Meryl Streep
 

I love Meryl Streep, but does anyone think that even she can make the remake of "The Manchurian Candidate" any good? Denzel Washington is a horrible actor, so any movie that stars him is like sitting thorugh a root canal, IMO. So, it's already got one strike against it. :laugh:

I watched Sophie's Choice last night again just to brush up on some Meryl and that's still a devastating movie. Probably the most depressing film ever made. :eek:

Yeah, I think she can make it "any good" as far as it goes. If you don't like Denzel, and if the writing is bad, the only thing left will be her good performance. Hopefully the writing will be good, but remember, Meryl is a pretty "natural" actress - her performance may not be bigger than life, and be able to take over the whole movie and all that. Her performances are always good, but saving a whole movie if everything else is bad? i dunno. On the plus side, the writing may be good, because she usually picks projects with good writing - she has pretty good taste. I don't care much for Denzel either, but i don't *hate* him as much as you :p .
AMber

Meryl is a true talent - maybe the best actor alive. I just bought Stuck On You & watched her restaurant scene last night.

There are definitely more depressing movies than Sophie's Choice, IMO. Playing For Time comes to mind. At least there's love at the end of SC.

BTW, I did not see the roast of her that aired recently.

- Jake

I saw clips. The people I saw were just making jokes about how perfect, nice, and awe-inspiring she was. And I think telling stories. Not as "roast-ie" as some roasts, I imagine :laugh:
AMber

I never saw Playing For Time, but I did see Sophie's Choice when it first came out. I had no idea what the "choice" was and when they got to that scene, I about died. It's a powerful scene regardless, but when you're not prepared for it, it's absolutely awful.

Meryl is a great actress.

My mom read the book before the movie came out & told me what the choice was, so I knew before I saw the movie. Really, the movie is about several of her choices.
BTW, Gloria Steinem wrote a stinging diatribe against the book as sexist trash years ago.

- Jake

And BTW, PFT is maybe the most powerful Holocaust movie I've seen.

- Jake

I'll have to rent that. My dad was Jewish and I had relatives in Europe back around all that. Fortunately they made it out.

As for Sophie's Choice, I subsequently read the book. It's been a long time, but I remember it being too long.

PFT was a telemovie, so I doubt you'll find it to rent. Won Emmys, I think. I have the book, but the movie (based on the play, based on the book) is even better. Rarely is a movie better than a book. But I suppose SC is as well, from what I hear.

- Jake

Actually, Jake, I just did a search on blockbuster.com and it is out on video, but they don't carry it close to me. I'll have to search for it. Since we're on the subject of Holocaust movies, what did you think of Schindler's List?

I always compare it to PFT, which for me was more effective emotionally. SL is art, & I appreciate Spielberg's mission & vision, but it lacked the intimacy between audience & characters that comes from following one or two victims in depth.

- Jake

Yes I can see where that would be more emotionally compelling. You've given me a mission to find PFT. Thanks for the tip. You're not all bad! :xoxo:

Such flattery! Keep it to yourself. I have my reputation to downhold.
Let me know what you think of the film. It's almost about twenty-five years old by now but I think it probably holds up well. For a color film it really captures the bleakness of the landscape.
BTW, in case you don't know, it stars Vanessa Redgrave (remember the controversy?), Jane Alexander, and the actress who played Michael's cousin on Thirtysomething.

- Jake

Meryl is one of the finest actors of her generation, or any generation, for that matter. Anyone who is compared to Katharine Hepburn is no slouch. :)

And I love that as dignified as she appears in many movies, she doesn't take herself too seriously in others. She seems cool.

- Jake