Silkwood (1983) - "Living For The Streep" Series

“Living for the STREEP” Series: We are here to celebrate the career of Mary Louise Streep….now known to most as Meryl Streep who has become widely known by critics, film-lovers, and audiences as likely our GREATEST LIVING ACTRESS.  Ever since her earlier breakout roles in the late 1970’s in films such as The Deer Hunter, and Kramer Vs. Kramer, she has carved out a filmography filled with brilliant performances in memorable films spanning a variety of genres including biopics, thrillers, family dramas, AND comedies.  During this time, she has also earned a STAGGERING TWENTY-ONE Oscar nominations including THREE wins.  Over the next several months, I will be revisiting one notable Streep film each month – each highlighting a different type of performance – culminating with the May 1 release of the long-awaited sequel featuring one of her more ICONIC roles as Miranda Priestly, The Devil Wears Prada 2.

Directed by the legendary Mike Nichols (The Graduate, Catch 22, Working Girl), this is the harrowing true story of Karen Silkwood (Oscar-winner Meryl Streep) who worked at a plutonium processing plant in Oklahome in the mid '70's.  At one point, she is exposed to radioactive materials and she eventually becomes a whistleblower on dangerous practices at this plant.  Tragically she died under mysterious circumstances just as she was set to divulge information to the media.  This film received massive acclaim upon release and was also a box office hit - it was also nominated for five Oscars including for Best Director (Nichols), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actress (Streep), Best Picture, and Best Supporting Actress for Cher who plays Karen's housemate.  The stacked cast also includes Kurt Russell, Craig T. Nelson, Fred Ward, Ron Silver, Charles Hallahan, and Bruce McGilll among several other notable actors. 

Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon 

Transcript

“Living for the STREEP” Series: We are here to celebrate the career of Mary Louise Streep originally from Summit, New Jersey….now known to most as Meryl Streep who has become widely known by critics, film-lovers, and audiences as likely our GREATEST LIVING ACTRESS.  Ever since her earlier breakout roles in the late 1970’s in films such as Julia, The Deer Hunter, and Kramer Vs. Kramer, she has carved out a filmography filled with brilliant performances in memorable films spanning a variety of genres including biopics, thrillers, family dramas, AND comedies.  During this time, she has also earned a STAGGERING TWENTY-ONE Oscar nominations including THREE wins.  Over the next several months, I will be revisiting one notable Streep film each month – each highlighting a different type of performance – culminating with the May 1 release of the long-awaited sequel featuring one of her more ICONIC roles as Miranda Priestly, The Devil Wears Prada 2. (Music playing over)

SILKWOOD - 1983

Directed by Mike Nichols

Starring Meryl Streep, Kurt Russell, Cher, Craig T. Nelson, Fred Ward, Diana Scarwid, Ron Silver, Charles Hallahan, Josef Somner, Sudie Bond, Henderson Forsythe, E. Katherine Kerr, Bruce McGill, David Strathairn, JC Quinn, Richard Hamilton, M. Emmett Walsh, Graham Jarvis, James Rebhorn, Bill Cobbs, Anthony Heald, and Will Patton

Genre: Biopic Thriller (Audio clip)

Considering the true-life subject matter (unsafe conditions working in nuclear power), its impressive pedigree (Mike Nichols directed, Nora Ephron wrote it) and an ABSURDLY deep cast lead by young Meryl....I'm kind of surprised that I never checked this out before. It IS difficult to find via streaming and I'm not sure why...I THINK it was an HBO staple back in the '80's, maybe I was just too preoccupied with watching Rocky III for 200th time. 😆 But I'm glad to have finally watched it because not only is this just such a compelling, heartbreaking, and ultimately (kinda) inspiring story - the Kerr-McGee plant DID close not long after the events of this story happened - but it's told in such a naturalistic, matter-of-fact way which kind of catches you off guard....in a good way.

This IS the story Karen Silkwood (Streep Oscar-nominated for her performance) who worked at nuclear fuel processing plant in Oklahoma for many years. One day, a co-worker of hers is exposed to contamination from the plutonium they work with....and she begins to notice how not only how lackluster the efforts are there to protect staff from exposure, but also how the plutonium itself isn't being particularly well secured, AND management there seems to be less than honest with staff about the risks involved working there. Karen becomes the on-site union representative and becomes increasingly vocal about these issues....to the resentment and fear (they're afraid of losing their jobs) of her co-workers and arousing suspicion from those in charge who clearly see her as a threat. :o 

Eventually she also tries to become a whistleblower, collecting information, and she finds herself increasingly isolated. Any actual actual "threats" to her life don't really become clear until very late in the film...this just isn't that kind of movie. It never reaches the intense thriller levels of The China Syndrome nor the legal melodrama of an Erin Brockovich...both films I LOVE by the way. What really drives this narrative is a more day-by-day grind of relatable human drama. We watch how much of this plays out mainly in the context of Karen's relationships with her long-time housemate Dolly (Cher who was also justifiably nominated for an Oscar) and her live-in lover Drew (Kurt Russell who also deserved Oscar recognition). We get to know each of them very well and how Karen's new crusade affects them. And we even get to know so many folks from the plant and union along the way too - some allies, some not, but pretty much everyone feels relatable.... 

Well with ONE major exception of Winston played by Craig T. Nelson - he appears pretty sinister and intimidating from the get-go as Karen is at one point transferred to work under him. Dude's just not only leaning in WAY too close when he's instructing her but he also seems to be doing some sketchy stuff involving the monitoring of fuel rods which catches her eye. 🫣 Nelson still gives a very effective performance and HIS more obvious villain character is allowed one key relatable dialogue exchange where we can even understand where HE'S coming from. Ephron's screen play (which was also nominated for an Oscar) is just SO well structured juggling all of these different characters, making all of the nuclear stuff understandable, and of course focusing on Karen's evolution. 

Honestly just a lot of talented folks in front of and behind the camera doing their parts to contribute to an important yet always engaging story of no matter the time period (this taking place in the mid '70's), just how perpetually f@#ked SO many front-line workers always seem to be across so many different industries which help society function. 😡 

Meryl Oscar Clip (Meryl Streep has become such a consummate actress on-screen that many just ASSUME – fair or not – that she will delivering scenes designed to highlight her “acting” ability.  This would be the moment of her performance in this film which seems the most IDEAL to play as a clip on the Oscar’s): 

Now it should go without saying just how much Streep absolutely KILLS it with her performance - I have yet to see some of her more celebrated earlier dramatic performances (Sophie's Choice, The French Lieutenant's Woman) but I've seen most of them, this definitely ranks among her best. :) And for me, the most critical acting occurs about 2/3 of the way through as every one is now aware that Karen Silkwood is not only contaminated with nuclear materials but it has spread throughout her house….and as a result, the company is taking steps to quarantine her while also ransacking the house.  No not particularly pleasant and what Streep absolutely NAILS here is going through the full gamut of emotions in response to her life character’s life being flipped upside down.  Sometimes subtle, sometimes not….she nonetheless comes off as unmistakably HUMAN. (Audio clip) 

Best Needledrop (best song cue or score used throughout runtime of film): 

This film is actually pretty light on music or at least feels that way….much more immediacy from the sound of dialogue if anything else.  But whatever score there is actually works pretty well and that comes to us from Oscar-winning French composer Georges Delerue who would go on to conduct one of THE best scores of the ‘80’s a few years later with Platoon.  His score for this film could not be any different as it is filled with acoustic guitar, but it is emotional nonetheless whenever it needs to be. (Audio clip)

For me however, the musical highlight of the film actually comes courtesy of the star herself….early on in the film during a long drive between Texas and Oklahoma, we hear her Karen gracefully sing “Amazing Grace.”  And then during THE final sequence – a tragic one mind you – we hear it reprised and it PACKS a punch!  This would also not be the last time hearing Meryl sing in a film….previous episode Postcards From the Edge, a VERY funny opening number in Death Becomes Her, and eventually…..sigh…..Mamma Mia. But I don’t any vocal performance of hers is ANY other film has quite matched the nerve struck by this one – it’s a genuinely touching way to close out the film. (Audio clip) 

(Audio clip) 

Wasted Talent (most under-utilized talent involved with film):

What plays a big part with integrating her character so organically into the overall story is this crazy, stacked cast I was referring to earlier! It's just a murderers' row of top-flight actors, most of them several years before they would become more well-known. Just a non-stop stream of talent appearing at critical points doing their part, then moving on...it almost became a game for me if I wasn't so taken with the story. 😆 There's Fred Ward as a fellow union rep on-site telling an offensive-yet-funny joke....YOUNG Will Patton as a well-meaning co-worker whom Karen talks to about something dangerous he's been tasked to do....YOUNGER (and shaggy-haired no less) David Straitharn as another co-worker who she kicks back with on her break....the late, great James Rebhorn as a doctor late in the film dispensing medical advice which MIGHT be intentionally confusing....the late, great Ron Silver as an union leader whom Karen sort of latches on to at one point....it just goes on, SUCH a deep bench. Bruce McGill, M. Emmett Walsh, Josef Somner from Close Encounters, Charles Hallahan from The Thing, Richard Hamilton from Men in Black ....hmmm maybe a sci-fi trend here? 😆

Trailer Moment (scene or moment that best describes this movie):

And SPEAKING of that deep bench of supporting players, this film’s standout scene NOT focusing on Silkwood utilizes two more veteran character actors playing physicians dispatched by the union to hold a townhall for employees of the Kerr McGee plant and their family members – Karen is present but these two doctors taking center stage are played by the late, great Graham Jarvis who has over 150 credits including recent previous episode Misery along with the ever-reliable Anthony Heald playing a GOOD guy for a change.  Heald is actually most famous for playing the venal Dr. Chilton in previous episode Silence of the Lambs.  And together they deliver a very sober but NECESSARY summary of the risks involved for employees of this plant. (Audio clip) 

Now while Jarvis’s unnamed doctor delivers most of this, the MOST chilling line of dialogue comes from Heald’s unnamed doctor when asked by Sudie Bond’s beleaguered Thelma HOW to remove plutonium should it enter your lungs…..the positively FROZEN look on the actress face when he responds kind of says it all.  In a film mostly made of character interactions, you need at least ONE key exposition moment like this to lay out the true stakes…..and it’s a good one.  (Audio clip) 

MVP (person or people most responsible for the success of this film): 

As written and performed, Karen Silkwood comes off as a combination of funny, flawed, and impetuous....it's hard to not root for her but you can't help but feel scared for her too. Her look, her walk, her accent - it all feels grounded, not in a "star" performance dominating the sceen sort of a way along the lines of Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich. (Still a great performance by the way!) Her Karen never feels overtly as if she's TRYING to be the main character in the movie of her life....she's just one small cog in a wheel trying to do her part, whether she senses the consequences or not.  For delivering an indelibly natural performance for a complex true story which NEEDS it, Meryl Streep is the MVP. (Audio clip) 

Final Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5

Yes this is a film with distinct themes and it can make you angry (as it did me) but finally also thanks to savvy direction (also Oscar-nominated) from the legendary Mike Nichols (The Graduate, Catch 22, Working Girl, The Birdcage), we as an audience are never beaten over the head with its messaging. Nichols keeps it simple and straightforward....much of the runtime is simply spent watching Karen and others simply hang out. Regardless by the end (and this film ends with some sentiment elegantly done), it has all accumulated into a powerful story. (Audio clip) 

Streaming on hoopla

And that ends another DECONTAMINATED review!