February 19, 2018 – Meryl Streep is lauded for her somewhat campy performance in The Devil Wears Prada (2006). And she had important supporting roles early in her career, paving the way for later success: The Deer Hunter (1978) for which she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, and Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) for which she won Best Supporting Actress.
But the four movies that really put Streep on the map are listed below. Why do people give her standing ovations at awards shows? They probably saw these four films from Streep’s early career. In addition to these four, see her transform into another human being altogether, including walking exactly like how an older person would walk, in The Iron Lady (2011), for which she won Best Actress.
It’s recommended that you watch them in the following order. I think the two strongest are the first and the fourth. Streep won Best Actress for the first one, Sophie’s Choice.
Streep plays a U.S. immigrant in 1947 who has survived a Nazi death camp. Her tragic story unfolds as she befriends a would-be writer. Pitch-perfect acting.
Director: Alan J. Pakula (All the President’s Men)
Cast: Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Peter MacNicol
Where: Amazon Prime, iTunes, Amazon On Demand, Vudu
The characters portrayed by Streep and Jeremy Irons are actors within a movie production, who are having a relationship off screen as well. The movie-within-a-movie is set in the Victorian era. Nominated for many awards.
Director: Karel Reisz
Cast: Meryl Streep, Jeremy Irons
Where: Amazon Prime, Hulu, iTunes, Amazon On Demand, Vudu
Streep plays Karen Silkwood, a worker in a plutonium plant that might not be doing things on the up-and-up. Workers are being overworked and contaminated. The company is cutting corners to fulfill a big contract. Karen doesn’t like it, but is “encouraged” to keep her mouth shut. Based on real-life events.
Director: Mike Nichols (The Graduate)
Cast: Meryl Streep, Kurt Russell, Cher
Where: Netflix (DVD only); purchase DVD or Blu-ray
Streep plays Baroness Karen von Blixen, a wealthy unmarried Danish woman who goes to Africa to set up a plantation. Trouble ensues. While there, she runs into the big-game hunter Denys Finch Hatton (Robert Redford). Romance ensues.
Director: Sydney Pollack (The Firm; Three Days of the Condor)
Cast: Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Klaus Maria Brandauer
Where: iTunes, Amazon On Demand, Vudu