tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751049975001656578.post170944582406351489..comments2024-03-27T14:12:04.933-05:00Comments on Word on the Streep: Recasting 1990: "The Grifters"Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13115351346180340694noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751049975001656578.post-83236028323823446102020-10-22T21:22:55.416-05:002020-10-22T21:22:55.416-05:00This period is also very nostalgic for me. And agr...This period is also very nostalgic for me. And agreed, SO many wonderful parts for women late 30s to early 40s. <br /><br />Very unfortunate about Evita and the negotiations falling through. I think when filming was supposed to happen there was political upheaval on the locations they were to go. <br /><br />I joke with my husband sometimes that I want to learn how to lucid dream so I can watch movies from this era and see Meryl's version. Aren't there books for that? haJeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13115351346180340694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751049975001656578.post-65687728191307284632020-10-22T20:04:29.114-05:002020-10-22T20:04:29.114-05:00Another great pick... great guess, CJames! I have ...Another great pick... great guess, CJames! I have not seen 'The Grifters' since it came to cinemas that year, so will have to find it for another look.<br /><br />Damn, the competition must have been fierce at this point in time, with so many great roles on offer for so many great performers in their thirties and forties vying for the same opportunities. I look at this period of time with a great deal of nostalgia and pathos, because it was filled with so many near misses for Meryl Streep.<br /><br />I cannot help but think things must have started to tank when she (or her agent) triggered that 'pay-or-play' clause for 'Evita' in 1988, and then reneged on the decision, to no avail. Streep was also shocked and vocal about the lack of distributor interest in 'A Cry in the Dark' in late 1988 and early 1989, despite her Oscar nomination and snagging the Best Actress Award at Cannes in May (she was at Cannes that year but had left before the announcement of the awards). Some of her gloss must have come off at that point, right on her 40th birthday.<br /><br />But the fallout must also have given her a deeper drive to maintain her career into a third decade, and we know all too well that 'Madison County' was a near miss for many other actors, yet it came to Streep.<br /><br />For 1991 I am guessing Morticia in 'The Addams Family' because it would have been fun to see Streep and Raul Julia eat up the scenery again as they did in 'The Taming of the Shrew' onstage in the 1970s. It would have been another LA-based shoot for this period. If I didn't have that restriction, I'd put her in 'Truly, Madly, Deeply' playing against Alan Rickman. <br />Michael Burgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09718312125832719092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751049975001656578.post-20612262261244781842020-10-22T17:08:48.176-05:002020-10-22T17:08:48.176-05:00Thanks Jeff, I will look for that book. It's i...Thanks Jeff, I will look for that book. It's incredible that Meryl backed off because of loyalty to Goldie. I never knew this but doesn't surprise me.<br /><br />I knew you couldn't go for this due to your stipulations but I couldn't not mention "Thelma and Louise" . If I'm guessing what you might go for "Howard's End" moved forward a few months or maybe a TV film? Or Mercedes' supporting role in "The Fisher King"? I'm at a loss. <br /><br />That's what's so exciting, I can't tell where you're going with this!<br /><br />And also, I can't believe it's been 6 years since your terrific reimagined filmography! Good Times. CJameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12937312863597687063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751049975001656578.post-5868203131648008692020-10-22T12:57:49.735-05:002020-10-22T12:57:49.735-05:00Would love to hear your podcasts Zach, and there&#...Would love to hear your podcasts Zach, and there's no finer aficionado on Meryl than Jeff! CJameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12937312863597687063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751049975001656578.post-71717346950983004152020-10-22T11:37:38.518-05:002020-10-22T11:37:38.518-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.pak sudaryonohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03646004339241038877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751049975001656578.post-4409456277380012462020-10-22T09:56:58.463-05:002020-10-22T09:56:58.463-05:00Hey Jeff. My name is Zach. I co-host a podcast cal...Hey Jeff. My name is Zach. I co-host a podcast called Meryl Streep and the Movies. If you'd ever be up for doing an interview with us, let me know. I think it'd be great fun--I think it'd be fun to focus an episode on this series you're doing, actually. It's super cool. Either way, great job here and keep it up. If you're interested, email me at MerylStreepPodcast@gmail.com<br /><br />All the best!Zachnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751049975001656578.post-83099010930270657752020-10-21T22:27:09.296-05:002020-10-21T22:27:09.296-05:00It's no secret that Thelma & Louise is my ...It's no secret that Thelma & Louise is my ultimate replacement for Meryl's filmography. As I said in my post on Dangerous Liaisons, any of the films during the period of 1989-1994 that I have in my "Reimagined Filmography" from 2014 will not be options for this new recasting project. So many of Meryl's "wilderness years" films were those that she actually was up for, but did not do for one reason or another. Thelma & Louise will therefore not be my choice for 1991. Which makes it even more fun!<br /><br />My best guess on Meryl not doing the film was due to Ridley Scott not thinking Goldie Hawn was suitable. Meryl wasn't pregnant during shooting. She's said in the past that she and Goldie were ultimately "too expensive," which may be true, but I have suspicions that the two kind of approached the project as a two-person deal, and while Ridley really liked Meryl, if she wouldn't do it without Goldie, it wasn't going to happen. <br /><br />I strongly recommend the book "Off the Cliff: How The Making of Thelma & Louise Drove Hollywood off the Cliff" by Becky Aikmen. Doesn't have every detail about Meryl and Goldie, but a fantastic history on the film. Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13115351346180340694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751049975001656578.post-58254357913466083532020-10-21T21:18:44.274-05:002020-10-21T21:18:44.274-05:00Yes! Really glad we thought the same about the dar...Yes! Really glad we thought the same about the daring and challenging nature of the role, it's partially why I chose it too. I must rewatch this soon too. <br /><br />For 1991 I have to pick "Thelma and Louise". Iconic movie and a great chance to see Meryl "buddy" with another actress. I know Goldie Hawn was supposed to be her co-star in this but I also read that she wasn't necessarily deemed "right" for it. Either way it's a shame it didn't happen and maybe one of the few times this reimagined filmography can pick up a "dropped" role? <br /><br />Reading now, I see a lot of filming took place outside Bakersfield and then in Utah. Although not ideal in terms of commute, I don't think it would have been a deal-breaker at this time? Plus the shoot was only 12 weeks as oppose to the 6 months (!) for Death Becomes Her.<br /><br />I always assumed Meryl dropped out because she was pregnant but this filmed from June to maybe early September 1990, yet her daughter wasn't born til the following June. Does anyone know why Meryl decided against filming?<br /><br />Recasting Meryl in this gives the opportunity to work with the revered Ridley Scott as well as a chance to be funny and sexy in an interesting role. And she could easily have played either character at this point. Plus it was a big hit! CJameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12937312863597687063noreply@blogger.com