The Big Night is day after tomorrow. Are you ready? Did you vote?? (You still can.)
Now to today’s topic…
To note another one of Meryl Streep’s astonishing performances is to say that puppies are cute, that taxes will be filed come April, and that the internet has changed communication. Precisely why it’s still a good idea to see The Iron Lady.
Streep’s Margaret Thatcher is the stuff of cinema legend – and even though critics and viewers alike are carping about the accuracy of this new biopic (some claim it’s a whitewash, while others argue it’s not reverent enough) clearly none of this matters.
What matters is whether you’re of a mood to see America’s greatest actress take on what could be the role of a lifetime. But of course, where Streep is concerned, maybe it isn’t. See, she’s got a knack for seeing those performances and then raising them one later on, in another movie. Think about her work in Julie and Julia, Doubt, Out of Africa, Kramer vs. Kramer, Silkwood, Sophie’s Choice and The Devil Wears Prada…just to name a fraction of her many films. Still this one is pretty astounding. No one inhabits a role, nor is as riveting to watch as this lady, and when she’s playing the one of the Iron variety, she’s unstoppable. Not that this is exactly news. But the movie is definitely worth catching.
Basically The Iron Lady is not so much a biopic as it is an interior character study. However, one of the movie’s best features is that it teletypes a ton of information – thus it’s never long-winded. Thatcher’s rise to power is told in the form of flashbacks, but unlike so many of today’s more elaborate setups, her gaze upon a specific signature sends us seamlessly back in time. No further information is needed, and she stays true to Thatcher as a young firebrand, as a charismatic but implacable middle-aged leader, and as a dotty, addled women struggling with hallucinations. We learn about her origins in a lean way, through snippets and single images; the only constant besides Streep herself is Jim Broadbent, who plays her beloved husband Denis.We see her attempt to shake up the English parliament around 1979, only to watch as the country is plunged further into a class-splitting decline with rampant unemployment. If you’re old enough to remember Margaret Thatcher, you’ll probably recall that she was iconic rather than necessarily beloved, who was also entirely unwavering in her beliefs. She was in office at the same time as President Reagan, and the two formed a close alliance both personally and professionally. So you get the picture – it was a very different period — but what an astonishing rendering Streep delivers.
The only question now is whether or not Viola Davis from The Help can unseat her at this year’s Oscars. Regardless, The Iron Lady delivers a central performance for the ages and the job Streep does actually makes the movie seem more like a documentary than a biopic. It should be required viewing in schools for modern European history. That’s how talented she is – and how much fun she is to watch – because sometimes people are so good at what they do that, well, it seems they’re not really doing anything at all.
Today’s poll:
The Iron Lady is now playing in theaters. Which of these Meryl Streep movies is your favorite:
1) Julie and Julia
2) Sophie’s Choice
3) Mamma Mia
4) Out of Africa
Karmer vs Kramer, Sophie’s Choice, Out of Africa and Bridges of Madison County are my favorites. This years choices seemed to be focused on all the young, newer actors which is fine. However, my choice for favorite comedy is definitely Modern Family and for movie drama, The Help over Harry Potter.
Replying to yesterday, but, I think, from what he said about Meryl Streep (16 time Academy Award nominee) Brian’s favorite actress is probably Paris Hilton.
what about “Kramer vs. Kramer”? Her FIRST Oscar? duh. Can’t wait to see “Iron Lady”.
Bridges Of Madison County. A wonderful movie w/Clint Eastwood. Just made you stop and go into their world. Never tired of watching it over and over.
Meryl Streep is without a doubt the MOST FANTASTIC & DIVERSIFIED ACTRESS EVER!! My favorite of her many movies is impossible to decide!!Julie&julia,Sophie’s,Bridges, Devil,Africa,Sildwood, ON & ON!! ALL HER MOVIES ARE FANTASTIC BECAUSE OF WHAT SHE DOES WITH CHARACTERS! Even IF one or two of the movies she’s been in aren’t perfect, STILL HER ACTING IN THEM HAS BEEN PERFECT.
Mama Mia
Sophie’s Choice will always be the movie that most moved me… I was emotionally and physically drawn in and felt her emotions under my skin… no movie has ever done.
Mamma Mia!
Bridges of Madison County by far….she and Clint were such fun to watch and it, alas, broke my heart to see him go! Wonderful movie….but aren’t they all. This lady could really have a nice career in movies!!! LOL
Have not seen ‘em all and is she is great in all I have seen…gotta say “Bridges of Madison County” opposite Clint was my favorite.
I know we men have lots of standards to pick up a woman, and there’s one website that can almost meet all our different demands:
(((( B-l-a-c-k-w-h-i-t-e-P-l-a-n–e-t. c-0-m )))) my bros told me this; it worked for them, it worked for me; and i’m sure it’s gonna work for u, buddy!!
I know we women have lots of standards to pick up a man, and there’s one website that can almost meet all our different demands:
( B-l-a-c-k-w-h-i-t-e- P-l-a-n–e-t. c-0-m ) my sisiter told me this; it worked for her, it worked for me; and i’m sure it’s gonna work for u, buddy!!
Could he NOT find a censored version? Grandma: Is this how we are supposed to bond?
I vote for Meryl Streep in Out of Africa
thanks
DEATH BECOMES HER—– GREAT GREAT FUN MOVIE!!!!
I just got a profile on —s e e k i n g u n i f o r m.c 0m — which is a dating site for military singles and friends to find friends, love. I am looking for my Mr. right there.
Join and find me there. Maybe we can make connection and get some chat.
the Holocaust & Silkwood – amazing performances!
I’ll never forget Streep’s multiple roles in the HBO mini-series “Angels in America”, the 1993 Pulitzer Prize winning play by American playwright Tony Kushner.She played Ethel Rosenberg – The ghost of a woman executed for being a Communist spy; Hannah Pitt, the Mormon mother of one of the gay protagonists; and a rabbi. Streep was so good that I never realized she was the rabbi until I saw the credits and then I had to go back to watch the scene again and it was still hard to believe it was her. Incredible!
My three favorite were Devils wear Prada, Out of Africa and Silkwood. Saw her in Kramer vs. Kramer. She did excellent in The River Wild.
Sophie’s Choice was the most moving performance she has ever given. The depth of her talent is not matched in Hollywood. Brian is a no class having idiot!
I just love, “It’s Complicated”!
Wow, that is a hard question to answer! Devil Wears Prada, Bridges of Madison County, Silkwood, etc. She is a great actress and is truly great at what she does. Hands down she gets my vote for leading lady of the cinema, she has a grace and a class on screen that is yet to be rivaled!
I must be older then the rest of you…..
I loved Meryl, along with Dustin Hoffman, in
“Kramer vs Kramer”.
Silkwood
Has everyone forgot about Post Cards From The Edge??? That is a good one too!
Love her acting in all shes done so far.
Julie and Julia, (I think) She was amazing and oh how you wanted someone to love you as much as they did. The hearts on Valentines Day.
Meryl Streep is by far the most versatile and terrific actress in hollywood. She becomes the characters she’s playing and she does it extremely well. She should win the oscar again this year. She captivates you when you watch her on the big screen. She is the embodyment of the great hollywood actress. It will be a great loss when she is no longer able to do it. I hope shes around for many more years. she just keeps getting better and better.
Brian should stick to Yo Gabba Gabba…but then that’s probably too deep for him. Devil Wears Prada gets my vote!
The Bridges of Madison County is my favorite of hers!!!
They don’t mention it here, but I LOVED The Devil Wears Prada.
Holocaust and Sophie’s Choice
She is so blessed with an acting gift that is so unbelievable
Sincerely
Asolutely amazing!!! She is my favorite actress of all times.
Great movie, Meryl delivers each and every time, just when you think she has done them all, she surprises and delights us with another stellar performance. If you can’t appreciate Meryl stick to movies like “clueless” and “bring it on” love those movies too, but not for their substance.
I loved Doubt. But I loved a lot of Streep roles.
Brian, millions of moviegoers disagree. But even you admit that Streep “is” her roles. So obviously you agree that she inhabits the characters. See, you can’t help but compliment her either.
Brian: If you hate Meryl Streep, why did you get on a blog about just her and her movies? Are you lost or confused or both.
Out of Africa
My three favorite
1. Bridges of Madsion County
2. Mama Mia
3. Out of Afica
So Brian tell us, who is your favorite actress
Of the four choices in today’s poll, I am torn between Sophie’s Choice and Out of Africa. She can play any part very well!
Meryl Streep has a unique ear and talent for languages and accents. She is totally amazing!
I loved Mama Mia, it was just fun
LOL Brian- Horrible actress? Shows your taste in films
Meryl Streep is the most boring roles in all of cinema. And she doesn’t do anything to make them more interesting. Horrible actress.
Bridges of Madison County one of her best!
I loved her in Silkwood. I was young but found her acting incredible, i have followed her since. Seems that all her roles morph her into their character not Meryl Streep playing the character.
You forgot about “Bridges of Madison County”–the best ever.
None of them!!
She is the “BEST”!