Happy Birthday Meryl Streep!
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The woman who has the most Oscar nominations by an actress ever. The woman everyone thanks in their Oscar speeches. The woman who most film geeks consider their movie mom. The woman who redefined acting and the art of cinema. We all know who I'm talking about, the fabulous and extraordinarily gifted, Meryl Streep, who is still going strong at 64. Happy Birthday Meryl!
Streep's career has been an example to aspiring and successful actresses as inspiration and a example to work towards their goal of becoming a triumphant actress in the business. Not only does she stun the world with her enormous talent, but with her exemplary personality and attitude on life. She's a kind-hearted, soulful person and everyone who has the pleasure of working with her ranks her as one of the best working experiences ever. Watching her interviews while promotion for her films is always a treat as well.
The three performances which earned her Academy Awards are Sophie's Choice, Kramer vs. Kramer, and The Iron Lady, three outstanding performances that were all completely worthy of the gold it took to create the acting statue. Sophie's Choice is considered by many as the greatest performance by an actress in a motion picture ever. She's captivating in the role as you travel down the road of the past with her character Sophie and the ghastly pain its caused her. My favorite acting scene of her is the not even the iconic "Choice" scene, but a scene about an hour into the film, where Streep brilliantly recites a monologue of a story from Sophie's past. Unlike the other "Past" tellings after this first one, there is no video footage to show you, Streep has to tell you the entire tale. She's spellbinding and maybe more effective than her other "past" speeches. In Kramer vs. Kramer, Streep gives an emotionally impacting performance that rests in your heart seeing a confused woman's love for her son. Some say she didn't deserve this Oscar because they can't think of a big "showcase" scene...may I rewind to her courtroom scene? And her third acting Oscar came from her work in The Iron Lady. Prior to watching this film, I preconceived it to be another very good depiction of a real-life figure, like Julia Child. But her work in here blew the socks off all the laughs she got as Julia Child. All I remember of my reaction to the film is my jaw-dropping to the floor in amazement by Streep's courageous work as Margret Thatcher, especially her scenes as the older Margret. Wow, sorry, but how can Viola Davis compare to that?
Setting an acting record of seventeen Oscar nominations, Streep has turned in some fantastic work over the years that have been recognized by the Academy, her peers, and her fans. Streep's career really got shifted into the next gear with her acclaimed work in the Best Picture of 1978, The Deer Hunter. After winning two Oscars, Streep followed up her success with another home run as Karen Silkwood in Silkwood. Jodie Foster's win for The Accused receives a lot of hate when there were so many memorable acting jobs buy leading ladies that year, including Sigourney Weaver, Glenn Close, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Streep herself for her moving work in A Cry in the Dark.
Streep never went out of style, but began to become a tad boring in the early '90s, that is until Clint Eastwood gave her the perfect revamp role in Bridges of Madison County. Streep mixes the art of overt acting (yelling scenes, accent) with delicate subtle acting moments that psychologically tell her character, Francesca's, emotions to the audience. Streep also won raves for her deep, sometimes comical portrayal of Susan Orlean in Adaptation, stealing the show from Nicolas Cage and Chris Cooper. That same year, she starred alongside Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore in one of the best films of all-time, The Hours. In 2006, she created a new kind of super-villain in The Devil Wears Prada: a fashion magazine editor showing how to be terrifying without ever raising her voice. Streep also starred in Doubt, playing with the lines of morality as the strict Sister Aloysius. One of her finest comedic roles was playing cooking legend, Julia Child in Julie and Julia where she almost gave me a six-pack from laughing so much.
Meryl Streep is an irreplaceable lady in Hollywood. She warms the hearts of of film fans everywhere and also tears us apart with some of the devastating art she's given to the world. She once said "I go to the movies so I can feel the way other people fell and to know what they know." It's an intelligent and completely true thing to say and shows the insight of everybody's favorite actress. It actually inspired the name of my website, Feel the Films. Happy Birthday Mamma Meryl, you rock! Keep on rocking! I want two more Oscars out of you!
When it comes to torture, I trust the lady who spent three years married to James Cameron.