Streep Nom #9 and Act III: Funny Lady

Streep at 60: We've been looking at each Meryl Streep Oscar nod and its competition. Previously 78, 79, 81, 82 and 83, 85, 87 and 88

I believe that Meryl Streep's film career can be divided into five chapters or acts (thus far).

• Act I (Liberated Lady) 1977-1981
• Act II (Chamaeleonidae Erotica) 1981-1988
• Act III (Funny Lady) 1989-1992
• Act IV (???) 1993-2001
• Act V (The Great Entertainer) 2002-present

After the High Drama years it came as a shock to many when Meryl was suddenly making comedies. Some felt it was a career crisis and there was some backlash going on. This is possibly hard to comprehend for her new young fans but great success always leads to it and many people were sick of Streep's total dominance as the Eighties wound down. It was somewhat common wisdom at the time that her run at the top was ending, having turned 40 in 1989. Several younger stars were coming into their own and beginning to hog the attention: Meg Ryan (27) and Julia Roberts (22) were suddenly fighting for the America's Sweetheart crown, Michelle Pfeiffer (31) was beginning her short run as the dramatic actress, Winona Ryder (18) was inarguably in great demand; Melanie Griffith (32), Geena Davis (33) and Holly Hunter (31) were expected to soar in the Nineties; Ellen Barkin (35), Mimi Rogers (33), Madeleine Stowe (31), Mary Stuart Masterson (23) and Laura Dern (22) were question marks. The list goes on.

Though Meryl had often delivered funny beats in dramatic roles, She-Devil (1989) was her first purely comedic screen role. Some felt she was too broad and few liked the movie as a whole but that didn't slow Meryl on her new course. She followed it up with three more comedies: Postcards From the Edge, Defending Your Life and Death Becomes Her (1992). The fourth, very silly and quite entertaining (which I'll talk about next week), was her first substantial hit since Out of Africa (1985).

Off and onscreen mother & daughter duos at the Postcards From the
Edge premiere: Meryl, Debbie Reynolds, Shirley Maclaine & Carrie Fisher.
Photo via Simply Streep

The second, Postcards..., the best and most dramatic of the comedies, was a minor success financially and gave Meryl her ninth Oscar nomination. This historic event put her ahead of Geraldine Page (8 noms) and behind only Bette Davis (10 noms) and Katharine Hepburn (12 noms) as Oscar's all time favorite gal. For a great write up on Postcards I suggest Nick Davis's astute piece on Meryl as Entertainer. I also suggest reading the original book by Carrie Fisher which is much different than the movie but just as entertaining.

1990 the nominees were

• Kathy Bates, Misery
• Anjelica Huston, The Grifters
• Julia Roberts, Pretty Woman
• Meryl Streep, Postcards from the Edge
• Joanne Woodward, Mr & Mrs. Bridge
  

Other 1990 women for context: The snubbed Drama Globe nominees numbered two: Michelle Pfeiffer (Russia House) and Susan Sarandon (White Palace). The snubbed Comedy Globe nominees numbered three: Demi Moore (Ghost), Mia Farrow (Alice) and Andie MacDowell (Green Card). Other leading women that year were: Debra Winger (The Sheltering Sky), Sandra Bernhard (Without You I'm Nothing), Maria de Medeiros (Henry & June), Cher (Mermaids), Goldie Hawn (Bird on a Wire) and Tracey Ullman (I Love You To Death)

Nathaniel's list: I have still not caught up with Woodward's performance (?Why?) but otherwise my 1990 choices are the nominees Bates, Huston and Streep with the other spots going to two of these four: Mia Farrow, Laura Dern (Wild at Heart), Jessica Lange (Men Don't Leave) and Victorial Abril (Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down).

How do you feel about Meryl's first four screen stabs at comedy and who makes your Best Actress ballot for 1990?
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