The Week of Streep (p.1)
61 years ago, on June 22nd, Meryl Streep was born.
Four years ago, on June 22nd, I waited outside the David Letterman studio in the scorching, mid-day sun for more than four hours to see Ms. Streep in person, for the first time. I was wearing all black — jeans, t-shirt and Converse — and I wasn't sure if my dehydrated, ravenously hungry, heat-stroking self could handle the excitement of being thisclose to MERYLF'INGSTREEP.
Turns out, I could and did handle it — very well, I believe — and even though I've seen her a few more times since, I will always cherish the memory of my first.
So then, I shall be so bold (and obsessive. and crazy) to declare this week the Week of the Streep. What follows is my daily attempt to present to you each one of her movies (and a few made-for-television specials) because, well, everyone should see these (yes, all of them — told you, obsessive).
(In mostly chronological order, and all photos from SimplyStreep)
1977: Julia
This was not the first Streep film I saw, but it is credited as being her feature film debut. Although she is only on screen for maybe a minute at the most (I used to know the exact time, in fact, I clocked it myself... I have since forgotten that figure — forgive me) she definitely makes an impression, as only a Streep can do. As a bonus, she wears a dress made entirely of red gingham— I am mildly obsessed with red gingham, so a Streep wrapped in red gingham is like the best present, ever.
1978: The Deadliest Season
I hesitate to destroy my Streep cred so early in this review, but I have a confession to make: I've never seen The Deadliest Season. In my defense, it is a 70s TV movie and I wasn't even born until 1985 — no excuse, really. But also, I cannot for the life of me find a copy of this movie, and believe me, I have tried. There is no library or eBay user or video seller in the country that will give it to me. I've looked. And looked again. But seriously, I do need to see this movie. It's my white whale, and if anyone has it/knows where I can get a copy TELL ME RIGHT NOW. Thanks.
1978: Holocaust
In much the same vein as The Deadliest Season, Holocaust was probably the hardest Streep performance for me to get my hands on. I actually found JUST part 3 at a video store (I was like, seriously? ONLY part 3!?) but I eventually tracked down the other 2 parts, and I was super proud of my skills (I found it in the university library system, and proceeded to record it from the vhs in an elaborate vcr-tethering system that I couldn't possibly replicate today). The entire series has since become available on DVD, which simultaneously excited, and annoyed me (that would have been helpful two years ago, I thought).
ANYway, Meryl Streep won an Emmy for her part in this loooooong mini-series (anyone who can convincingly stare lovingly into the face of James Woods deserves an award), but the rest of it feels rather dated. She is also majorly beautiful, which is reason enough to suffer through Blanche Baker, who annoyed me so much that I was actually hoping for the gas chamber. Yes, I mean that.
1978: Uncommon Women and Others
This filmed stage production is overflowing with 70s girl power and co-stars Meryl Streep's hair. Seriously, look at that hair.
1978: The Deer Hunter
Meryl Streep's second feature film role, in The Deer Hunter, scored her her first (of nearly a bazillion) Oscar nomination. Again, she is radiantly beautiful as Linda, the small town grocery store employee who knits sweaters while she waits for her fiance and his friends (a surprisingly-hot young Christopher Walken and the always-sexy Robert DeNiro) to return from Vietnam. In Streep's hands, though, Linda is anything but boring and her scenes are just as riveting as the famous Russian Roulette sequences.
(Oh to have been born when Streep and co. were filming The Deer Hunter in Ohio... Anyone have a time machine?)
1979: The Seduction of Joe Tynan
I know I keep repeating myself, but Streep just ooooozes sex and gorgeousness in this film. If I was Alan Alda (or anyone else, for that matter) I wouldn't think twice about cheating on my wife (the lovely, but come on, Barbara Harris) with Meryl Streep's saucy southerner. If you wouldn't jump at the chance to have a post-coital, in-bed feast of strawberries and cheese with her in this movie, than you're not human.