Ricki and the flash is being dumped into theaters next week.

I think she took this so she could work with her daughter and maybe get her kid a supporting nomination. It does look awful.

And it's got Rick Springfield as Meryl's band mate/love interest! The last theatrical release he was in was that godawful "Hard to Hold" in 1984.

I do believe that if released in theaters, "Summer of My German Soldier", and "Mom and Me" would outgross this new Meryl Streep film!

There aren't even any reviews up on Rotten Tomatoes yet (same with Fantastic 4, which has horrible advance buzz), so this should make MAMMA MIA look like SOPHIE'S CHOICE.

[quote]that godawful "Hard to Hold" in 1984

You fat whore!

Screenplay by Diablo Cody, so you know it's QUALITY SASS.

Springfield was all over the weekend papers promoting the film, plus some stories about how Streep learned to play guitar (enough to get by I suspect). The trailer told almost all the plot, so why bother going (besides the fact that it looks lousy)?

And you bitches thought my SOUTH PACIFIC was bad...

The previews for this looked absolutely terrible. Think it will be the new big embarrassment on her resume.

OK, I'll say something nice about this cinematic shitshow: at least it's novel to see a woman play an aging rockstar in a major motion picture

The first screenings of this movie aren't until tonight, apparently, which explains the lack of reviews. Sony isn't giving the movie much press and making sure screenings are as close to the review date as possible. That's not a good sign.

R10, "What Maisie Knew" had Julianne "Seriously" Moore as an aging rock star, though they kind of glossed over the aging part. Very odd movie.

Meryl Streep as a rock star wannabe is as brilliant a casting as Joan Crawford as a cowgirl in "Johnny Guitar." Here's hoping it will be equally dreadful!

If the film is successful, it could introduce Meryl to an entire generation of younger fans. Let's face it, most of her loyal fans are older women and gay men.

Diablo Cody and Jonathan Demme are very hip moviemakers who could make Meryl "happen" all over again.

[quote]If the film is successful, it could introduce Meryl to an entire generation of younger fans.

What? That has already happened, it was called "The Devil Wears Prada" and even "Mamma Mia". Those were much more successful at getting the younger generation aware of her than this will be.

The name is uber retarded !

I haven't been this excited about a movie since that other nepotistic karaoke classic, the Paltrows' "Duets"!

It looks like a cheap Lifetime movie that somehow got a theatrical release.

Is it a remake of Freaky Friday?

This one is to make some money. Perhaps. The Oscar nomination will come in supporting in the upcoming movie about giving women the right to vote in England.

So odd, I was just thinking about how aging celebrities who relied on their good looks when they were younger are often suicide cases when they get past 50. I thought about Springfield's suicide attempt and how he couldn't handle being washed up. Then this weekend I saw he was in this movie. Weird. Glad life is looking up for him and he is getting paid gigs. Maybe he won't have to do the casino and state fair circuit.

I read on another forum that Rick Springfield sells VIP types of tickets for a brief meet-and-greet before the concert, and apparently gets quite a few 20- and 30-something women in attendance, which surprised me.

How many is quite a few?

I am 49 years old and I remember Rick Springfield was all the rage back in the day when he was on that soap opera. he played a doctor, didn't he?

Okay, I just saw he has a gig on the show, "True Detective". Guess ol' Rick isn't doing too bad.

Sebastian Stan is in this!!

I don't know, R22. It was a 60-something lady saying there were "quite a few" women in their 20s and 30s there. She didn't specify and I didn't ask. But you're right, maybe she meant she was surprised to see three women under 60 at the events.

Variety just reviewed it. They said Meryl was good if not quite believable as a rocker. Test audiences like it so I think it's a straightforward bet to Ricki making a modest to large domestic and foreign haul for Sony. Good luck M.

I can't imagine RatF would do all that well in foreign markets, certainly not the lucrative Asian markets.

R25 it's always nice isn't it to see another "straight" actor playing a 'mo. How many is this for Sebby?

An August release is rarely a good sign.

That said, the buzz on the new thriller with Joel Edgerton, Jason Bateman, and Rebecca Hall called THE GIFT has been very good. Edgerton wrote and directed this one, so hopefully it will be an exception to the rule.

August surprise!

This is one time I will say Patty Duke should not have gotten this role

[quote]it's always nice isn't it to see another "straight" actor playing a 'mo. How many is this for Sebby?

Sebastian is actually NOT playing the Gay Son this time, surprisingly enough. A bit of departure for him, eh?

[quote]This is one time I will say Patty Duke should not have gotten this role

Gary Morton turned it down when it was called "Luci and the Flash."

If SebStan is in it, they'd have done better calling it "Ricki and the Ginormous Nips"

[Diablo Cody and Jonathan Demme are very hip moviemakers who could make Meryl "happen" all over again. ]

Diablo Cody was "hip" for about 5 minutes 8 years ago.

For Demme, it's been about 30 years.

The film is at 71% on rottentomatoes, and Meryl receives acclaim across the board over there.

She's still in contention for a nom, but the field is hyper crowded this year, and I believe her nomination will come in supporting for Sufragette.

A Golden Globe nom & win for Ricki, and an Oscar nom for Sufragette.

Another amazing year for Meryl !!

And the Streep Troll goes directly on IGNORE.

BYE, CUNT.

Kristy McNichol IS Janet Jackson in Miss You Much: The Empty Nest of Katherine Jackson

Mer may get a Golden Globe nom for Ricki but Sony is not planning an Oscar campaign.

I would so love to see the Hallmark Channel version of this starring someone like Heather Locklear!

r40, Meryl doesn't need Oscar campaigns.

Her performances speek for themselves, and she gets her many nominatinos on the strength of her work alone.

She's still in contention.

[quote]Her performances speek for themselves

StreepTroll, are you a native English speaker?

It's about the music of LIFE!

Her next one is a raving feminist tirade about Emmaline Pankhurst, who wanted women to serve in WWI. I certainly wouldn't wanted to have served in that slaughter. I didn't know MS liked war so much. I served in one and I don't.

r43, it was a typo.

Speak, not speek.

Happy now?

R42, Honey, Meryl would campaign for the Belmont Stakes if she could. These things matter to the old girl.

Jess, Sue and I are going to see this at a matinee on Friday since we have been out of work for months.

Sigourney, you will be in the two new Avatar films.

Dementia much?

Now as for hambone Jessica... yeah, you're right. She'll be in that matinee on Friday.

The trailer for this thing is a huge disincentive to see it. If that's the best from the movie, it's going to be too horrible for words. Who in Hollywood thought it was a good idea to make a movie about a female rocker on Medicare?

We don't know.

Sincerely

Tom Jones, The Stones, Rod Stewart

That Jenny Lewis song is great...if you like Jenny Lewis, which I do.

Agreed. This is Mamma Mia Redux.

Rick Springfield plays a creepy doc in this season's True Detective 2. He's almost unrecognizable. TBH, would rather watch him then some overblown fake Bonnie Raitt/Janis.

You cows are such simpletons, have not seen the film. It will be a hit.

She did this film so plain Mamie could get a job.

I can't wait to see the French version with Marion Cotillard.

Do I play a lesbian in this? I seem sort of butch in the previews. I don't think I'll see this. I don't usually enjoy my summer films.

I listened to samples of a few cuts from the soundtrack on iTunes. She doesn't sound all that great, but the band is good.

I agree Streep probably did this to support Mamie, pick up a $10M check, and learn to play a guitar and get to play in a rock band. After The Giver, however, she may want to rethink things, although I do look forward to Suffragette.

I saw a screening of Suffragette months ago and Meryl is in it for about 10 minutes, if that. Its not an Oscar-worthy role or performance.

Did you like Suffragette? I don't care whether she is Oscar nominated for it.

Meryl studied guitar for months before filming which should make her performance more believable to the young people who will see the movie and buy the soundtrack album. She should tour the rock clubs on the Lower East Side and in Williamsburgh to help publicize the movie. It could mean a whole new career for her.

Apparently Bono asked her to play with U2 at MSG, but she was filming Florence Foster Jenkins in the UK. She hates to sing live. She also says she is taking a year off, I hope to line up some new projects with better directors and material.

Meryl is the Madonna of actors. Total attention whore who just wont let her career and legacy die with dignity. We are going to be force fed these god awful vanity projects (complete with her talentless children) until she is well into her 90s. Typical American. Vulgar and embarassing.

R59 this movie's entire production budget was 18 million. I highly doubt M received more than half of it.

What's weird is that the new head of Sony fought for this movie under his "movies for grown ups" arm of Sony corp, Tristar, while Amy Pascal was still in charge. It doesn't seem like Ricki is awful from the reviews but what is awful is the marketing. Shouldn't Tom Rothman want a movie he championed to succeed? Why did he approve this awful marketing? Why is he dumping it? Worse movies come out and make money all the time.

I love you Streeptroll!

I'm meh on Meryl though.

My advice for Streep would be to continue to look for prestige ensemble pieces with top directors. I applaud her for having a long, vital movie career, but simply doing a movie because it seems fun ... I would love to see her in a great comedy. I will say a prayer for Florence.

and lest we forget this TMC

Won't the kids being expecting to see The Flash? The title is misleading.

All this discussive bullshit now guarantees I will watch it. On cable ' cause I ain't about to spring for this in a theater. --- signed Old Fart

[quote]I saw a screening of Suffragette months ago and Meryl is in it for about 10 minutes, if that.

Didn't hurt us any.

r59, she was great in The Giver! Truly scary.

She does scary so well.

r66: love you back, hun. It's fine if you're meh about her.... the rest of the world adores her, but you already knew that :-)

Ricki and the Metamucil.

"She hates to sing live."

Huh? All of the musical numbers were shot live,. Also, there was singing involved in the stage production of MOTHER COURAGE, so that comment doesn't make sense. Now, if you said she is uncomfortable singing live with experienced rockers who've been doing it for a while, I would buy that. I remember when Gwyneth Paltrow sang on some Country Music awards show when her COUNTRY STRONG movie was coming out, and she seemed tentative.

I saw the trailer and it sucked. The movie will suck. It is the same old tried and true in Hollywood.

[quote]I saw a screening of Suffragette months ago and Meryl is in it for about 10 minutes, if that. I thought that Meryl's cameo (which was definitely less than ten minutes) in The Homesman last year was leagues beyond her nominated

Laura Dern was nominated for less time in Wild just last year. So, I'm really not really getting what your argument here is, R60, if you even have one. Viola Davis was nominated for a seven minute scene in Doubt (co-starring Meryl). The list goes on.

One of the band members died a week after they completed their work on the film. I think he was the drummer.

Once, JUST ONCE, I wish the Academy would ignore her and then never nominate her again.

I don't think people are going to be rushing out to see Meryl Streep pretending to be a rock star.

The trailer looks awful. And that title is enough to make me not want to see it. "Ricki and the Flash"...oh my God.

The title is actually quite clever. I suppose you haven't heard of the 80s band "Flash and the Pan".

r78, you must be one of those people who swore up and down that Hollywood was done with Meryl after "The Iron Lady". Who swore up and down she would never be nominated again after "August: Osage County". Who swore up and down she was finished after "Into the Woods".

And here you are again, swearing up and down the Academy will NEVER nominate her again.....

except, of course, they realize what a talent she continues to be, and are happy to acknowledge her genius - via more nominations (and wins!)

# 20 is on the way, baby !!

I still think that the reason Meryl is always nominated is because a large chunk of AMPAS voters are lazy assholes who can't be bothered to watch the movies. Every year there is some anon voter who thinks it's hilarious they didn't see more than a handful of films during the whole year. Fuck 'em for making Mehryl the default choice.

Her Florence Foster Jenkins will be tremendous. As will her Maria Callas.

Is that the reason she was nominated for "Hope Springs", "A Prairie Home Companion", "Dancing at Lughnasa", "Marvin's Room", "House of the Spirits", "The River Wild", "Heartburn", "Prime", "Mamma Mia", "Plenty", and so many others?

Your argument holds no water, r82.

No surprise there..

The people who decide on the nominations aren't obscure technicians who don't know what acting performances are around any given year, but established actors themselves, who are aware of the field. People like Jane Fonda/Robert DeNiro/Richard Dreyfuss/Kim Novak/Dianne Wiest etc.

*They* vote for Meryl.

And they only do that in a year where they can get behind a particular performance - otherwise she would have been nominated every time, as you suggest, for all the films above. But she wasn't.

You lose.

I hate to say this but a critic friend of mine who I generally trust says the movie is a lot better than anyone could have ever expected.

Lots of positive reviews on rottentomatoes, r85. Your friend is right.

r83: agreed. Very much looking forward to those two roles. And don't forget "The Senator's Wife", which Weinstein is having tailor-scripted for her. It's going to be an incendiary movie dealing with the NRA.

Oscar #4 IS on the way, either for Florence or Senator.

Well it's a 60% on rotten tomatoes, down from 71% just last night. It's only a matter of hours before Ricki is officially a rotten turd.

Does the film take place in the 70s? Something like that could never happen now...

Christ, this woman again.

Variety gave it a bad review, and said Streep hasn't found her character in this one. Says there are good things, but that the screenplay's a mess.

This won't even be close to being an Oscar nom film for Streep. Neither will "Suffragette," because it's just a cameo. Helena Bonham-Carter will be the supporting nom for that one.

Streep is much more likely to score for the Florence Foster Jenkins pic next year. It'll be good to have a no-Streep Oscars year this year.

Helena Bonham-Carter is hardly a great actress, and it's Meryl who plays the iconic campaigner in that film, not Helena. Meryl supposedly delivers the key speech in "Suffragette", and acts as the engine of the story. She IS Emmeline Pankhurst, you know. Why do you think she even agreed to partake in the film? This isn't The Homesman, where she was doing a favor to TLJ.

And do the losers yammering about "cameo this" and "cameo that" need to be reminded AGAIN that Judi Dench and Beatrice Straight won for miniscule parts?

It stands to reason that MERYL, the relentless campaigner for women's rights in *real life*, will be nominated, and not that bland non-entity Helen Boreham-Carter.

It'll be good to have Streep Oscars year this year.

Supporting actress this year will be:

Meryl / Suffragette, Julie Walters / Brooklyn, Jennifer Jason Leigh / Hateful Eight, Ellen Page / Freeheld, and last spot goes to either Glenn / The Great Gilly Hopkins or Rooney Mara / Carol, if the latter doesn't go for lead.

And I think Julie Walters will win.

I love me some Julie Walters. I wish she and Michael Caine would do a follow-up to Educating Rita.

I am suspicious that this version of the Streep troll is real because it seems excessively delusional. Meryl will likely not be nominated for anything this year. The Academy is not that stupid and she is not nominated every year. Maybe she bats .500 but in no way will she be nominated this year for Ricki or a cameo in Suffragette.

Her kid needed a job.

Hollywood and nepotism.

This is from the Vanity Fair review of the film: We’ve seen Meryl Streep sing before, whether it was burning the barn down at the end of Postcards from the Edge or warbling around the Aegean in Mamma Mia!, but we’ve never really seen her sing. In her previous efforts, she was an actress who could sing. Here, emboldened by Demme’s skills as a veteran concert film director, she’s an actual singer; her voice has power and control and genuine grit. Seeing Meryl Streep wail away on “American Girl” or “My Love Will Not Let You Down” is a visceral thrill. (Also good: “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” and an original song, “Cold One,” by Jenny Lewis.) I left the screening with the thought that, had she just made some different decisions back in the 1970s, Streep could have been the real article, a rock-star hybrid of Stevie Nicks, Chrissie Hynde, and Bonnie Raitt.

I'm willing to bet good money that I'm the only person on this thread who has actually seen Sufragette. Meryl's performance is undistinguished, by no means a standout, and yes, it's short although I am well aware of past Oscar winners who had very little screen time. Stop making it try to happen and believing everything you read - see the movie when it comes out and form your own opinion.

Meryl Streep rocks in 'Ricki and the Flash,' but story is out of tune

Correct me if I am wrong, but I think Streep literally only did 3 days of promotion for this film (Sunday to Tuesday). Maybe she'll get a trip to the UK for its premiere, but you can only do so much for an elderly dog in the summer. She should take a year off.

[quote]The Academy is not that stupid

I'm not the Streep Troll but... yeah, yeah they are that stupid.

No they aren't. There is nothing about this film that makes it seem like Oscar-worthy, and I'm sure she didn't do it for that reason. it was a chance to work with her ugly daughter and to rock out. That's pretty much it.

Oh, and sung. It's like she's rediscovered the fact that she can actually sing (which everyone noticed in Postcards, but she did nothing with it). Between Mamma Mia, Into the Woods, and this, she's getting her "real singer" groove on. Next she'll be seen singing horribly as FFJ, and I'm sure she's glad we'll know it's all an act.

How were the other reviews today?

I yell, "stop embarrassing yourself!" At the tv EVERY TIME the ad comes on. My partner is over it.

I also say, in a much huskier tone "douchebag" every time "papa" John Schattner comes on. Husband is REALLY over that one.

My memory is long. It's very long.

Has she ever looked lovelier?

The consensus on rottentomatoes:

'Meryl Streep's outstanding work helps Ricki and the Flash overcome its inconsistent tone and fairly predictable premise'

Im just trying to give Mamie hope after her failed marriage and cancelled TV show.

Wasn't she embarrassed enough by that ABBA movie? Click-click-click....

This has all kinds of wrong written all over it. Ricki is a Tea Partier who hates Obama but it's supposed to be a lovable family comedy? Diablo, bring me the axe.

Well it's projected to make only 3.3 million today so it might struggle to make even 9 million this weekend. That said Meryl barely did any promotion, we all saw how awful the commercials were and Sony only opened it in 1600 theaters. Even that Ryan Reynolds turd from a couple of weeks ago got 2500 theaters with worse reviews.

Did Meryl pissed someone off at Sony and this is how they retaliated?

Streeptroll, do you know Meryl ' s sign?

$9 million is good. It's not Iron Man, just a rock and roll movie. I love the singles on Spotify, Cold One and Drift Away.

The Beekman Theatre marquee -- "Ricki and the Flash" / "Trainwreck" - pretty much says it.

I turned down the role because they wouldn't agree to film on my estate.

Who is playing Captain Cold? Mirror Master?

Meryl IS Captain Cold, according to those who work with her.

Meryl lives the actor's dream. She is allowed the opportunity to play virtually anything she wants and does. I cannot think of another actress willing to take the risks she does and succeed as often as she does. So tired of her haters. She's never concerned with her image nor typecasting. People who bash her know nothing about acting nor how rare her place in the industry is. I think Ricki looks potentially awful but I applaud Meryl's constant surprises in her career. Her most recent roles have included Osage, Into the Woods, Ricki and Suffragette. I'd like to see Miss Helen Mirren or anyone try that. But sadly, they are not given that opportunity or not brave enough to try it.

I'm with R116. She's doing what she loves to the hilt and essentially has few peers, and does not give a wit about her "image". Helen Miren will try anything too. Like many healthy great artists- they are prolific and both are great actresses.

I saw it and she is fantastic. The screenplay is flawed but it was so much better than the trailers indicated. Mamie was quite good too. The surprise is Rick Springfield who holds his own in his scenes with Meryl. Audra McDonald has a nice confrontational scene with Ricki. After reading the description of the plot, I thought Kevin Kline would be wasted but he has some great scenes with Meryl and they still have wonderful chemistry. Great energy and overall a lot of fun, though there are problems with the pacing.

Comparing Streep to Mirren is laughable. Mirren is so much better.

She'll be nominated for "Suffrage" and will probably pull off a BAFTA win.

Can you believe that this 66-year-old woman is a box office draw? I mean, it's pretty damn amazing. Also considering that her career was pretty much over after "Music of the Heart."

You have to admit that she looks pretty damn good in this though.

Currently it's 59% on Rotten Tomatoes, which isn't bad.

She's getting rave reviews, but the film is getting a meh.

Saw it last night. GREAT performance by Streep. Oscar worthy. She is so versatile.

I fell asleep after about 10 minutes.

I'd like to see Rick Springfield hold his own.

Her kid gives Bruce and Demi's potato heads a run for their money in the fug department.

If Meryl read the phone book she would get a Golden Globe nomination.

So for this movie she'll get a GG nod, but no way will she be Oscar nominated.

I'm going to pass on it. Sorry?

Thank you, r116.

Many people hate to see a successful woman, and Meryl is uber-successful. DL is full of little boys with mommy issues.

Meryl is brilliant in this film and SHOULD be nominated - because her work is that GOOD. Whether she actually does is a different question.

Nobody, not even the overrated Helen Mirren, can touch Meryl's versatility. We all are just lucky to be alive and witness her genius at work !

People in the 18th century got to witness Mozart; people in the 19th ct. got to hear Jenny Lind; and us peeps today get to enjoy Meryl.Streep. while it all happens.

I for one am very grateful.

r110: she's a cancer.

And a very typical one, I might add.

Cancer is the most motherly & paternal sign in the zodiac, and they gravitate to "mother" themes like no other sign. Not surprisingly, Meryl's filmography reflects this very clearly: "Kramer vs. Kramer", "Sophie's Choice", "A Cry in the Dark", "Heartburn", "Marvin's Room", "One True Thing", "Music of the Heart", "The Hours", "The Manchurian Candidate", "A Prairie Home Companion", "Doubt", "First Do No Harm", "August: Osage County", and now "Ricki". And on stage, one of her very rare turns had to be "Mother Courage" - quelle surprise!

All of these roles deal with the relationship of a woman to her child / or to children in general. Nurturing, rearing, fostering, helping, losing a child. A true cancer is consumed with this, and Meryl is actively seeking out roles that deal with this strong aspect of her personality.

Glenn Close (a pisces) never fully developed her potential; Streisand (a taurus) stubbornly became a director; Jodie Foster (a scorpio) is notoriously private -- all typical of their signs. Streep, not surprisingly, became the ultimate mother on screen.

Also, cancer will never let go of their children, and it's no surprise how Meryl will relentlessly push & promote her children in real life. To others it might look like nepotism; to cancer that's just their way of being. They can't help it.

I bet Grant Gustin is pissed!

This looks like a bad made for TV movie

Interesting, R132. So what's a typical Aquarius like? Any famous actor being a typical Aquarius?

Oprah is a typical and ultimate Aquarius.

How old was she supposed to be when she was a "rock star" - has she been a has been for 40 years?

I watched "All About Eve" again earlier this week, and there's the scene where Margo meets Eve, and Eve flatters Margo by saying that part of Margo's genius is choosing the right material; she'd never choose to star in "The Hairy Ape." Meryl Streep is what happens if a Margo Channing level talent only starred in "The Hairy Ape." Although that would still be better than "August: Osage County," "Mamma Mia!" or "The Iron Lady."

It's sad that "Ricki and the Flash" is actually an improvement for Streep, since at least the writer and director are has-beens instead of people who never had any talent in the first place.

Rick Springfield in Hard to Hold was great jack off msterial as a teen. Lots of nudity. I had a Vhs tape were i edited out all the non nude scenes.

r135, a typical Aquarius needs a lot of personal freedom and personal space, sometimes coming off cold and distant to other people. They do love helping others, but on their own terms. Very practical people, sober, impartial, low on drama.

Paul Newman was an Aquarius, and true to his sign, kept his life drama free. He was the king of charity (per his non-profit condiment empire), all on his own terms.

Do Leo next

What does Aries need (besides complete control)?

You're TOTALLY correct R139 about Rick Springfield's hotness...I found him sexy yet mysterious, but ultimately starring in the movie did about as much for my movie career as exposing my extremely hairy pussy in "Whose Life is it Anyway"....Thank God I knew ballet. Hey, I should have been in Ricki and her Hot Flash....or whatever it's called.

I wanted Rick Springfield so bad in high school, he was so hot in the 80's

Meryl Streep sings Drift Away, that hard edge rock song. If only she would. She took a guitar lesson from Neil Young because she is the fake ass Meryl Streep and he was too distracted to fight. Please go back to the violin. And as much her roles may reflect that Cancer mother stuff, the one true thing about Strep is that she will not die until she convinces people she can sing.

She can't really. Not good enough for Evita, the Postcard's finale was some paint by number operatic take on a country bar song - embarrassing. Carrie Fisher could have sung that number much better. Carrie can sing. Mamma Mia is a fun show, but Streep was a generation too old Mamma and her broad vibrato and lack of clear pop voice made her attempt laughable. On DL people just laugh at the whole enterprise, but Abba had some wonderfully constructed pop songs, made great by pristine vocals. All productions of the Broadway show merge the 2 mediums well. Meryl would have been fired from the fourth touring company in New Zealand. Terrible singer. She does bad Karaoke singing. Her voice lends itself to scarf embellishments and Irish Folk Songs. No one would listen to that voice on a soundtrack, if her name was not sucking on it. Amazing Grace was not the genuine end to Silkwood, because Streep could not leave it at poor and simple. She had to wink at the audience even in voiceover.

She is convinced she is a good singer, as much as she demurs and deflects. Half her career choices have been attempts to convince the public that she can sing. Her only song on film that worked was the barroom number in Ironweed, meant to be an amatuer indulgence by a drunk woman imagining glory. It was effective exactly for the reason that Meryl can carry a tune but has no vocal gift that anyone sober would listen to or celebrate. She's a piano bar pal and a hog at that.

This movie is shit, but Melissa Leo could have at least played and sang the part convincingly. Even Renee Zellweger would have been more legit and Steven Tyler is infinitely prettier and worn out sexy than the abominable hair braided Streep. When exactly did she become such an ass? Rick Springfield, really? Woah the rock gods came to play.

Thanks Streeptroll for answering my question about M's sign. And now I know you're the real deal and not a fake, wannabe Streeptroll. I knew you had analyzed Glenn and Jodie based on their signs on the old DL so I just wanted to check.

R145 - What did Melissa Leo sing in? I love her as an actress but didn't know she also sang.

I knew you were checking to see if I was "the one", r146 :-)

I remember I discussed astrology with a couple of streepbelievers here on DL ...

r145, if your post had been shorter you might have been more convincing. As it is, you sound like yet another little boy with mommy issues.

Streep *has* convinced people she can sing -- that scene in Postcards from the Edge was lauded back in the day, and actually got her an Oscar nomination. As did Into the Woods! And Silkwood! And Ironweed! You might not like her vocal ablities, but the people that matter do.

'Half her career choices have been attempts to convince the public that she can sing' -- DRAMA QUEEN! She's sung in exactly six films. So according to you she has done twelve movies altogether?

r141: Leo needs attention and applause, as you probably know. As a fixed sign, they're very loyal people, but you constantly need to stroke their ego. Leo makes it easy for you: they go out of their way to impress, they provide substance, and they fight tirelessly for their cause and/or their loved ones. Leo's not an egomaniac: they're aware of their need, and have a sense of humor about it. They're strong & proud, but tend to overestimate their abilities, and often they fall flat on their face.

Showbiz, not surprisingly, is full of archetypal leos: Madonna's need for attention; Mick Jagger's showboating; Robert Redford ruling the roost; Charlize Theron uglifying herself to get APPLAUSE; Sean Penn making a spectacle of himself; DeNiro reveling in his status as the "greatest actor"; Arnold the sun king in both politics and film; James Cameron declaring himself king of the world.... the list is endless.

r142: Aries need their big ideas (and they have plenty) implemented RIGHT AWAY. Aries is the most impatient sign of the zodiac. It's not just about control (as a cardinal sign, yes, they are controlling), but quickness. They hate having to wait. The youngest sign of the zodiac (the zodiac starts with Aries and ends with Pisces), they display characteristics typical of a child: pouting when things don't go their way; slamming doors; whining; immaturity of all sorts. They're lively and full of energy, and can be fun to be around, as long as you can tolerate their temper & in-your-face busybodiness (for they also need to implement their ideas in YOUR life).

Typical Aries: Diana Ross assuming control of the Supremes; Mariah Carey refusing to be reigned in (with those album titles, she DID get to implement her questionable ideas); Michael Fassbender refusing to campaign (not on ethical or professional grounds, but because "it's a grind" - typical lack of patience); Francis Ford Coppola & the notorious production of "Apocalypse Now" .... again, the list is endless.

Both Leo and Aries are fire signs, and they do fire on all cylinders.

R144 So did I. Let's reminisce.

I love the soundtrack. Haters gonna hate.

Saw the movie last night. As I mentioned on the theater thread, Audra is mediocre. Out of her league with Streep and Kline - someone with all those Tonys should have had no problem keeping up with them. Mamie is okay but terrible in her first monologue. She gets better for the rest of the film but is completely unconvincing out of the gate. If she was a nobody with no connections who auditioned, she would not have been cast. Rick Springfield and Kevin Kline are both wonderful as are the two actors playing the sons.

Meryl's acting is great, but I've never understood why her meh singing voice gets such kudos. Listening to her in this movie, the "grit" that that reviewer describes is not natural and she's pushing to get that sound, which, to this singer/voice teacher, sounds dangerously close to damaging. I kept hoping she didn't have to sing those songs too many times to get the takes.

R21, expensive meet-and-greets are a common practice with male singers who may not be huge but have a devoted female fan base. They're quite a racket. Before the show starts, you get to stand in line with other people who paid $100+ and wait for your turn to spend 30 seconds with him and get your picture taken. Maybe get an autograph, though that's not guaranteed. I've never done it but have friends who did--some did so multiple times for the same singer.

In other words, have pretty much the experience you should be able to get for free by hanging around the backstage door after the show. I guess with the CD market in the toilet, performers try to make their cash any way possible.

Helen Mirren gives the same performance in everything.

The highly influential National Review has this to say about Streep:

This film’s total inauthenticity is epitomized by the actressy Streep: Nonconformist Linda wears five finger rings, one toe ring, necklaces, bangles, and leather jacket, and she has a “Don’t Tread on Me” flag tattooed across her back. What kind of rock journeywoman is this? “We aim to please,” Linda says to her E pluribus unum bar patrons; then she does Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” — which the miscast Streep performs like a lounge singer. (Has Ricki no taste?) Streep’s no-fun mimicry recalls Pat Benatar, Chrissie Hynde, and Melissa Etheridge. Like her hairstyle, she’s going in three directions at once. So is the movie.

"actressy Streep"

I said it first, and best: click, click, click.

Wow - you Streep haters are as obsessively rabid as her fans.

Awful. Just plain awful.

" Helen Mirren gives the same performance in everything. "

How DARE YOU!! At least I have a worthwhile pair of knockers!

I agree that Streep haters here are obsessive, much more so than her fans.

Why is it hate to state that Streep is not a singer, and does a bad imitation of singing? Her vocal production is not organic or natural and her effects are often forced and embarrassing.

Total bomb.

Opening in 7th place.

DC Comics has to be pissed.

OMFG!!!!!!!!!!

WHERE IS THE MERYL LOON?????????

Just own that you don't like her. Of course she can sing. I love her voice.

True, r156.

7th?? Damn! Well, the Sony email leaks revealed that the execs thought the script was very mediocre, but they went ahead with it anyway. They get what they deserve. It looks like a cross between a Hallmark and Lifetime movie and the reviews back that up. Netflix or HBO.

This cunty review is like something off DL. But it's written by a morose PNW hipster chick:

[quote]There is a certain type of woman who will refer to any dietary splurge as "being bad." E.g., "I think I WILL have another bite of honey lavender cheesecake! I'm being BAD today!" These women will really like Ricki and the Flash! Ricki is all about being bad today.

If you like rock, you will dig the soundtrack.

R169, I just read that review and I think the reviewer is trying to say how safe, predictable and corny the movie is even thought it thinks it is edgy and feminist. Good premise of broken dreams and family but poor execution.

Helen Mirren can do what Streep cannot - be direct. Streep is always fussing and trying to upstage her co-stars with acting tricks. She's the modern-day Geraldine Page. Mirren doesn't resort to these amateurish tactics. We have enjoyed watching Streep in some roles but her technique is so apparent that it is easy to imitate them which ultimately makes her performances hollow.

Grace Gummer IS The Golden Glider!

Isn't Helen primarily good at playing the queen and taking her balloons out at the beach?

‘Ricki and the Flash’: Meryl Streep is wickedly good

More poz press for Meryl and Ricky and the Flash from reputable outlets. More affirmation of Ms. Streep's excellent work in this big screen gem!

There are a lot of inaccuracies in that review but I've just pulled this one for us all to ponder: "Gummer, who looks and speaks uncannily like her “Kramer vs. Kramer”-era mother, " Uh, no. No.

Meryl has sung in 12 of her films, not counting the Maria Callas one. Her voice is more comfortable with Broadway tunes, than pop hits. Her 'singing' in Mamma Mia, was painful. As for you Rick Springfield fans, didn't he assault his wife around 10 years ago? I've never liked him or his songs, you can keep him.

I eat shit.

[quote]Amazing Grace was not the genuine end to Silkwood, because Streep could not leave it at poor and simple. She had to wink at the audience even in voiceover.

What does this mean?

" Isn't Helen primarily good at playing the queen and taking her balloons out at the beach? "

Darling, I applaud you. It's great when a flat chested plain woman like yourself can have a career. Wonderful!

Meryl doesn't shoot Master Class (where she plays Maria Callas) untiil the fall. It's for HBO.

Wait, Streep is playing Callas? At what point in her life ? 10 years after her death?

You would think the Big Gay Cocktail Party known as Data Lounge would be a fawning picnic of faggotry idolizing the Divas of today (like our Elder Queer Grandpas did with Marlene and Bette and Katherine and Company) but instead it's just constant ragging on how awful Meryl is, or Glenn, or LuPone, or...well, pretty much every talented diva between the ages of 12 and Zsa Zsa.

Meanwhile, there's 183 threads on the Fabulousness of Jonathan Groff and Matt Bomer and Lee Pace and 47 other bland twink celebrities.

They couldn't find a role for me? My character is in the title, after all.

Well, R183, we don't want to fuck M, G and certainly not P.

Master Class is going ahead with me?! From my cold, dead hands!

WITHOUT ME! I mean.

Stephen Frears is directing Master Class. He just directed Streep in that movie about Florence Foster Jenkins.

Is that true that Master Class is still happening? Who is directing it? Adore Meryl. She is game for anything.

Frears? Excellent.

Wonder what her other daughter - and son - do for a living? Sounds like they're smarter than Grace and Mamie. SO pathetic.

R117 '...does not give a wit about her "image". '

Bullshit.

r157 - Bad Romance as a lounge song? Octavia Spencer already did that with Radiohead in Paradise. I like non-Juno Diablo Cody a lot, but get it together, woman.

Yes Meryl "sings" BAD. Romance. Badly.

Idiot Jimmy Fallon asked M last week if she sings. How insulting. Has he never heard of Mamma Mia or Into the Woods?

R194, that was quite painful to listen to.

They only use a small portion of Bad Romance in the film and it's used for comic effect. They shouldn't have included it in the actual soundtrack - bad decision.

No, Meryl's not the most amazing singer in the world but she pulls it off in this film playing a failed rock and roll star who now sings in bars.

I thought she did great in Into The Woods and Postcards. And I love "I See Me" from Death Becomes Her.

Ugh, Meryl Streep. I am so tired of hearing everybody talk about Meryl Streep. So what?! So what!

Let's Talk about the real deal. This is all the movie needed right here.

No way is Meryl going to be nominated for this. It's TERRIBLE.

I haven't seen the film yet.

Any chance that Heat Wave, Abra Kadabra, The Top or even the likes of Cobalt Blue or Inertia kills Ricki?

I think that would make an enjoyable ending.

I am pretty sure she did not do this gig looking for a nomination. She was looking for a job for her kid, period.

Well, looking for something to do with her kid, and also, I'm sure the chance to rock out, at her age, was an enticement.

The movie is total shit. And in a way, it's Streep's fault. What sinks the movie is the truly terrible screenplay. She was the "get" for the film, she could have said, "Give me a rewrite, and we'll talk" - but, as usual, it didn't seem to matter to her that the screenplay was crap. She's amusing in it - she and Springfield are the most interesting actors in it - but it could have been a decent film if the characters were better written. Her "sons" exists mostly as devices. Her "republicanism" is there for one or two quick digs - no explanation. No explanation of why she was homophobic (which her gay son implies).

And Nick Westrate needs to get his ears pinned back if he expects to get more screen work.

Now Meryl is supposed to rewrite screenplays? I don't recall this expectation or level of vitriole being put on Tom Hanks or Brad Pitt, or any other actor. You bitches just hate that she has a job.

Meryl isn't supposed to rewrite the screenplays herself, but she can go back to the studio and say "I won't sign for this movie until there's a rewrite." And, yes, actors like Tom Hanks and Brad Pitt do make those demands because their presence is so valuable that studios will agree to it. So can Meryl, and Jennifer Lawrence for that matter.

Meryl is a household name and a box office draw. She has the power to demand a better screenplay, so if she stars in a film one can assume that she was happy with the screenplay. She's not a Melissa Leo-level character actress who has to compete with two dozen other actresses at the same level for a film that she might find worthy but still wanting.

I'm sure she loved the screenplay and Demme being on board. Stop blaming her for the world's problems.

Saw the movie yesterday. I think this is Meryl's worst movie ever and I am a fan (not the troll). It makes Mamma Mia look like a masterpiece, believe me. Diablo Cody is a hack. The plot is completely cliche-ridden (what there is of it) and more of the movie is Meryl and the Flash on stage singing really old stuff than any action. Mamie turns in a decent performance, so maybe she'll start getting work if that's the aim here. Meryl's voice is ok. But this movie-- It's painfully bad folks. Save your money. I think this will be gone from theaters in a couple of weeks max.

I'll save my money for The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

I disagree, r207. This is one of the most favorite things I've seen her in for some time. I agree the screenplay is thin but I thought it was a fun movie and I enjoyed the musical numbers.

Meryl Streep looks ridiculous all done up to look like a rock star. Those side braids....ghastly!

Which character is the gay one?

She looks fabulous, and does capture the Bonnie Raitt look & vibe.

Meryl IS the ultimate chameleon.... so looking forward to ther Callas. She will be mesmerizing as the grand Greek diva!

[quote]Which character is the gay one?

The audience, all eight of them.

Haha! Someone said there would be a gay character in the movie, R213.

One of her male kids in the movie is gay, just like real life.

Which one, R215? Name please..

Nick Westrate is the gay actor who plays the gay son in the movie. There is a passing reference to Ricki "still being homophobic," but like the rest of the film, it's not followed up in any way.

It's not a good movie, but it's pretty painless to sit through. It's nowhere near on the level of Meryl's true shitfests, "Manchurian Candidate" and that thing with Alec Baldwin and that thing with Edward Furlong.

"Ricki" is Oscar-level compared to them.

The songs are fun, Streep and Springfield are goodish, Mamie doesn't embarrass herself. Sebastian Stan is wasted. And Kevin Kline - I can't imagine why he took this role.

[quote] Meryl / Suffragette, Julie Walters / Brooklyn, Jennifer Jason Leigh / Hateful Eight, Ellen Page / Freeheld, and last spot goes to either Glenn / The Great Gilly Hopkins or Rooney Mara / Carol, if the latter doesn't go for lead.

What the fuck are you talking about? JJL is the lead in The Hateful Eight, and The Great Gilly Hopkins is a live action film of some children's book. it would be like nominating someone from Beezus and Ramona.

r219, JJL is not the lead in Hateful Eight, which is an ensemble piece anyway. All the awards prognasticator sites have her in supporting. So what the fuck are YOU talking about?

r218, that thing with Edward Furlong (Marvin's Room) contains some of Meryl's best acting ever. Subtle, beautiful work, and highly underrated for its quiet turn.

There is a world of difference between It's Complicated and MR.

Total fail, Streeptroll. Edward Furlong was the awful Before and After.

A www, I liked It's Complicated. Harmless fun.

Wow! The streeptroll made a massive error! How embarrassing for it, not knowing that Streep did "Marvin's Room" with DiCaprio.

"Before and After" was truly awful - she must have needed a new car or something. Furlong was dreadful - the first inkling that he couldn't, after all, really act.

Pay no attention to Streeptroll's Oscar predictions. He's notoriously bad at it. He kept insisting that Max von Sydow would win the Oscar for "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," despite receiving no major precursor awards for the film and Christopher Plummer winning everything in sight. He also believed that Isabelle Huppert would be nominated for "Amour," even though her role was so slight that many reviewers failed to even mention her performance.

He's fun to tangle with during awards season, though, and can disagree without being too disagreeable.

You couldn't pay me to watch this movie. It just looks so...so LAME.

The working title was "Aviva and the Leg" but unfortunately that storyline got used up.

The 174,798 commercial spots, in all of their 173,267 permutations, sunk this film. If i had to hear meryl say "i can't have more than one dream" one more time....... when they cut in the talking head meryl, trying to give some idea of what this thing is about, it got worse. Ben platt and audra got about a quarter of a second in the early promos, then disappeared in the rest. Mamie comes across as a serial k.fatal a tyoe in them. And they tried to make that one crowd floor twirl make this look less dour, to no avail. A truly terrible marketing job......

The marketing budget must be huge, for a relatively small release. It's all over broadcast, print, outdoor advertising in NYC.

They're losing $$$$ on this one.

She's put together a group of 12 female screenwriters with mentors for 3 day seminars. I won't be surprised if she acts in one or more films that come from those writers.

Why doesn't Meryl develop and promote scripts for other actresses? Reese and Jodie and Sally and Cher and Diane and Goldie and Barbra and Jane and Susan have done it. Is Meryl Streep a cochon?

R229 Seriously! Do you really think La Streep would let another actress get a role that could lead to any nomination or award of some sort?

True, I mixed up Furlong and DiCaprio. They're both so boring and untalented. Marvin's Room was a good movie, though, due to Streep and Keaton; but that nomination should have gone to Streep, who was absolutely marvelous in her role.

r224, I wanted Sydow to win, but I never said Huppert should be nominated. If I were, I'd be happy to own that now. You're misremembering things. I was a hardcore supporter of Riva's and Sydow's that year.

I like Huppert, and think she should have been nominated for The Piano Teacher; this being said, she's actually quite limited. She couldn't project warmth to save her life, and all her roles & performances are the same. But she's good within her paradigm, and should have been nommed a long time ago (not for Amour, though).

I disagree that M deserved the Oscar nomination over Diane Keaton for Marvin's Room but I do think it's a nice little film.

I also enjoyed It's Complicated, r22! It was nice to see M in a romantic comedy for a change and she had great chemistry with Baldwin and Martin. John Krasinski was hot in that one.

Ricki is much better than the commercial ads make it out to be.

[quote] JJL is not the lead in Hateful Eight, which is an ensemble piece anyway. All the awards prognasticator sites have her in supporting. So what the fuck are YOU talking about?

Oh, so you've seen it, then? And all the awards prognosticators have seen it? Tarantino himself has referred to her as the lead in the film, so fuck off. Before you cut and paste something from a bullshit puff piece, do a little research.

JJL is not getting a lead nom, r233.

Get some sleep.

[quote] JJL is not getting a lead nom, [R233].

You're the one swearing up and down that she's getting a nomination, hon, not me. I don't think she's getting anything, since she's already given half a dozen performances that should have been rewarded and have gone ignored.

r235? I'm the one swearing up and down she's getting a nom in SUPPORTING, not lead. And we were just debating whether she's lead or supporting in that film.

Can you read?

I've seen the poster for it-she's definitely the female lead.

They put Waltz in as a supporting when he clearly was a lead in Django. Catagory fraud at its finest.

Tommy Lee Jones should have won for LINCOLN instead of Waltz for DJANGO.

Speaking of TLJ, I liked HOPE SPRINGS a lot. It's so genial but the direction is poor. The script is great; had it been made in France with Kristin Scott Thomas as Meryl, Daniel Auteuil as Tommy Lee as Dany Boon as Steve Carrell it would have received much better reviews.

IT'S COMPLICATED, on the other hand, is an abomination. I say this as an unashamed fan of THE PARENT TRAP, WHAT WOMEN WANT and SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE. Alec Baldwin cannot save it. Her children are beings that do not exist in nature. John Krasinski's character is pointlessly shoehorned into the script because Nancy Meyers clearly wants to bang him. Steve Martin has all the appeal of a squeezed lemon. Even the interior design porn is a letdown. It contains Meryl's most obnoxious performance - all tics and cheap actors tricks. Odious film.

And WTF was Rita Wilson doing in it?

Proof that Nancy Meyers is racist-Meryl's character only had white friends in It's Complicated.

[quote] [R235]? I'm the one swearing up and down she's getting a nom in SUPPORTING, not lead. And we were just debating whether she's lead or supporting in that film. Can you read?

Yes, you stupid cunt. You're the only one swearing she's getting nominated at all. No one else has. Maybe you can read, but can you comprehend?

[quote] Steve Martin has all the appeal of a squeezed lemon.

Agreed. Not only is Alec Baldwin, even fat, way sexier, better looking and more physically appealing than Steve Martin, but his charisma in that movie was off the fucking chart. He hasn't been that charming in a film in ages. And then in comes sour faced, personality-free Martin. It's complete bullshit. Even Wallace Shawn would have won that competition.

R242 Lol!

Stop trying to make JJL as a lead happen, r242.

You're making a spectacle of yourself.

If you think Isabelle Huppert can't play warmth, you haven't seen enough of her films.

I love the new little interview about Meryl working with Karel Reisz. M's film catalogue is heavily valued. Her top ten film performances are already legendary. Look it up and take a lesson.

r246, I've seen all her films with Chabrol, and she is warm in none of them.

IH made her name as the ultimate intellectual ice queen, and that's fine & impressive. but don't pretend she can project warmth, or stray very much from her formula. she can't.

her roles at this point are camp on a very high (read: intellectual) level, and she's got more mileage out of that than is deserved.

Sorry I cannot agree. What you perceive as warmness is totally subjective. I would say that Huppert can easily play vulnerable and she is famous for producing tears. I find her likeable and thus warm in many of her films, and the argument that her later roles have typecast her as an ice-queen can be disputed when you see her in something like Copacabana. Also I found her distress in Amour far more real than say Streep's phony breakdowns in The Hours or Doubt. Additionally, Huppert regularly returns to the stage whereas Streep does not, so I feel this gives her more range. Every actor is limited. Nobody can play everything but Huppert is for me a brilliant actress.

Why does acting on stage give one automatically more range? That's silly. Meryl takes on wildly disparate roles from film to film. Huppert does the exact opposite. Maybe she should stay away from the stage, and challenge herself in film a bit more?

Secondly, being "vulnerable" and "crying" constitute warmth to you? How odd. Warmth, to me, is Juliette Binoche in The English Patient, or Emma Thompson as Margaret Schlegl, or indeed Meryl as Julia Child. Radiating, gentle, happy, empathic, content. Qualities largely absent from Huppert's palette.

Thirdly, Isabelle Huppert hasn't just been icy in "later roles". How very untrue.

I can see you're not familiar with her career. She made her name in the 1970s with two films called "La Dentelliere" and "Violette Noziere", both of with cast her as icy and introverted, and set the template for the rest of her career. "Loulou", "Sauve Qui Peut (la Vie)", "Coup de Torchon", "Coup de Foudre", and so many other early films: icy, quiet, impenetrable in all of them.

She's good within that paradigm, but at sea outside of it. Even when she attempts comedy ("8 Femmes") she plays the icy, imperious bitch.

She's far more limited than what her reputation would have you believe.

They pooped this movie into theaters

[quote]Is Meryl Streep a cochon?

Mais bien sur.

If we're mentioning "Marvin's Room," then we need to mention another lovely performance in it - Gwen Verdon's.

[quote]Ricki is much better than the commercial ads make it out to be

Actually, it's the exact opposite. The trailers/ads make it seem a lot more fun than it is. It's a terrible film, but that's not the fault of the actors - it's the fault of Diablo Cody's rotten screenplay, and Jonathan Demme's uninspiring direction (except for the song performances, which are extremely well shot).

Gwen Verdon was very good in "Marvin's Room." She was probably close to an Oscar nomination for it, since she got a SAG nomination. That was just a competitive year, except for the awful Lauren Bacall performance that was thankfully denied the win everyone expected.

[quote]M's film catalogue is heavily valued.

No it's not. For whatever reason, she's made a lot of crappy movies in which she's the best thing (or often, as in the case of The Iron Lady, the only good thing). The number of genuinely excellent films she's made is far less than ten, and of those good films - I don't know, are any of them timeless? I don't think so. Even Sophie's Choice has faded away.

r256, maybe because writers & directors don't create "important films" for leading ladies? But of course it's Meryl's fault that Scorsese will work YET AGAIN with Leo Fuckface, instead of devoting his time & considerable talent to a quality project for her.

Hollywood is sexist, and that is why her films are often lesser than her talent.

In any case, in how many timeless classics have Judi Dench or Cate Blanchett starred? Or Kathy Bates? The Meryl detractors usually cite Faye Dunaway in this discussion, but fail to mention she never headlined a classic either -- Bonnie was paired with a MAN in that movie, and Evelyn was only in Chinatown because of JAKE. It's not that anyone has really written a classic film in the last 40 years, where the whole film revolved around a woman.

Sole exception: Woody Allen & Diane Keaton. But even Woody has tossed Diane aside so he could do meaningless films with Ellen Page or Rachel Evan Wood. Oh, and "Blue Jasmine" was a great role for Blanchett, but it's hardly a classic film, so it doesn't count.

Gawd, this thread has seriously gone off the rails. Y'alls is crazy up in here!

Why does Kevin Kline take such crap roles? He is so talented!!

The English Patient was such piece of shit. Julianne whats her face only won because they didn't want to give it to Lauren.

It should have been Barbara Hershey's or Marianne for secrets and lies.

I don't know about Isabel Huppert but I do know Meryl always dresses like a lady. I love her cover of American Girl.

R260 - I love The English Patient (for Binoche, Dafoe and Andrews) but fully agree that Barbara Hershey's excellence in Portrait Of A Lady should have won her that Oscar. Maybe my favourite of all performances in a Jane Campion movie. And Marianne Jean-Baptiste wiped the floor with Brenda Blethyn in Secrets And Lies.

[quote] The Meryl detractors usually cite Faye Dunaway in this discussion, but fail to mention she never headlined a classic either -- Bonnie was paired with a MAN in that movie, and Evelyn was only in Chinatown because of JAKE. It's not that anyone has really written a classic film in the last 40 years, where the whole film revolved around a woman.

Oh, reaaaaaaaallllly?

I'm not mad at YOU, I'm MAD at this QUOTE!

[quote] The Iron Lady

Or, as it's known around these parts: The Grand Guignol.

Has anyone seen this movie? How is the gay character?

[quote]I've seen the poster for it-she's definitely the female lead.

Why do people assume that the actress with the most screen time in a movie is automatically the 'female lead'? Anne Hathaway has the most screen time in LES MISERABLES and was billed third (after Jackman and Crowe), but that doesn't make her the female lead in that movie. A true female lead has the same amount of screen time and focus as the male protagonist. For instance, in BONNIE & ClYDE, Beatty and Dunaway were both true leads. They're both practically in it from the first frame to the last; rarely do they get scenes without the other, but more importantly, both of their desires are portrayed, perhaps Bonnie's more so.

Of course, often there's category fraud, like when Reese won Best Actress for WALK THE LINE, even though that movie is solely about Johnny Cash. We follow him from childhood through his army stint and first marriage and burgeoning musical career; his guilt over his brother's death is the theme of the damn movie. Meanwhile, June doesn't enter until 35 minutes in, and then comes in and out of Johnny's life. We are never shown anything about her childhood. Everything about her life is mentioned in passing. Even her first two marriages happen off-screen, while Johnny's first marriage gets ample screen time and is a major subplot. If June were a true co-lead, we would get more of her POV. Instead, she only exists in WALK THE LINE to ultimately *support* Johnny in his drug struggles. I don't know why she wasn't touted for Supporting. She robbed a genuine lead performance (Felicity Huffman in TRANSAMERICA) of the win.

[quote] Why do people assume that the actress with the most screen time in a movie is automatically the 'female lead'? Anne Hathaway has the most screen time in LES MISERABLES and was billed third (after Jackman and Crowe), but that doesn't make her the female lead in that movie.

Hathaway most certainly does NOT have the most screen time (female) in Les Mis. She's barely in the fucking thing. And even that was too much.

Wow, lots of off-point arguing.

Meryl was great and so was Mamie, but the movie should of spent more time on the mother daughter relationship instead of a Meryl Streep concert.

A dingo ate my guitar.

"Flash" in the pan? This critic thinks not! Come award season, Oscar will be singing a chorus of "OH RICKI--YOU'RE SO FINE!"

Mighty Meryl is rocking and rolling her way to Academy Gold one mo' time!

Even I don't think she deserves to be nominated for an Oscar for this swill. A Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy is another story, though.

I will only add that Anthony Lane in The New Yorker gave this a good review.

The streeploon has seriously gone off the rails, inferring things that were not said.

Poor thing. Does it have a job? Does it have people or animals that love it? Its mental health is shaky, it seems. Why else would it be so invested in the career of a woman who wouldn't give it the time of day.

Streep Troll lives in Switzerland, which means "it" likely benefits from a higher quality of life than any of you.

He is scheduled to be shot at dawn.

Mamie is doing lots of interviews regarding ricki and the flash and should be getting lots of movie offers. I think she is really talented and would like to see her in more films.

I saw Ricki. The ending is so contrived, fake and forced, I thought I was watching a dream sequence.

Just the ending, R278? Did you sleep through all the parts before that?

We crossed $20 million and are about to open international. Gotta sing. Gotta dance.

And it's all because of YOU, Mamie!

Comments from the IMDb forums:

[quote]The problem with Meryl Streep is that she lacks spontaneity as an actress. She should stick with period pieces and accents. They should have gotten a female rock star to play this role. Courtney Love, for instance.

[quote]Based on the trailer I don't buy Streep as a guitar player for a minute. You either have a feel for the instrument or you don't. She doesn't. I don't much care for Bonnie Raitt, but Streep should have studied her to get down the mannerisms of a rock musician. It seems like that was the vibe she was going for.

[quote]From the little footage I saw she seems to be handling the guitar like it's fragile. That's how beginners play, too afraid to mold their hands into the fretboard and dig into the strings. Her touch was too light while playing the chords.

[quote]The Meryl detractors usually cite Faye Dunaway in this discussion, but fail to mention she never headlined a classic either -- Bonnie was paired with a MAN in that movie, and Evelyn was only in Chinatown because of JAKE. It's not that anyone has really written a classic film in the last 40 years, where the whole film revolved around a woman.

Surely this isn't the real Streep Troll. Surely even he isn't this dumb. Dunaway is co lead with Beatty in the former and has a huge amount of screentime in the latter. She also has Network which for all its flaws still holds up better than almost any Streep film. Contrast that with Manhattan, for example, where Streep's barely in the movie and does nothing of note with her part. And Woody Allen evidently wasn't impressed enough to ever work with her again like Dianne Wiest and Diane Keaton who obviously impressed him far more with their far superior acting skills.

And nobody is asking for a steady stream of masterpieces. But Streep has truly terrible taste. Almost her whole filmography consists of either dull, tasteful Oscar bait or out and out fluff like Mamma Mia. She's as middlebrow as they come - which makes her the perfect mascot for the Academy Awards.

This is bullshit. Streep has Angels in America, Kramer vs. Kramer, Silkwood, A Cry in the Dark, The Devil Wears Prada, Manhattan. The Deerhunter, Adaptation, etc. She also has remained vital as a lead for decades, something that Dunaway and others could not do. Who gives a shit what someone on IMDB says who has not even seen the movie. Go suck yourself.

None of those are widely considered classics by most critics or film scholars except Manhattan and Deer Hunter. And she's barely in Manhattan and she's not even in The Deer Hunter very much. Sorry, but no cigar. You can't compare her blink and miss it part in Manhattan with Dunaway's lead parts in Network, Chinatown or B&C.

You cannot honestly and truthfully look at titles like Sansho the Bailiff, Citizen Kane, Vertigo, Rules of the Game, Scenes From A Marriage, Mean Streets, etc. etc. that make the great films lists on a regular basis and seriously put Silkwood and Kramer vs Kramer up there. They are simply competently made, solid, sturdy middlebrow works. And most of Streep's output is way worse quality than that.

I don't understand the expectation that every film has to be Citizen Kane or be top 100 to have merit. By your reckoning, almost all modern stars have no classic films on their resume. What a fucking snob.

Oh FFS learn to read R286. The Streep Troll spent the thread disparaging other actresses as usual, and holding up Streep as the supreme best beyond compare.

And as usual, this pathetic, dishonest, snobby dismissal of other actresses led to some of us bringing up the fact that many, many other actresses in this world have much more impressive titles on their list of credits than Streep. I mean it's fucking ridiculous to say what TST said about Dunaway, that she's not the lead of Bonnie and Clyde. So fucking what? She's co lead, he seems to think co lead is somehow inferior to sole lead. But clearly Dunaway carries that film in a way Streep does not carry Manhattan, with her two minutes screentime. I mean, really.

Nobody is saying you have to have a resume full of Sanshos and Kanes to be considered worthy. All we're saying is to stop pretending that's what Streep DOES have. She doesn't!

And I would disagree with your contention that no other modern actress has any classics. They may not have anything canonized yet, but it takes time for that sort of consensus to form. The point is a lot of other actresses take risks and they all have movies that aren't just boring Oscar bait. For instance, Emily Watson has lots of junk on her resume but she also has Breaking the Waves. Kate Winslet has dreary Oscar baiting crap like The Reader but she also has Heavenly Creatures. Other stars working today might not have any Top 100 titles but they do have things with the potential to grow in estimation over time. Streep seems to prefer White Elephant Art to real art.

My only point was that Streep does indeed have several good films on her resume. You may not like them, but many others do.

it's so nice to hear from Bette Davis!!!!

Meryl Streep receives 107th Oscar nomination:

Whole lotta haters. Must be a real drag. Condolences....

We're almost at $40 million. Yay! Mamie, please bring me some tuna for tonight's casserole.

I think Melissa leo should have played the lead In Ricki and the Flash.

R272, why would you think she'd get a nomination? After all, he isn't a nine-year-old boy who appears for an five minute stretch.

[quote]

I fell asleep after about 10 minutes. —GC

That's your age dear.

One of Meryl's most underrated performances. She's fabulous in it.

This is one film from the last decade where she actually deserved the nomination.

I don't remember hating this movie when it came out. But maybe i need to revisit....