The Week of Streep (p.2)

The madness continues (Happy Birthday Meryl Streep!)...

1979: Kramer vs. Kramer

I don't know if there's ever been a character with a screen time to impact ratio quite like that of Streep's Joanna Kramer. She is there right as the movie opens, and then, quite suddenly, she is not. She doesn't reappear until the movie is nearly over, and even though she is physically absent, she is most definitely not forgotten.

This is, arguably, a Dustin Hoffman movie, although I think Streep more than earns the Best Supporting Actress Oscar she eventually wins for Kramer. When she tells Hoffman that if she were to stay, she would end up 'out the window, or worse' you definitely believe and even feel her pain. You can also feel her fear when Hoffman smashes a wine glass against the wall, a move that, reportedly, completely surprised (and then quickly angered) real-life Meryl Streep.

As a side note, this movie also features some fine 70s fashions, some very good (Streep's oh-so-chic trench coat and slouchy boots) and some so-bad-they're-good (JoBeth Williams's aaaahhhmazingly large glasses).

1979: Manhattan

Another movie that co-stars Streep's luscious hair, Manhattan is basically a Woody Allen love letter to the titular city. Streep has a small role as Allen's estranged ex-wife (who is now a lesbian and well, who wouldn't be after dating Woody Allen?) and she is wonderful, as usual. Although I've never been able to make it through all of Annie Hall (I know, it's a classic, blah blah), Manhattan made me change my perception slightly on Woody Allen as a filmmaker.*

*With the combo of my favorite actress and my favorite city, this wasn't a difficult task.

1981: The French Lieutenant's Woman

The French Lieutenant's Woman, based on a novel by John Fowles, features not one, but two Meryl Streep roles. I was warned that this movie was 'difficult' and 'dreadfully boring', but Streep is captivating as usual. This is her first 'period' film, one she made after reportedly declaring that she needed to 'get out of New York, out of the present day', a sentiment that I can certainly understand. If you do nothing else, look at the poster for this movie, an amazing photograph of a cloaked and red-haired Streep that is anything but dreadfully boring.

1982: Still of the Night

Still of the Night has the distinction of being the only real 'thriller' that Streep has made, and even though it's nearly 20 years old, its Hitchcockian suspenseful plot still manages some thrills. Streep stars with Roy Scheider (of Jaws fame) and together they do a great job of keeping you on the edge of your seat. That is, if you can find a copy of Still of the Night; as of right now, it's only available on VHS. And as I have said before yes, I have a copy and no, you can't have it.

1982: Sophie's Choice

Sophie's Choice is often sited as the 'quintessential' Streep performance, and the Academy certainly agreed; Streep won her first (and to date, only) Best Actress award for her role as Sophie Zawistowska, the concentration camp survivor with a devastating 'secret.' I happen to, for once, agree with the Academy. Streep is absolutely heart-breaking and radiantly beautiful, not to mention spot-on with her Polish, German and any other language or accent she tries on.

I also fell in love with the location; if someone locates that time machine I've mentioned before, I would most definitely like to go back to 1940s summertime Brooklyn, rent a room at the Pink Palace and weekend at Coney Island. Yes, please.

1983: Silkwood

Ok, how f'ing adorable is Meryl Streep as Karen Silkwood? If anyone could make a brown mullet, denim mini-skirt and cowboy boots look amazing, Streep is it. As a bonus, Silkwood is the only movie where you actually catch a glimpse (you might need to pause, and rewind and slo-mo it like... well, I did) of a real-life Streep boob (it's adorable as well). Whatever your politics or whatever you believe about the real-life Karen, if you don't cry hysterically at the end like I did, you're an inhuman machine. And I sincerely mean that.

(again, all photos from SimplyStreep)