Top 5 Meryl Streep Movies - Part 1
April 11th 2010 10:55
This post very nearly became a Top 10, which is why it's titled Top 5 Meryl Streep Movies Part 1, I may come back one day and do another list of the films I couldn't include this time around. Meryl Streep is easily the greatest living actress around today. Her talent and versatility have proven the adage of Hollywood having no work for mature actresses to be incorrect. It does, it just all goes to Meryl Streep. Nominated for a record 16 Academy Awards, she has won the most prestigous acting award twice - Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 1980 for Kramer v Kramer and Best Actress in 1983 for Sophies Choice - and needs only 2 more wins to tie as the most awarded actress in Academy history with Katherine Hepburn. Here are my Top 5 Meryl Streep Films.
5 - Marvins Room 1996
In Marvins Room, Meryl Streep plays Lee, the estranged sister of Bessie - played to perfection by Diane Keaton. The sisters have been estranged for 17 years, since their fathers first stroke. Diagnosed with leukemia Bessie needs her sister to find out if she is a suitable match for a bone marrow transplant. Lee, along with her two sons - the eldest, Hank, is played by a young Leonardo DiCaprio - come to Florida and the journey the two sisters undertake to reconnect and forgive past hurts is strong and emotional. This is a two box of kleenex movie, so I wouldn't recommend watching it if you're feeling a tad weepy already. I love Meryl Streep in this movie. She plays her character with timed precision and never misses a beat. Marvins Room is a definite must have to add to your Meryl Streep Collection.
4 - She Devil - 1989
After a decade of heavy drama Meryl Streep took a comedic turn in this US remake of the cult British TV Miniseries The Lives and Loves of a She Devil. In She Devil Streep plays the narcissistic romance novelist Mary Fisher. Her life is perfection until she meets and falls in love with starstruck Bob Patchett. Bob leaves his homely wife Ruth - played prefectly by Roseanne Barr - and runs away to life with the glamourous novelist. Roseanne is the She Devil in the films title and her journey from jilted housewife to vengeful She Devil makes for some hysterical moments, but it is Streep who provides most of the laughs as Mary Fishers perfectly created and ordered world comes tumbling down. I was a fan of the original mini series - which was much darker and nastier than this fluffy comedy - but I thought the screenwriter did a wonderful job turning Fay Weldons novel into a black comedy for the big screen. This movie is well worth a watch, particularly if you only know Streeps current comedic performances. It was She Devil that showed the world Streep was not only the Queen of Drama but the Queen of Slapstick comedy.
3 - Death Becomes Her - 1992
In Death Becomes Her, Streep stars as Madeline Ashton a fading - both in looks and career - Hollywood actress married to the inconsequential Dr Ernest Menville - played by Bruce Willis. Madeline stole Dr Menville from her best friend Helen Sharpe - Goldie Hawn at her comedic best - sending Helen into a dovetail of depression and binge eating, eventually landing her in a mental asylum. Discovering the secret to eternal youth, Helen uses the knowledge to reinvent herself and wreak havoc on her past friend and her ex boyfriend. Another of the comedies that Streep made in the early 1990s Death Becomes Her is a black comedy about betrayal, aging and just rewards. The scene that has Madeline and Helen at Dr Menvilles funeral is wonderfully dark and funny. This film also has a wonderful cameo appearance by Isabella Rossellini as the mysterious Lisle von Rhoman who introduces Helen and eventually Madelane to the secret to eternal youth and beauty. This film is not rocket science by any means. It's a dark, slapstick comedy and well worth a rainy Saturday afternoon. If you haven't seen it already go and get it from your local DVD store.
2 - Silkwood - 1983
Karen Silkwood worked at a plutonium processing plant. In 1974 she left to meet a journalist to expose the safety violations in her workplace. She never arrived. Silkwood is based on the story of Karen Silkwoods life and Meryl Streep plays the title character. Witnessing the abuse and torture that Karen Silkwood endured doesn't make for light viewing. This is a powerful film that stands the test of time. Karen Silkwood was purposely contaminated with nuclear waste, endured harrasment and torture at the hands of her employers and still strived to do what was right for those she worked with. This is Meryl Streep at her gritty, dramatic best and well worth the time investment it takes to watch it.
1 - Postcards From The Edge - 1990
This loosly biographical film was written for the screen by Carrie Fisher, who also wrote the novel on which it is based. Streep plays Suzanne Vale, a drug addicted movie star struggling to break free of the shadow of her Movie Star mother Doris Mann - played with an innocent, put-upon air by legend Shirley MacClaine. The film details the fall of a movie star and the struggle Suzanne faces to come to terms with being washed up at an early age, trying to put together a fresh start and the complex relationship between mother and daughter. When the book was released comparisons between Fisher and her mother silver screen legend Debbie Reynolds were inevitable. Where we being a glimpse behind the curtain at a real life struggle between super star mother and daughter struggling to create her own identity or was the background for the novel more fiction than truth? This movie is by far and away my favourite Meryl Streep film. I love the interplay between the characters of Suzanne and Doris. To have two stars of the calibre of Streep and MacClaine share the screen is a joy to watch.
Meryl Streep
5 - Marvins Room 1996
Marvins Room Poster
In Marvins Room, Meryl Streep plays Lee, the estranged sister of Bessie - played to perfection by Diane Keaton. The sisters have been estranged for 17 years, since their fathers first stroke. Diagnosed with leukemia Bessie needs her sister to find out if she is a suitable match for a bone marrow transplant. Lee, along with her two sons - the eldest, Hank, is played by a young Leonardo DiCaprio - come to Florida and the journey the two sisters undertake to reconnect and forgive past hurts is strong and emotional. This is a two box of kleenex movie, so I wouldn't recommend watching it if you're feeling a tad weepy already. I love Meryl Streep in this movie. She plays her character with timed precision and never misses a beat. Marvins Room is a definite must have to add to your Meryl Streep Collection.
4 - She Devil - 1989
She Devil Poster
After a decade of heavy drama Meryl Streep took a comedic turn in this US remake of the cult British TV Miniseries The Lives and Loves of a She Devil. In She Devil Streep plays the narcissistic romance novelist Mary Fisher. Her life is perfection until she meets and falls in love with starstruck Bob Patchett. Bob leaves his homely wife Ruth - played prefectly by Roseanne Barr - and runs away to life with the glamourous novelist. Roseanne is the She Devil in the films title and her journey from jilted housewife to vengeful She Devil makes for some hysterical moments, but it is Streep who provides most of the laughs as Mary Fishers perfectly created and ordered world comes tumbling down. I was a fan of the original mini series - which was much darker and nastier than this fluffy comedy - but I thought the screenwriter did a wonderful job turning Fay Weldons novel into a black comedy for the big screen. This movie is well worth a watch, particularly if you only know Streeps current comedic performances. It was She Devil that showed the world Streep was not only the Queen of Drama but the Queen of Slapstick comedy.
3 - Death Becomes Her - 1992
Death Becomes Her Poster
In Death Becomes Her, Streep stars as Madeline Ashton a fading - both in looks and career - Hollywood actress married to the inconsequential Dr Ernest Menville - played by Bruce Willis. Madeline stole Dr Menville from her best friend Helen Sharpe - Goldie Hawn at her comedic best - sending Helen into a dovetail of depression and binge eating, eventually landing her in a mental asylum. Discovering the secret to eternal youth, Helen uses the knowledge to reinvent herself and wreak havoc on her past friend and her ex boyfriend. Another of the comedies that Streep made in the early 1990s Death Becomes Her is a black comedy about betrayal, aging and just rewards. The scene that has Madeline and Helen at Dr Menvilles funeral is wonderfully dark and funny. This film also has a wonderful cameo appearance by Isabella Rossellini as the mysterious Lisle von Rhoman who introduces Helen and eventually Madelane to the secret to eternal youth and beauty. This film is not rocket science by any means. It's a dark, slapstick comedy and well worth a rainy Saturday afternoon. If you haven't seen it already go and get it from your local DVD store.
2 - Silkwood - 1983
Silkwood Poster
Karen Silkwood worked at a plutonium processing plant. In 1974 she left to meet a journalist to expose the safety violations in her workplace. She never arrived. Silkwood is based on the story of Karen Silkwoods life and Meryl Streep plays the title character. Witnessing the abuse and torture that Karen Silkwood endured doesn't make for light viewing. This is a powerful film that stands the test of time. Karen Silkwood was purposely contaminated with nuclear waste, endured harrasment and torture at the hands of her employers and still strived to do what was right for those she worked with. This is Meryl Streep at her gritty, dramatic best and well worth the time investment it takes to watch it.
1 - Postcards From The Edge - 1990
Postcards From The Edge
This loosly biographical film was written for the screen by Carrie Fisher, who also wrote the novel on which it is based. Streep plays Suzanne Vale, a drug addicted movie star struggling to break free of the shadow of her Movie Star mother Doris Mann - played with an innocent, put-upon air by legend Shirley MacClaine. The film details the fall of a movie star and the struggle Suzanne faces to come to terms with being washed up at an early age, trying to put together a fresh start and the complex relationship between mother and daughter. When the book was released comparisons between Fisher and her mother silver screen legend Debbie Reynolds were inevitable. Where we being a glimpse behind the curtain at a real life struggle between super star mother and daughter struggling to create her own identity or was the background for the novel more fiction than truth? This movie is by far and away my favourite Meryl Streep film. I love the interplay between the characters of Suzanne and Doris. To have two stars of the calibre of Streep and MacClaine share the screen is a joy to watch.
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Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
1. The Devil Wears Prada
2. Angels In America
3. Doubt
4. The Hours
5. Adaptation
Those are my favourite Streep performances, but there are so many great ones to choose from.
Comment by Mike Cullen
The Authors Cafe
The Life Design Experiment
OutFlicks
Pop Culturer
Film Mage
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
1. The Deer Hunter
2. Prairie Home Companion
3. The French Lieutenants Woman
4. Ironweed
5. Adaptation
Comment by Mike Cullen
The Authors Cafe
The Life Design Experiment
OutFlicks
Pop Culturer
Film Mage
More films I've got to see. I haven't seen any of your top 5. Definitely a movie marathon heading my way I think.
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
You know, even though it was a bit of an annoying film, I liked her in Julie & Julia too, she totally threw herself into that character, she is one of the finest character actors of our time.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
2. Silkwood
3. Kramer vs. Kramer
4. The Deer Hunter
5. Julie & Julia