Page 2 ... Writing ...

With the writing advice I gave you in mind recently - see Introductory Page - I am here going to discuss my recent journey into the Meryl Streep film catalogue. At about the beginning of July this year, I was in Southport, visiting my family and one Sunday evening I sat down to watch Mama Mia, a modern-day-musical, in which Meryl sings her way through the Abba collection of songs, really rather well; and upon this showing I decided to invest in a set of dvd's of Meryl's films. So, the second film I saw was Meryl's interpretation - which, by the way, interpretation is the apotheosis of Meryl's repertoire in film - and her interpretation of Margaret Thatcher, which was very good, and again reminded me of that lady's tenure as leader of the Conservative Party, and what she set out to achieve as Prime Minister of Britain during the 1970s and 1980s. Meryl's performance is excellent and the film is very good. Since then I have seen a few more of Meryl's films, and really apart from one film I did not really like - it was something called 'adaptation', and although I am sure that Meryl takes her work seriously, and cares about her work I am also sure she would not descry any of her choices, and I would not expect that, but for me personally, I feel that Meryl Streep is made of sturdier stuff than that which was on display in 'adaptation' - I'm sure too that Meryl may not always have discretionary editing privileges as she ought to have and to fight for, and I am sure some of the more salubriuos scenes would be edited upon revisiting a viewing before release. This, however, is my take on the situation, I feel perhaps that Meryl's agents should take more care to include Meryl in decisions with regards to  're-releases of her films, so that she has the opportunity to decide whether they are relevant and appropriate for the audience of today. Definitely, I feel that Meryl is being short-changed, she is a wonderful actress and delightful to watch and to listen to, my friends and i both have discussed how Meryl is really an academic, intellectual person and credence should be given to that in the work of Meryl's career. Perhaps upon a viewing of Meryl's films you may agree with my hypothesis, I hope so, and perhaps in a small way bring attention to a serious sitiuation which merits discussion in a wider discourse. I love Meryl's films, The French Lieutenant's Woman, which is an adaptation of the book, written by John Fowels, correct me if I'm wrong, and Interestingly, screenwritten by the late Harold Pinter, Playwrite. There is Julia and Julie, a film based In two parts and written by a writer who decided to cook her way through the Julia Child's Cookery book back in 2002, she wrote her own part, and with the aid of notes and letters left in Julia's and her husband Paul's 'estate she resolved to write a rather wonderful story, made into a film, and directed by the late Nora Ephron. Julia's story dates back to the 1940's when her husband Paul, played by a nice actor, Stanley Tuci, was stationed in France, at the American Embassy, they lived in Paris for four years, when Julia trained to be a Chef at the Cordon Bleu establishment, and this rather interesting character played by an equally interesting Meryl Streep, and ostentatiously so, I have to say and no less enjoyable for that., bloomed all the way through the film. In fact there were a rather wonderful repertoire of actors on display who played their parts with the right amount of verve and fun, there really was no room for anything less, all played distinguished and interesting parts and a credit to the real cast that lived the life of 'gay Paris' all those years ago. They truly made the story come to life, and this is all we ask for from a wonderful cast and a wonderful project, I repeat, Julia and Julie, film extraordinaire, it really was and bon appetite to all. There are so many other films with Meryl i would love to watch, I did not realize Meryl had worked on so many films, but as I am sure she would be the first person to say, she is a working actress and working on films has been the mainstay of her career. I have to say here, I do feel for Meryl on the many occasions when i see her acting opposite some woefully misogynistic characters, I see her going through the ages tolerating those less than piquant male opposites. Meryl, should be awarded compensation as her fine vocabulary and beautiful voice with it's melodic accents, she does accents very well, and manners are at times undermined by her boorish counterparts, they don't seem to appreciate that Meryl is an educated human being trying to do a good job, as much now as when she began her career, and to work with serious attitude which I have felt at times to be undermined, it's not fair, really, Meryl's work is for public consumption, she is public and she needs all on board to be totally and completely on her side. And, that is not always obvious to me. Her film, Hope Springs is a case in point, I loved the performance by her co-colleague who is the marriage therapist Meryl goes to see, to talk about her marriage, a marriage she feels is no longer there and for better or worse she wants to salvage, that actor is a fine person and respectful of Meryl in a way her other male characters are not, it's outrageous that a fine person such as Meryl Streep should have to put up with Neanderthal behaviour as was on show in that film. I have a few more of Meryl's films to watch, some I will 're-visit, and some I have not yet seen; when I see, in any of Meryl's films anything which is here worthy of comment, and of course, Meryl Streep's work is always more than worthy of comment, I will write and say, which rather begs the excuse to discuss each film minutely, and perhaps that is an opportunity for further comment and writing about it, however I am not going to do that at this stage, I will simply say which of Meryl's films I have seen and offer a very brief discussion - to do full justice to Meryl' Streep's work is for you to watch the films too, so you may see for yourselves what a worthy ambassador is Meryl Streep, for interpreting a story, through character, and interpreting it well. Should you do the same as me and take a little time to watch a good film with a supremely worthy leading lady, then you will do everything right by choosing Meryl Streep's films. I wish you good watching, and good writing, and let me know what you think. Bon chance, or Good luck, Angela De Freitas