Meryl Streep

[Deleted]

ETA: Tversky, we were writing at the same time. I see your point and I can agree with it, minus Out of Afrika. I'm not sure I would include Susan Sarandon on your list because she always seem to have that ineffable quality of a lady, even in her sexual roles, which characterizes Meryl. I think it's that "Lady" factor which probably makes it hard to think of Meryl as a lusty, bawdy maid. Someone who *does* have the latter quality is Ellen Barkin.

I completely agree about Ellen Barkin, Kafka. She and Debra Winger have a similar earthy vibe IMO. I don't think my general problem with Meryl (note that I'm confounding my two issues with some of Meryl's roles: lack of accessibilty and lack of raw sexuality) is her lady-like air. It's more than that because I can picture Vanessa Redgrave as accessible and lady like. Plus I think she could (in her day) pull off the lusty bawdy maid better than Meryl. (Although not as well as an Ellen Barkin or Debra Winger could.)

Great post ThursdayNext. I think you completely understand what I'm talking about. There's a "cool remoteness" in some of her early performances that makes it hard to really connect with characters that we're supposed to connect with - i.e. the adulterous wife in Falling in Love. It's not just a matter of being a lady or the subject matter. Look at Diane Lane in Unfaithful. I think she projects a ladylike aura and her cheating is ridiculously unjustified in the film. But she felt accessible.
I also wanted to say I LOVED Meryl in Adaptation. She does seems looser now but I also think she's getting interesting, fun character roles. More than anything I believe she's a character actress. She's not suited for the generic heroine roles unless they're of a very specific type: cerebral, remote, very feminine, and some other stuff I can't remember off hand. lol.

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I know this is quite low brow, but I love She Devil. She is so over the top, but it is perfect for the role. I think she is a wonderful actress and seems like a nice gal. I have never seen alot of her movies because they seem quite a bit heavy and I am kinda a pansy. I have heard about the storyline for Sophie's Choice and there is no way I could make it thru that. I would fall to pieces. And a movie about a wild animal eating her baby, good Lord!

[chameleon]

There's a "cool remoteness" in some of her early performances that makes it hard to really connect with characters that we're supposed to connect with

<snip>

More than anything I believe she's a character actress. She's not suited for the generic heroine roles unless they're of a very specific type: cerebral, remote, very feminine, and some other stuff I can't remember off hand. lol.

Hmmm, this is interesting - I agree. The "cool remoteness" has been said about Meryl before, as has the "click-click-click" that Hepburn noted - that her performances are so perfect, so intelligent, so much thought must go into them, and somehow that makes her seem remote. But you're right, in thinking about Streep as a heroine, it's a very specific type of heroine. Whereas Cate Blanchett or Judi Dench, for example, I can see either as a lusty, bawdy wench as easily as a truly commanding Queen Elizabeth - from Mel Brooks all the way to Shakespeare for either one. I'm not sure Meryl would have quite the same range as a leading lady.

I also agree that she's loosened up quite a bit lately. I'd love to see her do more comedy.

[atpeacewithme]

Dude. I am still not over the fact that *Meryl Streep* has been consistently listed as the top thread for the last few days.

[buckdutter]

atpeacewithme said:

Dude. I am still not over the fact that *Meryl Streep* has been consistently listed as the top thread for the last few days.

And sharing top billing with K-Fed at the moment. How cool is this place?

[apollo]

I came into this thread to post how absolutely WRONG she was for "Postcards from the Edge," but I see that y'all have already covered that. Carry on, then.

Mr. Apollo disagrees with me wholeheartedly, but throughout "Postcards," I couldn't stop thinking, "Why is Meryl Streep in this movie? I really like this movie, but I'm not liking Meryl Streep. This movie would be so much better if Meryl Streep were Debra Winger."

And so on.

I do really like her, though. She's just not right for every part she takes.

[kafka]

atpeacewithme said:

Dude. I am still not over the fact that *Meryl Streep* has been consistently listed as the top thread for the last few days.

I just snorted orange juice through my nose.

But you're right. It *is* pretty amazing. I think Deadduck's astute observation a few days ago was correct: people are burnt out by the hallucinagenic experience that is The Pillow TomKat and desperately eager for something new to analyse.

At least with Meryl Streep, we can talk about someone whom most people respect. They may not worship her as an actress or think her suitable for every part she's played, but they don't despise her or drip contempt at the very mention of her name. Nor does she trigger a migraine and frustrated fury at the latest PR insanity. Or the desire to B****-slap the K-tarded husband of a passé Bimbette. There is none of the traumatized horror at reading that the ultimate Skank is supposedly going to play Mother Theresa; or that a Skeleton Teen is cooing about her future Oscar.

IOW, Meryl Streep is an oasis of sanity in The Twilight Zone.

[huntergrayson]

I hate her and she's a total beyotch and a famewhore. Plus, I hear that she demands a trailer filled with white candles and 500-thread count sheets and once slapped a PA for bringing her regular coke instead of diet.

Naw, just thought I'd be contrarian. Has anyone heard anything bad about her? Though, seriously, if anyone has earned the right to slap crew members and make ridiculous demands, it's someone like Meryl.

If anything, this thread has inspired me to Netflix a dozen Meryl fiilms over spring break.

I will second (or third) the asexual vibe. I wonder if that's why her same-sex relationship in The Hours seemed the least surprising of the three actresss.

(Kafka - I don't think Hepburn is a bitch, per se. Just very competitive, New England and aristocratic. Complicated gal. After I read that biography, I was fascinated even more...)

[kafka]

huntergrayson said:

Has anyone heard anything bad about her? Though, seriously, if anyone has earned the right to slap crew members and make ridiculous demands, it's someone like Meryl.

The worst thing I've ever heard about her is that she occasionally dresses frumpily at the Oscars and that her nose is huge or weirdly obvious. A "honker", if I remember one person's comment. That's it. Truly, that's IT! And I know a few people in Hollywood. There is nothing but praise for The Grand Streep, her professionalism, her abilities and her underlying personality. The latter, in particular, draws nothing but accolades.

(from a page ago - Kafka - I don't think Hepburn is a b****, per se. Just very competitive, New England and aristocratic. Complicated gal. After I read that biography, I was fascinated even more...)

Hm. Maybe. I went to school in NY with those type of women, and my family has known too many from that group for me to think Hepburn is all that wonderful.

Oh screw it. Let's just agree to disagree. Maybe we should open a Hepburn thread, if only to see it trump the Federline one on a daily basis. ;D

[Shanmac]

once slapped a PA for bringing her regular coke instead of diet.

If that were true, I would love Meryl even more, because that would be hilarious.