The Week of Streep (p.8)
In this final (for now) installment of the mini-Streep reviews, I will revisit the last seven releases in Meryl Streep's career. Next in line is the Iron Lady, which is set for release in January — have you seen the teaser? It's been more than a year since my last new Streep fix, and I'm jonesin'. I've got the fever and I've got it bad.
And, in case you missed it, here are parts one, two, three, four, five, six and seven, for your reading pleasure.
2007: Evening
As usual, Streep uses her very minimal screen time to maximum effect in Evening, adapted from Susan Minot's New England-set novel of the same name. Evening is notable in that it was the feature-film debut (in a starring role) of the similarly talented Streep Spawn, Mamie Gummer (relation to the Great One: daughter).
Real-life mother and daughter actually share the on screen role, with Gummer playing a young Lila (in what is basically a flashback) and Streep stepping in as present day Lila. It's not hard to see the similarities, physically, of course, but also in talent. I'm sure it's not easy entering into the same profession in which one of your parents has more than excelled (or rather, defined it altogether), let alone going toe-to-toe with your famous mother in the same film. Gummer holds her own, although (of course) Streep knocks it out of the park.
Side note: I'm about 85% sure that I found the actual house where the majority of Evening was filmed, while on vacation in Newport, Rhode Island. It was set far off from the road and my camera zoom at the time was less than stellar, but I'd like to think my powers of recognition were spot on.
If watching Evening doesn't make you want to book a trip to Newport immediately, you probably accidentally rented the 1999 non-hit of the same name.
2007: Rendition | Lions for Lambs
Streep had supporting roles in two political thrillers in 2007, Rendition and Lions for Lambs. Rendition, like so many movies, failed to deliver despite a promising cast including Reese Witherspoon, Jake Gyllenhaal and Alan Aarkin. Streep is powerful in her brief scenes — don't miss her heated confrontation with Witherspoon's character.
Lions, also boasts a noteworthy cast (I'm sure you've heard of Robert Redford? Tom Cruise?) and is the more enjoyable — if you can call debating the political ensnarement that is Afghanistan, entertainment — of the two films. I have a hard time enjoying Tom Cruise in any film that isn't Rainman, but his scenes with Streep are the best parts of Lions, which focuses on three stories told simultaneously in real-time.
2008: Mamma Mia
After a stretch of supporting roles, Streep burst back into the spotlight with the screen adaptation of the ABBA-filled musical, Mamma Mia. Now to be clear, I don't exactly think that Mamma Mia is an Oscar-worthy film of distinction. I did, however, manage to see it thirteen times at the theater — it's campy and ridiculous and gorgeous and fun and everything I needed in the summer of '08.
I went once, on a Monday, and stayed for a repeat showing. I bought the soundtrack and blasted it in my car with the windows down, impervious to embarrassment. I saw the sing-a-long version in a theater containing only two other people (to whom I am related); which is to say, I loved it.
Streep looks like she's having the time of her life frolicking around the Greek Islands, and if you don't have an equally good time watching her do so, than I truly feel sorry for you. Don't rent Mamma Mia expecting to see Casablanca, but do watch it expecting to cringe at Pierce Brosnan's attempt at a singing career, which, in my opinion, is just as enjoyable as watching the vocally-talented Streep.
2008: Doubt
Doubt is another screen adaptation of a stage show, albeit holy (you see what I did there?) different from Mamma Mia. Streep plays Sister Aloysius Beauvier, and you'll wonder why it's taken her this long in her career to play a nun — she's utterly fantastic.
Phillip Seymour Hoffman is equally as wonderful as the priest who's relationship with a 12-year old boy raises the titular "doubt" and Viola Davis was 100% robbed of the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her brief, but powerful scene alongside Streep. From the performances, to the story, to the set design and time period, there is no Doubt (ehhh?) that this film more than earned its Best Picture nomination.
Side note: If you're like me, and fall asleep to any movie you try to watch past 5pm, do try to stay awake for the end of Doubt. Streep's closing scene with Amy Adams is some of her finest acting work to date.
2009: Julie and Julia
If I wasn't such an ardent Streep fan, I might have sworn that I was watching footage of the actual Julia Child during Streep's scenes as the famous chef in 2009's Julie and Julia. Rather than do a caricature of Child, Streep's performance is as fitting a tribute as fans could have ever hoped for. From the voice, to the mannerisms, to the face, to the height (achieved with some particularly enormous shoes — you can spot them in certain scenes) Streep is perfect.
I only wish that the entire movie was about Julia, and wasn't instead forced to split its time between Child's fascinating life in Paris and the present day (more specifically, Julie Powell's so-so memoir, about the time she decided to cook her way through Mastering the Art of French Cooking).
Streep was most certainly — and unfairly — denied the Oscar win for this career highlight and I'm sure my man would agree — upon leaving the theater I immediately cooked Child's famous beouf bourguignon, and it has since become my signature "fancy" dish.
2009: It's Complicated
Streep's last theatrical release to date, was It's Complicated, and was a welcome return to comedy for the Great One. She is hilarious in this breezy, thoroughly enjoyable romantic comedy from Nancy Myers, alongside two old favorites — Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin — and one of my new favorites — John Krasinski ("Harles"). I saw It's Complicated five times in the theater, and would have gone more if it hadn't been winter (i.e. snowy, miserable) and I had been able to find more willing companions.
It's the perfect movie to watch if you're home sick or in the mood to laugh, and if I could have just one day as the gorgeous, bakery-owning, amazing-kitchen-occupying, California-living, Steve Martin-dating Jane Adler, I would be a happy girl.
(all photos from Simply Streep)