Meryl Streep could have talked about her remarkable career upon receiving the Cecil B. DeMille Award the weekend before last. She might have joked about being an overrated actress herself, which she did after winning the Emmy in 2005 (for "Angels in America"). She reminded the star-studded audience about the privileges - and responsibilities - of being an actor. It came during the closing part of her speech, though. The three-time Academy Award winner didn't name Donald Trump during her speech, but her hate towards the billionaire was clear enough. There was applause, but the camera spotted disapproving faces.
Hollywood, foreigners, and the press, as Streep puts it. Could they be the most vilified folks in America right now? Perhaps not. On one hand, this is a (liberal) democracy. She had the right to tell the audience (and millions of viewers) what she wanted to say. She wasn't the first one to do it, and she won't be the last one as well. Trump pointed out that the actress supported Hillary Clinton, who ran for president for the second time. "The Apprentice" star doesn't seem to lose sleep over liberal movie people, but he may be generalizing on this one. (Clint Eastwood had been a long-time Republican supporter.) It would remain to be seen if Hollywood will let Streep win her fourth Oscar sooner or later, but the thought of a Hollywood celebrity throwing his/her hat into the political ring on 2020 isn't a remote possibility at all. After all, Arnold Schwarzenegger became the governor of California. (And the "Total Recall" star replaced star as "The Apprentice" host.) Let's examine Streep's stirring speech:
The regular Joe don't care about Meryl Streep and her speech. If the ordinary people have been following Hollywood for too long, then they remember Roman Polanski's sexual abuse case in 1977. Hollywood kept a blind eye on the French-Polish filmmaker, as he was one of the greatest directors of his generation. (He was honored with the Academy Award for Best Director in 2003, which spoke volumes.) Actors tend to do this whenever a brilliant peer would be the subject of investigation. (In the case of Charlie Chaplin, he might have made a mistake by jumping off the political fence. He was fortunate that his legacy was sealed when he exiled in Switzerland.) Streep could be accused of hypocrisy.
Does Hollywood really care about political issues? Anna Kendrick was asked about sexism, and her response resonated with readers. "No one really wants to hear actors talk about this because we're in such positions of privilege,” she said. The "Pitch Perfect" star may not have the imposing resume as Streep's, but she seemed wise beyond her years. Streep had been around Hollywood for five decades, so she might know what she said during the awards night. Then again, it won't be black and white as it seemed to be.
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) isn't CNN. Otherwise, Trump called out this group on Twitter.
Meryl Streep's speech could be a hint of what to happen during the next four years. There was nothing new about some Hollywood actors becoming a bit too political at some point during their career. (Sean Penn would be a good example.) It won't be a remote idea that a Democratic-leaning actor would take politics seriously. The Democratic Party would like it, as no one seemed ready for 2020. On the other hand, Francois Hollande announced that he won't seek reelection. Could Trump do the same thing? Some pundits believed so, but it would be better to wait and see.
What about Hillary Clinton? She will be 73 years old by 2020, which will make her the oldest candidate (if she ever decides to run for the third time). The trust will always be an issue, but Hollywood would think otherwise.
Streep was mum since her speech, but actions would speak louder than words. Let's wait for her next move.
