# The United States vs. Billie Holliday **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [March 15, 2021, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-vs-billie-holliday/937965 "2021-03-15T23:20:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-vs-billie-holliday/937965/1 "2021-03-15T23:20:22Z")
I searched for what I assumed would be the thread(s) discussing USvBH but was unable to find any. Ok so anyway. Despite my love for Billie and my respect for Andra, I had absolutely zero intention of watching this because Lee Daniels is the absolute worst director ever to achieve this level of fame. Like ever EVER ever.\* He would still be toiling in well deserved obscurity if it weren’t for Oprah’s emotional gullibility and fetish for grand guignol sentimentality. But with Andra’s nomination I feel obliged. So wish me luck, I’m going in. * * * \*For those who don’t believe me, go watch “Shadowboxer,” the Helen Mirren/Cuba Gooding-as-hitmen-lovers movie you never knew you needed. I apologize in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-vs-billie-holliday/937965/2 "2021-03-16T03:16:42Z")
You’re right; I never knew I needed it. > [@](#): > > Mikey and his stepmother Rose are contract killers and lovers. The two continue with their line of work despite the fact that Rose is suffering from [cancer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer). Still don’t need it, in fact. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-vs-billie-holliday/937965/3 "2021-03-16T03:32:55Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > \*For those who don’t believe me, go watch “Shadowboxer,” the Helen Mirren/Cuba Gooding-as-hitmen-lovers movie you never knew you needed. I apologize in advance. That’s the only Lee Daniels movie I’ve seen----and it’s a doozy. (Your apology is appropriate.) Dude has some very odd preoccupations, is all I can say in Café Society. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-vs-billie-holliday/937965/4 "2021-03-16T15:12:09Z")
Ok reporting back Andra Day’s portrayal is the kind of revelatory astonishing performance Marion Cotillard gave us in La Vie en Rose, or Björk in Dancer in the Dark. I have a feeling the Academy isn’t ready to promote Frances McDormand to the pantheon of triple winners. If that’s the case I hope the Oscar goes to Day. But is Day’s performance worth sitting through the aggressively awful mess that makes a Les Daniels film a Lee Daniels Film™? It’s close; both factors exceed expectations about equally. Ultimately Andra Day’s performance is something worth seeing, whatever obstacles Lee “I’m Directing as Bad as I Can” Daniels throws up. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-vs-billie-holliday/937965/5 "2021-03-16T16:02:59Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Andra Day’s portrayal is the kind of revelatory astonishing performance Marion Cotillard gave us in La Vie en Rose, or Björk in Dancer in the Dark. I have a feeling the Academy isn’t ready to promote Frances McDormand to the pantheon of triple winners. If that’s the case I hope the Oscar goes to Day. There is a tendency for the academy to give Oscars to actors portraying real life people, particularly famous singers. It’s not 100% - e.g. Joaquin didn’t win for Johnny Cash - but it is a long list. So, this year you’ve got two possibilities with Best Actress: Viola Davis & Andra Day. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-vs-billie-holliday/937965/6 "2021-03-16T16:37:48Z")
USvBH is waaay more of a calculated Oscar lunge than MRBB is. And Davis already has an Oscar. I’m putting my money down on Day. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-vs-billie-holliday/937965/7 "2021-03-16T16:44:10Z")
Yep, Viola deserved a nomination, but it could have just as easily been put in the supporting category.