The last time Barbra Streisand appeared at the Oscars was 2005, when she and her "Meet the Fockers" co-star Dustin Hoffman, presented the Best Picture award to Clint Eastwood for "Million Dollar Baby." With the 82nd Academy Awards coming up next Sunday, what are the chances that Barbra will be presenting again? So far, there's been no indication that she's going, but if you read the signs, it's possible to deduce that La Streisand may be there.
Recently, Variety's Peter Bart wrote about a dinner party -- a pre-Oscar dinner party -- where he found himself seated between Barbra and Sophia Loren. That's fascinating in and of itself, but did you catch the clue? Streisand at a pre-Oscar, Hollywood party, out with the stars and socializing. And that's just a few weeks after her participating in the "We Are the World 25" charity song. Hmm … Barbra's out of the barn and mixing it up with the Hollywood crowd. Interesting.
The next clue is perhaps the mos significant: Barbra has a tendency, an inclination, to show up as a presenter at the Oscars -- when she's not nominated -- if there's someone important to her who is nominated. In 2005, her friend Clint Eastwood was a likely winner. In 1986, she was giving Best Director when Sydney Pollack won for "Out of Africa." In 2003, she made the presentation to Robert Redford of a Special Oscar.
This year, Jeff Bridges is practically a shoe-in to win Best Actor for "Crazy Heart." Would Barbra like to be the one to hand her "Mirror Has Two Faces'" leading man his first Oscar? Oh, yes, she would. The film wasn't as big a hit has she have wanted it to be, but Barbra thoroughly enjoyed her working relationship with Jeff. They've remained good friends.
The only fly in the ointment, of course, is tradition. Usually, the Best Actress winner of the previous year is given first dibs on present Best Actor the following year. That means Kate Winslet is probably going to be asked to present before someone like Barbra.
So, watch for the news this week … let's see if Barbra Streisand will be part of the Oscars next Sunday. She'll be the one singing, "Oscar, Can You Hear Me?"
Comments
Hey I like the way you think I never knew Barbra was at the lunch party guess we'll see next Sunday. Am thinking she just may do it ,)
Hey, you were right! Barbra on the Oscars, yea!
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