Meryl Streep
She was born Mary Louise Streep in 1949 in Summit, New Jersey. She is considered by many reviewers to be the greatest living film actress. She has been nominated for the Academy Award and astonishing 16 times, and has won the award twice. She first set out with ambitions to become an opera singer. Her first role was in the film Julia where she gave an outstanding performance. The year after she was nominated for her first Oscar for her role in The Deer Hunter. She won the Academy Award for her role in Kramer vs. Kramer in 1979, and for Sophie's Choice in 1982. She is known as a perfectionist in her craft and when to numerous lengths to prepare for her roles. She stared and received praise for her roles in the films; Silkwood (1983); Out of Africa (1985); Ironweed (19870); and A Cry in the Dark (198
8). Just as her career seemed to be fading away in the 1990's, but she quickly regained her star status in 1995 with the hit, The Bridges of Madison County,
which earned her Nominations for best Actress at The Academy Awards, The Golden Globes, and The Screen Actors Guild Awards. A year later she stared as the daughter in Marvin's Room. She is a realist that is credited for saying; "...no matter what happens, my work will stand..."
Meryl Streep on working
with Clint Eastwood:
Eastwood on working with Streep:
Meryl Facts:
She learned to play the Violin for the role in Music of the Heart, a role that she would replace Madonna in. She has a fear of helicopters. She was educated at Yale University where she studied drama. Graduated from Vassar College in 1971. Before she made it big she started out at The Hotel Somerset in Somerville, New Jersey as a waitress. In high school she was a cheerleader and also the homecoming queen. She originally wanted to go to Law School but when she overslept the day of her interview she saw that as a sign that she was meant to do other things. Meryl also has a deviated septum, which she refuses to get fixed.
What has she done lately?
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Lions for Lambs (2007)
Mamma Mia! (2008)
Doubt (2008)
Julie & Julia (2009)
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
It's Complicated (2009)
Sources:
www.IMBD.com
www.simplystreep.com
I know that it was mentioned they originally thought she was too young for the part, did the fact that she is so accomplished at using different dialects something that contributed to her getting the part?
ReplyDeleteIm not sure if it was fully answered in class, but did Clint ever feel belittled by such a powerful female actress. I know that he picked her but that doesn't mean he cant still feel outdone or not of the same caliber. I mean if i was a director who was also acting, i would want myself to be the best in the movie
ReplyDeleteIt was actually that they felt Streep was too old for the role --even though she was the age of the character (and Eastwood was thirteen some years older than Kincaid).
ReplyDeleteI don't think Clint felt outdone, or perhaps more accurately, would ever say so. He knows his limitations--even if he might not want to spend much time discussing them publicly.
I think Eastwood more than held his own opposite Streep, but acting wise the thing that bothered me and I think it was mentioned in the panel reports was that some reviews said it felt like a TV movie. I agree with that 100%, just the feel and the way it was shot and the acting besides Streep and Eastwood. The two people playing the older children were just so bad and reeked of television movie (surprisingly though I checked and both were from television) and this made the intercutting for me very problematic because it kept taking me out of the movie. I'm wondering why these casting choices were made, I'm sure there were better actors or even more established ones who would have wanted to work with Streep and Eastwood. It just seemed like this huge disconnect from Eastwood/Streep and the rest of the actors in the movie. In comparison to lets say a film like Boogie Nights which had this great cast from top to bottom, even the smaller parts were well acted. I'm wondering if there was a reason for this in Bridges or if honestly they felt like those were the best people for the role or if other people didn't want those parts (older brother and sister).
ReplyDeleteI think you can look at the contrast between the frame story and the main one in a slightly different fashion. The frame is fairly plain and the acting perhaps not at the highest level. Both derive from more functional writing and a correspondingly functional acting--and likely directing. Here's where Eastwood's efficiency likely shows negatively. As seasoned hands, he and Streep can get by with minimal takes, but less experienced actors benefit from more. All that supports or expands on your point. However, the flatter frame sections highlight the more intense main story. The frame is the fallen, contemporary world; the main story, then, becomes an almost mythic past.
ReplyDeleteI thought that Streep was a perfect person for the role because she is such a strong actress, she holds her own, and she brought that to the part. Eastwood typically has control in most of his films, he is able to control the world around him and take out any unnecessary bad guys. But in this film, and in "Play Misty for Me" he was unable to control the lead female. I think in "Play Misty for Me" he was restrained because of social norms about the treatment of women whereas in "Bridges of Madison County" it was more related to the fact that if he forced Francesca to love him, it wouldn't be love. Basically, the nature of the very relationship required that he not force her to make a decision. Being such a strong female lead allowed for this to occur. If she was more submissive or easily persuaded, she would have probably ended up with Kincaid. But instead she knew what was best and made the choice she knew she had to make and Kincaid had to let her, because the love they shared and the strong woman she was didn't allow for force or male control to rule their relationship.
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