Customer Reviews

Meryl Streep: A Critical Biography

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This is a really good book for the serious Streep fan. It delves into her acting in much more detail than the other biographies, which seem to only list her acting awards and leave it at that. I was extremely pleased to see a discussion of Streep's work in PLENTY, which was so understated and low-pressure and unlike anything she had done before. It's interesting to watch Streep's performances and discover not only the different characters she plays, but the different acting STYLES she seems to have at her disposal. Her work in PLENTY was certainly different than her fettered, mannered (but equally brilliant and appropriate) interpretation of Karen Silkwood. This kind of attention to her craft really places this book at the top of the heap. I would love to see an updated version of this book because of all the great performances she has given since then (A CRY IN THE DARK, POSTCARDS, DEATH BECOMES HER, MARVIN'S ROOM, BRIDGES, ONE TRUE THING, etc.) but I realize that excellence doesn't sell books anymore to the public, so let's all buy the juicy Gwyneth Paltrow bio and find out what the new fall fashions are.

I enjoyed this book. It delves into Meryl Streeps craft much more than the other 2 books written about her. It has very little personal information, but I am sure Ms. Streep likes it that way. This book reads much like a text book, but for a true Streep fan it is a fascinating read.