Wednesday, March 04, 2009

My love for Mrs Gummer


My birthday present from Mr FF turned out to be a big Amazon delivery of lots of Meryl Streep films that I don't have - and I've got quite a few. She is my favourite actress and even in her not so great films she still shines out from that screen.

I was quite annoyed outraged recently when I saw her film Out of Africa listed in the Times list of worst ever movies (only I say films because I'm a Brit).I know that everyone has different tastes but I cannot understand why someone would rate that as a bad film.On visual appeal alone it scores highly; even if someone does not have love of the Meryl you still have other good actors in it. The music was stupendous and - my personal favourite - the clothes she wears are just breathtaking. In fact every now and then I look on vintage clothes sites for that era's fashion - it's post-Edwardian and has now begun to be called 'The Titanic era'. I've almost bought quite a few outfits but then remembered that I do live in the French countryside and to go to the supermarket in a turn of the century ankle-length suit might stand out a bit.

Anyway, back to Meryl. I do like being a proper fan of someone. If I wasn't a straight female I could even fall in love with her a little bit. She glows - it might sound a bit strange, but to me she does indeed glow. She is also discreet and private and has (supposedly) a happy family life married to a sculptor named Don Gummer. It's lovely that she is not all showbizzy and constantly in the news. To me she is the perfect film star - and to anyone who thinks that she can't sing well in Mamma Mia, then go and rent Postcards From The Edge - you'll change your mind.

34 comments:

Steve said...

I still rate Silkwood as a terrific movie with a great ending. Wasn't so keen on Mama Mia but she looks damned hot for her age, does Meryl.

cheshire wife said...

Sometimes you wonder if the person writing the review has ever seen what thay are writing about. Opinions seem to vary so much.

Lane Mathias said...

I think she's wonderful for all the reasons you've said.
Great present from Mr FF!

justme said...

What a lovely, thoughtful pressie! Well done Mr FF! x

Ian Lidster said...

Postcards From the Edge is an excellent film. I use a line from it when working with drug addicted clients: "Instant gratification takes too long."

A Woman Of No Importance said...

Great gift, FF, and happy birthday again!

I like Meryl, but she seems almost disliked for trying hard to act well, with her accents - She isn't the same woman in every film she's in which you cannot say for some, who play themselves in every movie...

I liked Out Of Africa, I thought she was great in Kramer vs Kramer, and the French Lieutenant's Woman, and so many other films. I haven't seen Mama Mia, and don't think I will unless all the males are out of the house at any point...

Some reviewers say Titanic is one of the greatest films of all time, and I would disagree - There's sometimes no accounting for personal taste in movies, actors and actresses - And there will always be space for unassuming, intelligent actresses like Ms Streep! xox

Rosaria Williams said...

Yes, Meryl gets my vote for one of the most remarkable actor around.

This Ro(a)mantic Life said...

She has such poise. The picture you have there is gorgeous.

Hope Mr. FF will be home soon :)

Bridget said...

It's true that even in the stinker movies she shines. I'm absolutely gobsmacked that anyone would put Out of Africa on their worst list. It's ridiculous!

bindu said...

I love Meryl Streep too, and Out of Africa is one of my favourite movies of all time! It did help that I think Robert Redford it cute too. :) That's a great birthday present. Hope you had a good one! Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Anonymous said...

I love Mamma Mia! And yes - Meryl Streep glows in all her films! Amazing.

Henry the Dog said...

My mum is outraged too. Totally outraged. Mum LOVES Meryl Streep and I know you may think this strange, and I'm not just saying it, honest, but it truly is mum's favourite film of ALL time. She must have seen it so many times she even knows some of the script (sad, sad). I think there's something about Blixen's relationship with Finch that makes her think of her and Uncle Hugh - although Uncle Hugh looks NOTHING at all like Robert Redford. Particularly in the past anyway, before mum & Uncle Hugh started living together. And the music. Don't get me started. She recently ordered it from Amazon (because the other CD wore out) and she plays it ad nauseum when she's in the car. As for Meryl Streeps other films, mum says there isn't a bad one. Deerhunter, Sophies Choice, French LW, Plenty, Bridges of Madison etc etc... The woman's a genius.

Brother Tobias said...

I wonder about these reviewers. I think there's a 'white is the new black' thing going on; 'Different is smart'. I sometimes imagine, when they've finished work for the day, they relax with DVDs of 'Staying Alive', 'Catwoman' and 'Showgirls'.

A Super Dilettante said...

I love Streep's film called "Plenty". She's a great actress! I also love her in "The Hours" (the scene where she's preparing her party with Richard Strauss's Four Last Songs music playing in the background). Mr. FF is as romantic as ever! One ought to feel very lucky to have someone who knows about you, what you like, what kind of food you eat, what your fears, and even what kind of toothpaste you use (is it with stripes or is it just plain white one)? They all seem matter to me. I don't know about you!

claire p said...

I loved Mama Mia and The Devil Wears Prada. Have to admit to not having seen many of her films, but I'm not a big film buff full stop.

What a lovely husband to be so thoughtful!

Dumdad said...

She's a class act as an actress and a person.

French Fancy... said...

Steve - Silkwood is a gripping story but I think they did make her look a bit dowdy. I like glowing beautiful Meryl best, not work drudge Meryl. Superficial? Moi?

cheshire wife - I wish I'd bookmarked the article now because I have been trying to find it again (or did I dream it?) - and I can't. Maybe it was the Guardian. Will continue trying to find source.

Lane - He's always good with presents - and his painted cards. If I could clone him there would be a lot of happy women out there

justme - It was indeed - and naughty UPS for taking one day longer to deliver it than they should have. It arrived birthday +1

Ian - I watched 'Postcards' again last week and it is fantastic, really under-rated. I only had a home made DVD so it's nice to have the proper DVD of it, without the advert breaks and with Carrie Fisher's commentary (which I'm looking forward to)

AWONI - I don't know why so many critics - armchair and professional - think she cannot do accents. I think it is the 'Coldplay' scenario - as soon as someone is mega-successful the knives come out for them. I also didn't enjoy Titanic - thought is was really hyped up and about 1.5 hrs too long.

lakeviewer - we're united in our Love Of Meryl

ContemTroub - that picture is from Out of Africa - FF's personal best Oscar for the costumes - more than any other film. Anyway, Mr FF is now back and relaxing in the bath with a glass of wine

French Fancy... said...

I’ve gone all spacey - better reboot

French Fancy... said...

back to normal - let's carry on:

Mrs Silly - hello there and I love your name - I suppose Pollack was a mainstream director, it had two major stars, they changed the Blixen story - all these things mean there are ready-made knockers out there for anything that isn't quirky or different. This was a mega-budget blockbuster, okay it had some stilted dialogue but it was still superb.

Hiya bindu - glad you share my love of this film. I've seen it loads of times now and it still reduced me to tears in about 3 places: when she begs for the kikyu to have their land; when she frees her servant and of course when she hears the news that I won't say in case people don't know what it is

Ladyfi - I wasn't sure with Mamma Mia at first - it took me a while to warm to it and then I loved it. I enjoyed it more on the second viewing funnily enough.

Henry - I've said it before - your mum and I were separated at birth. I wish you were in our bit of France.

BroTob - spot on - these reviewers have to maintain their cool but what do they really like? I bet they are indeed chavvy at heart, even Kermode

ASD - Now 'Plenty' is one that is in my birthday parcel. I haven't seen it on film but I did see it on the stage. It's so long ago though I don't remember a thing about it.

Mr FF is very romantic, but I buy the toothpaste for us and vary it each time. He does know about all my favourite things though - he's my true 'other half'.

clairep - Meryl looked so elegant in the 'Prada' film. I do like her floaty and romantic though. One of my favourites is the 'House of the Spirits', but I've not got it.

Dumdad - she is very classy and private. It's great she is not in the news all the time trying to keep her name up there. Less is more with her

Anonymous said...

Part two of my cliff-hanging boat-sinking story is UP! You must have been commenting while it was loading...

French Fancy... said...

On my way...

nikkicrumpet said...

She is generally in movies that don't appeal to me...so I haven't seen much of her work. But I do admire the fact that she isn't always trying to get public attention. I think it's classier to do your work and then go home...instead of out trying to get in every magazine and news show on the planet.

Blu said...

Now ..you really got me going. She is my FAVORITE actress..

I think she is AMAZING..I love her, I love her acting, Can I come round to your house watch Meryls movies and eat cake..

Who are these bad people who dont like her acting? PLONKERS. WILD BLU PERSON.........grrr

The Accidental Fan said...

FF, just to say I've enjoyed your blog immensely and your comments on my blog. Please remove my now defunct blog from your sidebar.

Anonymous said...

I think she is fine as an actress - well sometimes - but she def doesn't do anything for me in any other way. I'm more of a Penelope Cruz or even Helen Mirren girl myself. Not forgetting the wonderful Keeley Hawes of course.

But it's good really that we all like different people and yes, you MUST be a proper fan. Get those posters up. I always had one of Audrey Hepburn in my bedroom but at some point it disappeared - not sure how that happened.

French Fancy... said...

nikki - she really does a good job of keeping her private life private. Her daughter - Mamie Gummer - is meant to have inherited her ma's acting talent

Blu - good, we share Meryl love. I can't find the article I saw in which Out of Africa was listed - I did see it though.

TAF - it's been fun.

TRB - oh I could never put a poster of anyone on my wall - for one thing we've got so many oils and watercolours all over the place there is barely a square inch left.

I did like Keeley in 'Tipping the Velvet' and Spooks was never so good once 'Zoe and Tom' left.

Jennysmith said...

Hi sweetie, sorry i've been "off".

Thats funny, saw Doubt the other day. she was bloody good in it. But never seen that one you've mentioned. And i have to confess i couldn't stand her in "Kramer vs Kramer", all she did was blub all the time. Got on my tits!

The film i like her best in is The Last Prairie Show. Not a big hit film but she was brilliant in that. If you haven't got that one - rent it. its great.

missed you xxxx

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French Fancy... said...

Hurrah - link to this 'bad' film list is now added. I knew I hadn't imagined it.

Jen - I want to see Doubt but of course all (well, almost all) films in our region are dubbed into French and I refuse to hear Meryl's voice by anyone but her. I didn't like K versus K much either - it was too sickeningly sweet for my taste - in fact I can barely recall her. The scene that seems to stick in my mind is the breakfast scene with Dustin H and little boy. Re the Prarie Show - I've never heard of it, but then I am in the sticks. I imdb'd it and, as it is an Altman film, know that I will enjoy it.

ocean - thanks for popping in. I'll be round soon

laurie said...

i like meryl streep, too. we watched "out of africa" again a few months ago, the first time I'd seen it since it came out. it's a very lush movie, and you're right, she does glow. the clothes are great, the scenery is great. my problem with it is that it didn't really have much of a point---and i didn't like the robert redford character, but then i don't much like robert redford. he's all the things that meryl isn't: vain, mostly.

i think you could indulge yourself in one ankle-length skirt....

French Fancy... said...

laurie - I wish we could sit face to face and discuss the points made by the film, because I felt a lot of points were made about imperialism and the like.

As regards ankle length skirts - I do have a few modern style ones that I wear with boots but the sort of thing that I have almost bought countless times and then shied away from at the last minute are to be found on this site here:

http://www.bobbydene.com/wcloth1.htm

Definitely not suitable for the kind of life I lead these days.

Cynthia Pittmann said...

Sorry about the misunderstanding, Mrs. French Fancy, but it was corrected in time. So rest comfortably, your award was not passed around.

I totally agree with you about Meryl Streep, she's the best. I heard an interview where she said that she carefully reviews each role offered and only accepts the film projects that she supports. What integrity...and she's great in any film including "Mama Mia" and "Out of Africa".

French Fancy... said...

Cynthia - If only all actresses had such integrity but then very few have her talent. She is so very versatile and the young Meryl was so attractive. I mean the older Meryl still passes muster. She had such joi de vivre in Mamma Mia.

Tess Kincaid said...

Meryl has her own little section in my DVD library!

I adore Out of Africa. I watch it again and again and never tire of it.