The Week of Streep (p.4)
Ah, the Comedy Era of the Streep... After more than a decade of screen-time — during which she went on safari, fell in love with Robert DeNiro and out of love with Jack Nicholson, endured radiation poisoning and the Holocaust, and had her infant daughter taken by a dingo —Streep was ready to laugh.
Some discount this period in her career, but I've always thought that Streep is wildly funny and whether it's a Danish accent, or a prat fall, she consistently hits it out of the park.
1989: She-Devil
Now, I'm not about to claim that She-Devil, in which Streep stars alongside master-thespian Roseanne Barr, and that sex-pot* Ed Begley Jr., is an Oscar-deserving — or even a good — film. It's pretty terrible, as a whole. BUT I am prepared to defend Streep's decision to take the role of romance novelist Mary Fisher, and even suggest that she is wonderful in it. Streep seems to know that she's in a terrible movie, and she looks like she's having a blast. Don't go into She-Devil expecting Schindler's List, and you'll have a good time too.
*Ok, so I don't really think Ed Begley Jr. is a sex-pot. In fact, I think he's one of the most hideous humans I've seen, which makes the entire premise of the movie (two women fighting over him) even more hilarious. Now that's what I call comedy.
1990: Postcards from the Edge
One of Streep's finest comedic performances, is as Suzanne Vale in Postcards from the Edge, a film based on Carrie Fisher's novel/memoir of the same name. Streep is beautiful and complex as she goes from a hospital bed (after an accidental overdose) to rehab, to her mother's (the delightfully over-the-top Shirley Maclaine) house.
I could have done without Dennis Quaid's role as Suzanne's 'love' interest, although the scene where she shoots ("They're just blanks, asshole!") at him is quite rewarding.
The best scenes occur between Streep and Maclaine — especially when they both put on 'numbers' for a house full of guests. Streep finally gets a chance to showcase her extraordinary singing talent not one, but two times in Postcards, and that's always a treat.
1991: Defending Your Life
I wouldn't exactly call Defending Your Life a "quintessential" Streep film, but it's worth at least one viewing. Streep is perfectly lovely as Julia, the after-life love-interest of Albert Brooks (this is very much an Albert Brooks film) and you can easily see why Brooks would fall for the beautiful and should-be-annoying-but-isn't-for-some-reason, perfect Julia.
Defending Your Life also presents some interesting ideas about the after-life: Eating all you want and never gaining a pound? The Hall of Past Lives? Really soft robes and slippers? When I die, I want to go to there.
1992: Death Becomes Her
A much better attempt at over-the-top camp comedy than She-Devil, Death Becomes Her is a tongue-in-botoxed-cheek commentary on aging in Hollywood. Streep strikes comic gold as the insanely vain, reluctantly aging Madeleine Ashton, who doesn't think twice before stealing her homely (the ugly-fied Goldie Hawn) best friend's fiance (a hapless Bruce Willis). I couldn't possibly pick a favorite moment; from the extravagant opening number, to Hawn in a fat suit (!) and Streep throwing a javelin through the gaping hole in Hawn's torso ("Yes! I mean, No!"), Death is a must-see Streep staple.
1993: The House of the Spirits
Streep has a small role in the House of the Spirits, an unfortunately rather forgettable film with an unforgettable cast: Glenn Close, Winona Ryder, Antonio Banderas, Jeremy Irons and Vanessa Redgrave all star alongside Streep. I remember growing impatient waiting for the few glimpses of Streep, but watch closely: the adorable little girl playing Clara del Valle Trueba (Streep) as a child? That's Grace Gummer, Streep's real-life third child.
Side note: This film might be a little difficult to track down; the DVD is out-of-print, although I managed to find mine for around $5 at a used DVD store. I also have a VHS copy because, that's how I roll.
1994: The River Wild
How bad-ass is Meryl Streep that, in her 40s, she decides to try her hand at navigating class V rapids? Very bad ass. She also goes head-to-head with the 'there's-obviously-something-off-about-this-guy' Kevin Bacon (this movie is my ace when playing the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon) and I won't spoil the ending for you, other than to say this: Bad. Ass.
Side note: How great is David Strathairn, like, always?
