their Oscars–I don’t understand how personal lives come into who wins.
No me too. She always has the same facial espression and that idiotic big smile that reminds me so much of a horse. Plus all the nasty stories about her don’t really help her reputation. she seems to be a proper b!tch.
Nope, you’re not even close to the only one! A lot of us think that. You’ve got good judgment, IMO.
Aw honey, you are not alone! She is loaded with no talent.
I don’t think she’s terrible but I certainly don’t think she is even close to the same league as Merle. Regardless of what character she portrays it’s always the same performance…. you just know at one point she’s going to lose her temper and throw a tantrum so you realize what a bad ass she is. Then at the end of the movie you’re going to see that humongous smile with her 123 teeth shining bright.
To me, whoever she’s meant to be playing, it’s always just Julia Roberts up there on-screen. I can never, ever buy into her as the character, even when the rest of the film is very good. She has absolutely no range. I can overlook that with some actors (for instance, in the right film I’m quite happy to watch Hugh Grant being Hugh Grant), but since I greatly dislike Roberts she ruins every film she’s in for me.
I don’t think she’s terrible exactly, but I do think she’s extremely overrated. She did NOT deserve an Oscar for Erin Brokovich. She’s sort of like Jennifer Aniston – she acts the same in all of her movies.
No Honey! Julia Roberts is fing horrible. I enjoyed Erin Brokovich but that was not an oscar worthy performance. Imagine Eat Pray Love without her, that movie would have been decent. She made it annoying. Those teeth and laugh ewwww.
Strep half asleep acting would invoke more of an emotional response in me than Roberts’ best performances.
No.
Anyone who thinks she has range and ability should watch Mary Reilly.
It’s hard to imagine Meryl Streep ever being jealous over or petty toward Julia Roberts. the ending could be Meryl taking a sh1t on the toilet and it would still be a better finale.
I buy every word.
I don’t think it makes Meryl look that petty, I think she comes across annoyed. Also Meryl seems like the type that likes to tell the story even if its hard and might not “test” so she could be livid that they didn’t tell the story for some diva and a focus group. Not having seen the play or movie we don’t actually know what this change might do to the tone or over all story.
So yes I believe this, I also think there was a lot building up to it and the ending switch was the latest straw that sent her over the edge.
Meryl looks great in these pics. Cant say the same for Julia.
For sure. Meryl looks regal in those photos, Julia looks like Scarlett O’Hara made her up a dress out of the bedroom curtains and tacked a matching tablecloth over it.
Good lord, did Julia knock up that dress backstage? The hem is atrocious! Never mind the rest of it. Weird choice. (Whenever I see her I think of the Family Guy spoof – ‘Me…Mee…MEE!!!!’
I’ve always liked Julia and I don’t see this “cat fight” as reality. Was a bit of a spoiler on the ending for me but I still totally want to watch it. They’re both awesome.
Meryl’s decolletage looks amazing, especially for her age. She is awesome.
Julia’s hairdo looks like an octopus! 🙂 Great color, though.
What is with Julia’s dress? Is she guarding the Vatican?
I can’t wait to see this movie, but I’m seeing it in spite of Julia.
Lol brilliant!
Hm. Not sure what to think about this, except that I don’t really see the director/producers/Harvey caving in to how an actress wants a movie to end– they’ll go with what works ($$$) . I’m also kind of bummed that I basically know the ending now…
😉
What’s going on with the hem on Julia’s dress? It looks like my freshman home-ec project. I got an F.
I can’t stand JR and totally believe that she is the type to do this, but I don’t think that she has enough power to make decisions like this in a Weinstein film. Maybe whoever directs those Nicholaus Sparks movies might listen to her.
Ridiculous. The actors don’t get any say in how the films are edited, maybe test groups didn’t like the original ending and that’s why it was changed, but this story is just silly. Tracy Letts and John Wells are the only ones who might dictate how they cut the film, and Streep is far too professional to think that a final shot somehow diminishes her performance in the film. A:OC is all about Violet, the rest are supporting characters, regardless of who’s in the fadeout.
I am really glad that Julia Roberts took up a hobby, sewing, while living on the ranch in New Mexico. I guess taking the Christmas Tablecloth, getting out the 1970’s simplicity patterns and sewing it into a dress, makes her seem like she recycles.
thank you! I’ve been trying to formulate in my mind where, when & how this dress & JR found one another and now it all makes sense.
Julia’s well known for pulling stunts like this, no doubt knowing Weinstein’s reputation Julia won her ending with her mouth in a closed office.
Think of that lovely image as you watch her close up ending the picture. Hahahaha, she’s still a booty pig.
JRs red dress looks like a majorette uniform I wore. In 1976. In South Georgia.
I don’t understand the Julia hate because I have never really heard anything bad about her. I like her and don’t believe this story
If Meryl is this petty she’s lost some respect points. Maybe Julia wasn’t being malicious — the article says the Meryl close-up ending didn’t test well with audiences. Maybe Julia’s close-up ending improved the product.
More importantly – what the hell goddamn outfit is Julia wearing in those TIFF photos? She strap on some pillow cases?