Oscar voter goes rogue: ‘La La Land and Meryl Streep are overrated’

LA LA Land’s overrated, Meryl should stop being nominated and host Jimmy Kimmel will be awful. One Academy Award voter just went rogue.

ONE of the voters at this year’s Academy Awards has gone rogue, giving a withering critique on everything from Oscar favourite La La Land to perennial nominee Meryl Streep.

Speaking anonymously to The Daily Beast, the Oscar voter let fly with the sort of brutally honest assessments that would probably get them in a whole lot of trouble had they put their name to them:

La La Lame

14 Oscar nominations, but not everyone’s a fan.

The modern musical has earned a record 14 nominations, but this voter is one of those who just doesn’t get what all the fuss is about.

“I’m trying to figure it out. I think because it’s set in LA and it’s about the industry and they’re all narcissists ... They’re mediocre singers and dancers, and there’s not one good song in the movie, as opposed to Singin’ in the Rain or other classic musicals. It’s a poor imitation. I’ll be embarrassed when it wins,” they say.

Meryl ain’t all that

Florence Foster Jenkins: Look, it’s better than Mamma Mia. Picture: Nick Wall/Paramount Pictures via AP

She’s nominated for her titular role in Florence Foster Jenkins — enjoyable, if a B-movie by Meryl standards. It’s Meryl’s TWENTIETH Oscar nomination — and this voter wishes she’d bow out and give others a look-in.

“I want to open this up to other people. I’m tired of Meryl. I wish Annette Bening had gotten nominated [for 20th Century Women] instead of Meryl,” they say.

The lead / supporting confusion drives the academy nuts, too

Fences is a two-hander, so why isn’t Viola Davis nominated as a lead? Picture: David Lee/Paramount Pictures via AP

It’s an oft-repeated complaint about the Oscars: Performers who deliver what many would consider to be leading roles in ensemble films find themselves nominated in the ‘Best Supporting’ category. This voter’s taking a stand, citing Viola Davis, who’s up for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Fences:

“I would have voted for Viola for Best Actress. She would have been my number one choice. They put her in this category because they think it’s easier to win, and I’m not gonna vote for her in protest.”

They don’t have high hopes for Jimmy Kimmel

Bring back Bob Hope! Picture: AFP PHOTO / Valerie MACON

In an answer that suggests this is one of the Academy’s, ahem, older members, the voter predicts that this year’s host Jimmy Kimmel will be “absolutely not acceptable,” and says they miss the likes of Bob Hope and Johnny Carson.

“I hope he doesn’t resort to a lot of crass humour. I prefer classy humour.”

Originally published as Oscar voter goes rogue: ‘La La Land and Meryl Streep are overrated’