POLL: Meryl Streep as an actor

Yeah, I think she's great, but I already know I don't want to see Mama Mia or the Post or any number of other films she's in. I took a quick look at IMDB and looks like I've seen a lot fewer than I thought I had, but she was great in everything I'd seen her in - she's quite funny, too, which I always admire - not every great actor can do comedy.

 

I bet that tuna casserole is the bomb.

 

Streep also blows up real good

 

Like everyone else who's been in films over a long period she has some clunkers that's she's done.

 

I see gears turning when she's on the screen. I only ever liked her in "Death Becomes Her".

 

Why don't you watch a few more of her movies and make up your own mind?

 

if she's not great, then who is?

 

It seems some find the fact that you can rarely see her "acting" boring.
But that is exactly what makes her so great. Chewing up the scenery, like latter day Pacino, is so much easier.

 

I presume you mean currently working in Hollywood? Because the way I understand it, the dubious title usually foisted on Meryl Streep is that she is the greatest living, American actress, not the greatest actress of all time, anywhere.

Does anyone here truly believe the latter to be the case? If so, that’s a bold assertion.

Thinking back over Hollywood history, there are so many actresses that I prefer to Streep that it’s hard to know where to begin.

Off the top of my head, here are three current Hollywood actresses who I prefer to Streep, in terms of their screen presence, although I wouldn’t say any of them are quantifiably greater:

Frances McDormand
Cate Blanchett
Natalie Portman

And then there’s world cinema.

Here are three actresses of classical Japanese cinema who I think are at least equal to any American film actress of any period:

Kinuyo Tanaka
Hideko Takamine
Setsuko Hara

I have nothing against Streep, but I tend to agree with those who, earlier in this thread, espoused the opinion that she is a solid actress who has never been in a truly great film. She’s certainly been around a long time, which counts for something in Hollywood.

 

hmmm truly great, youre right not a lot of true masterpieces, id say Manhattan and maybe Kramer Vs Kramer are up there, for me anywhere. and a few are close Silkwood Adaption etc...and a lot of good to middling stuff. I think Meryl makes her rep with the sheer range, shes a master of accents, morphing into the character, etc. Oscar bait but cant deny her ability. a lot of actresses I like more but the best technically is Meryl.

 

I agree on her rep being based on range, accents.

For me, the closest to a truly great film that she’s been in is The Deer Hunter, but, even then, she’s not playing a lead role.

I consider myself to be a fairly big fan of Woody Allen, but Manhattan is not a personal favourite. I have a problem with the central relationship at the core of the film. No need to expand on that here. Again, though, Streep is merely a supporting player.

 

I thought of that one right after I posted, I think the first Holocaust miniseries was excellent (and she was great in that) but you have to go way back for that one, its interesting her penchant for taking the juicier roles as opposed to the great films, doing stuff like a cry in the dark (a dingo ate my baby!) when she should've had her pick of scripts back then. but I guess she knew what she was doing

 

Need another option in the poll: I can act better than her

 

We all have our own horizons.

 

C’mon,
Everyone has a right to “open their pie holes” ...or as I prefer to say, in a more respectful manner, everyone has the right to express their own opinion.

(Even if I think they’re wrong, like to live in a bubble with the sound of their own voice, or sadly misguided.)

 

I'm not sure why you're quoting me, I simply answered a question that was posed.

 

Yes, thank you for answering the question.

 

oh, ok, you are welcome. I misunderstood.

 

The Pacino approach only works when the actor is "likeable".
Streep scores very low on that scale for many, including me.

 

While I don't agree that she has never been in a truly great film (I think Deer Hunter, Kramer vs. Kramer, Sophie's Choice, Silkwood, Out of Africa and my personal favourite Death Becomes Her are great films), I do think that in the first part of her career, Streep picked roles in excellent films (and she starred in two back-to-back winners for Best Picture with Deer Hunter and Kramer vs. Kramer).

I think the latter part of her career, she has tended to go more for the role than the weight of how good the film is. I think people remember The Devil Wears Prada more for Streep's performance than perhaps the film itself. She's just so perfect in it, she is the first thing I think about when I think of the film.

Personally speaking, she was great in The Iron Lady, but as a film, it's not very strong.

So, looking at her filmography, I think one would expect her to be in a lot more great films.

 

I walked out of that movie with a friend and both said "another Oscar" at the same time, the movie itself was kind of boring

 

And that's the difference, I think, between a great actor and a great director. Streep wasn't always in great films, but she was always great in them.

 

A great actress who I now rather avoid. Tired of her

 

Only seen a couple of her movies so I didn’t want to vote because she only had a small role in those, one of those being the masterpiece Deer Hunter. What are some recommendations to really see her acting chops?