The Movie Jar Series: Week 3

 Silkwood: 

“Silkwood” is a 1983 movie starring Meryl Streep, Kurt Russell, and Cher. It is based on a true story about Karen Silkwood, a woman who worked in a nuclear power plant and ultimately became a union labor activist. Nora Ephron was the screenwriter of this film, launching her ever-successful collaborative relationship with Meryl Streep. "Silkwood" paints the picture of corporate greed, a concept that is far too familiar to many to this day. 

Karen works in a plant that makes fuel rods for nuclear reactors, and this job threatens her with exposure to radiation. She becomes aware of the lack of safety precautions implemented by upper management. Employees are asked to work overtime, falsify reports, and brush off incidences of potential exposure to radiation. Karen joins a union and works tirelessly, lobbying for protection of herself and her coworkers. Complications arise throughout the remainder of the film, painting Karen's life as a portrait of someone suffering due to the selfishness of others. 

Stylistically, the film certainly felt dated. That being said, the storyline is very important, drawing light to issues prominent in modern society as well. I personally enjoyed watching "Silkwood". Like always, Meryl Streep's performance was transformative. This was also Cher's first serious acting role, playing Dolly, Karen's roommate. They are truly a dynamic duo. Kurt Russell, who was known for his action roles leading up to this point, also delivered in his performance as Karen's boyfriend. The performances of these three actors really added to the emotional weight of the story. "Silkwood" is an important film, telling the story of many Middle America blue collar workers. The fact that it is based on a true story makes the film all the more compelling and emotional. It is a fascinating glance into the early years of Meryl Streep's untouchable acting career. Although I think some may potentially be bored by this film, due to its datedness and its not-so-cheery subject matter, it is an important film nonetheless. 

 Sleeper:

I know what you're thinking- is she really still watching Woody Allen movies? I can write a whole separate post about Woody Allen's career, discussing whether or not his films should still even be watched based on the highly questionable nature of his personal life, but I will save that for another time. While Allen is a highly controversial figure in Hollywood, to say the least, no one can deny that his movies have had a significant impact on the movie landscape. When I was younger, I received DVDs of many of his movies as a gift. I still have some of them tucked away, and as I was flipping through my books analyzing the greatest movies ever made, I couldn't help but notice there were several noteworthy films of his that I've never seen. Therefore, a handful of his titles ended up in my movie jar, thus will be mentioned in my posts. Feel free to skip over my commentary if you've chosen to hop off the Woody Allen bandwagon. 

"Sleeper" is the fourth film written and directed by Woody Allen. It also launched the start of his partnership with the illustrious Diane Keaton (ah, we have a theme this week- the origins of iconic film duos). In "Sleeper"Allen stars as Miles, a man who has been frozen for the past 200 years. He finds himself in a society in which the government keeps a close eye on the public. Previously, Miles was a carefree Greenwich Village progressive who owned a health food shop. He has trouble accepting his new fate into a society with a big-brother government. This film serves as a social commentary on the government in the year 1973, when the film came out. This is the first Woody Allen movie to have a plot with a true beginning, middle, and end as opposed to a string of sketches. After Miles wakes up 200 years in the future, he is forced to flee when the police are on the hunt for him. He ends up joining a revolution, working to combat the oppressive government. 

It was fascinating watching this film four decades after its release. While many of the references are outdated and very questionable by today's standards, it is interesting to see how the year 2173 was crafted through a 1973 lens. The early 70s visions of futuristic architecture were very clever, and people sure do wear a lot of white. 

"Sleeper" is chock-full of one liners and slapstick comedy, making it in my opinion one of Allen's funniest films. It is highly quotable and most of the jokes pack a punch. Keaton and Allen really have great comedic chemistry, and there was no shortage of it in this film. It was a short, inventive, and entertaining film that is very intriguing to watch decades after its release. "Sleeper" is great if you're in the mood for a quick film with a little bit of science fiction and a whole lot of laughs. 

The Kid: 

Believe it or not, "The Kid" is the first Charlie Chaplin film I've ever seen. I don't know why it's taken me 24 years on this planet to finally get to a Chaplin film, but I finally did it! "The Kid" is a 1921 silent film starring the one, the only, Charlie Chaplin. This was his first full-length picture. It tells the story of his famous character, the Tramp, who finds an abandoned baby in the street and decides to raise him on his own. This movie really took me by surprise. Considering it is nearly 100 years old, I expected it to be a little dull with age. I suppose it's unfair, but I did expect to find it boring for some reason. I was so pleasantly surprised! "The Kid" should be mandatory viewing. It was equal parts hysterical and heartfelt. Being that this movie is just over an hour long, I don't want to give away too many plot points. It explores the trials and tribulations of the Tramp raising his adorable little boy. The two are a hilarious pair and will steal your heart. After viewing, it is clear how "The Kid" is a fundamental building block for both comedic and dramatic films to come. This movie is so short that I would highly encourage everyone to give this classic a whirl.