Customer Reviews

Silkwood

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Based on the true story of Karen Silkwood, a worker at Kerr-McGee's Cimarron nuclear plant who was contaminated with plutonium on several occasions and later died under suspicious circumstances, "Silkwood" was panned by some critics who questioned its accuracy. The film clearly implies that Silkwood was murdered because she was about to expose safety violations at her plant; en route to her late-night meeting with a New York Times reporter, she was run off of the road.

While the movie does deviate from the facts in some instances, it is largely faithful to the important details of the Silkwood case. Richard Rashke's "Who Killed Karen Silkwood" (1981, 2000) - written after Silkwood's parents pursued (and won) a civil case against K-M and based on court documents - presents ample evidence that Silkwood was indeed deliberately contaminated with plutonium and was murdered just days later. In fact, the film doesn't even address the most serious accusations - that Silkwood was part of a larger conspiracy that involved a number of state and federal agencies, that she was spied on by both K-M and the FBI, and that she may have stumbled across an international plutonium smuggling ring.

As a documentary, "Silkwood" does an acceptable job of outlining Silkwood's murder and the events leading up to it. Some of the dramatizations are disappointing but understandable. The lesbian storyline involving Silkwood's roommate Dolly (played by a refreshingly unglamorous Cher) struck me as silly and extraneous, particularly since, in real life, Silkwood's roommate was merely an acquaintance (not a good friend), and Silkwood was the one suspected of being a lesbian.

Nonetheless, as a drama, "Silkwood" certainly deserved its five Academy Award nominations. The actors all give convincing performances, especially Meryl Streep as Silkwood and Kurt Russell as Silkwood's on-again, off-again boyfriend, Drew Stephens. The movie is a chilling piece of work that will haunt you long after it's over. Especially creepy are the decontamination scenes. Yet, for those who decide to delve deeper into the Silkwood saga, the story only gets scarier...

Mike Nichols is one of the best directors in Hollywood history ("The Graduate", "Working Girl"), and Meryl Streep is the greatest there ever was and there ever will be ("Sophie's Choice", "One True Thing", "Kramer vs. Kramer".) I don't think anyone needs convincing to view this film. The film is based on a true story, and the subject matter it deals with is very important. Karen Silkwood's bravery and courage gives you hope, even though you know the film will end tragically(if you know who Karen Silkwood was). The film is horrifying to the viewer, if the viewer allows him/herself to relate to the situation and the characters. Cher is great as Silkwood's gay roomate. Streep can make you cry and make you laugh, but what a lot of people don't know is that she can also sing. She sings "Amazing Grace" so well. Mike Nichols has a way of engaging his viewers, that is so mysterious and great.

Meryl Streep earned her third Best Actress Oscar nomination in a row with her powerful and sobering portrayal of the real-life Karen Silkwood. The filmmakers took liberties in retelling the story, but Streep, Kurt Russell and Cher are simply fantastic. If you love well made drama with real performances from stars as well as supporting characters this is a must see. And if you love Streep, there is no choice, you must own this! She'll blow you away!

I saw this movie while I was doing chemistry research with nuclear waste at one of several national laboratories here in the US. I cannot tell you which one it was- I *can* say that it wasn't LANL (Los Alamos National Laboratory), although the contamination there is appalling (look it up on the web!).

It was absolutely haunting to watch "Silkwood" and then go to work the next morning. There is so much the government doesn't tell the general public about the disastrous conditions in the labs, where we worked, that literally date to the days of the Manhattan Project. If the press only knew just a *few* of these things, the shockwaves would shake the US. I saw plenty of "accidents" (more like disasters) involving spills of concentrated solutions of plutonium compounds ... and was contaminated, once, myself.

The movie just gave me chills. No, in real life, they don't scrub you down with harsh brushes if you're contaminated (plutonium and other fission products are VERY dangerous if they enter through a break in the skin, into the bloodstream), but there was definitely enough in this film to give me chills at work.

I'm still a chemist, but won't work with plutonium again. And, hopefully, this review will remain anonymous.... Through this review, and stories I've told my friends, I've done my share of "whistle-blowing", and it's not a safe thing to do.

See this movie, and you'll think twice about how you feel about the "blue collar" workers involved in the mass production of nuclear warheads in the US.

I am always amazed at the vastly different characters Meryl Streep has believably played in her long career. Her portrayal of Oklahoma nuclear plant worker/activist/martyr is particularly memorable. Though I believe the movie was actually filmed in Texas the filmmakers do a great job of creating working class Oklahoma in the 1970's. Both Kurt Russell and Cher are surprisingly good in their parts and the secondary characters are also well cast. An important movie that should not be overlooked.

I saw "Silkwood" for the first time last night and I came away thinking that it was a pretty good movie with a few faults. The acting and directing were largely outstanding (with one exception I'll get to). Meryl Streep has always impressed me with the subtle way she uses her talent. Her charactors generally don't scream, sob, or rally the troops yet her presence is quietly powerful. Kurt Russell's charactor plays well along side Streep's Silkwood. The director, Mike Nichols, does an excellent job of letting us get to know the characters and their community though a good range of seemingly casual scenes. He may overdo the "dumb reckneck" a bit but I've seen other directors do far worse in that regard. He allows the movie to move along slowly yet purposely. Some may argue that it goes too slowly at times but we, generally, remain emgrossed in the plot.

The movie is part suspense and part political and we are clearly led toward a conclusion. This is not a documentary so I should not care that we are directed toward one conclusion. It may be the right one, after all, but the truth could be far more innocuous than we are led to believe. There are a lot of things that MIGHT be true but not much that we can be certain of. In many ways, that is part of the excellence of "Silkwood". Too many other directors are far more blunt about their causes than Nichols is in this movie.

One final note about "Silkwood" and one that I'd prefer not to make but it's one I just can't overlook. Cher, in what I think was her second movie, was nominated for a Best Supporting Oscar. I knew this before the movie began so I was somewhat focussed on her character. There was never so much as one scene that led me to understand why she was nominated. If anything, her character seemed to be totally extraneous and insignificant to the plot. At times, it was actually embarassing to watch her deliver her limited lines. The nomination made no sense to me. I have seen her in other movies and I know that she can act but she was in basic training in "Silkwood"

This 1983 film has everything going for it. It is directed by Mike Nichols; written by Nora Ephron and Alice Arlen; and stars Meryl Streep, Kurt Russell and Cher. The movie is based on the true story of Karen Silkwood and brings to mind NORMA RAE, ERIN BROKOVICH and THE INSIDER, as it is about efforts to unionize a plant (Sally Field in NORMA RAE) and whistle blowers' activities where the public's health is at risk.

Meryl Streep with her shag haircut and mini-skirts is perfect as the worker who becomes exposed to lethal doses of radioactive plutonium in a plant in Oklahoma. Apparently there is no role too difficult for her. Cher also gives a great performance and comes into her own as a serious actress here, playing Streep's gay housemate.

This movie will scare your socks off, particularly when the alarm goes off in the plant, indicating that radioactive plutonium has been released and that someone has been exposed to this deadly agent. The film makes a powerful statement about corporate greed versus the safety of workers. Very, very scary.

My aunt recommended this Oscar-nominee (five nominations-Best Director, Best Actress (Streep), Best Supporting Actress (Cher) and Best Screenplay included) to me after seeing my interest in the nuclear scene after watching "The Day After." Streep rocks as Karen Silkwood, the woman who fought to make manifest to the world the bizarre and deadly goings-on at the nuclear plutonium plant where she worked after seeing that co-workers tampered with evidence that can kill innocent people. We get a graphic, first-hand account of what happens when exposed to nuclear elements, the vicious scrubbing in the showers, and the touchy attitudes of those who work in such places. This film scared my aunt to death, who since then tends to shy away from any movie dealing with nuclear stuff. This film also shows that one can be a martyr for what's right in the world from any standpoint, and Karen Silkwood was a martyr for what she believed was right in trying to spare the lives of others.

This gem from 1983 is a must see film simply to watch Meryl Streep transform herself once again on screen. As nuclear activist, Karen Silkwood, Streep realizes that corruption is running rampant at the Kerr McGee Nuclear Power Plant in Oklahoma where she works. Her union activities lead to dire consequences for her as she discovers unethical practices taking place all around her simply to allow the plant to reach their desired deadline.
There is a "moral imperative" to report the wrong doing that she sees which ultimately leads to her mysterious death in a car accident. Kudos to director Mike Nichols for bringing out first rate performances from Streep, Cher and Kurt Russell. Shirley Maclaine won the Best Actress Oscar in 1983 but I feel that she should have shared the award with Streep for her brilliant performance.

"Silkwood" is based on the final days of Karen Silkwood's life. She stumbles upon documents proving that plutonium is more dangerous than safety inspectors claim. Therefore, many are exposed to high levels, dramatically increasing their risk of cancer. Many blame Karen for the exposure of a coworker. Her life takes many trials on and off the job. Her family life is in jeopardy due to multiple double shifts, and her love life turns rocky due to roommate issues.

"Silkwood" deserving garnered five Oscar nominations. Though it won nothing, it offers the emotional and physical realisms of dangerous working conditions, namely a nuclear plant. Many scenes catch the audience's heart while others scare them. The screenplay writer proves that he thoroughly researched everything. The producer and the director lead the cast and crew to express every drop of heart and soul though this project.

Meryl Streep received a Best Actress Oscar nomination for the role of Karen Silkwook. As always, she proves that she is the greatest living actress. She forces deep, personal emotions to scream to the audience. One could easily mistake her for one that experienced these real life events. She's flawless.

Cher won a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination for her supporting role as Silkwood's coworker and roommate. Like Streep, she recearched her character's typical lifestyle as a plant employee and as a lesbian. Though Kurt Russell role didn't demand as much research, he performed his role wonderfully.

This is one of the scariest dramas made. Its heavy impact scenes will never be forgotten by the audience. Those who love "Silkwood", which surely most will, should also watch "Erin Brockovich". Though not plutonium based, it offers the realisms of the law actions.

Warning: those sensitive to such issues should not watch "Silkwood" at night. Though not a horror movie, it still may give people nightmares.