lcliffor@bbncca.ARPA (Laura Frank Clifford) (12/19/83)
Silkwood is a low-key film about a bunch of middle class people plodding along from day to day working in a high-risk environment which they have taken for granted. The film portrays the all-too-common American philosophy "It's really not there if it doesn't jump up and bite me." People are far more concerned with the everyday things, such as having a steady job and a steady paycheck, than with untangible things such as death by exposure to radiation. Karen Silkwood (Meryl Streep) works for Kerr-McGee in Oklahoma. She lives and works with her boyfriend (Kurt Russell), and Dolly (Cher). She visits her 3 kids (the result of a common-law mariage) who live with their father in Texas whenever she can. She flirts with the guys at work, steals parts of other people's lunches, and shows affection for an older co-worker, Thelma, who wears silly-looking wigs and has a daughter who has cancer. One work day Thelma gets "cooked" (exposed to radiation), and Karen breaks into the shower room where Thelma is being scrubbed down with steel-wire brushes. Karen tries to comfort Thelma, but Thelma is hysterical and sure that she will get cancer. This is maybe the first time Karen really thinks about safety conditions in her work place. However, it is Karen's own exposure which really jolts her into action. Another perfect performance from Meryl Streep as Karen Silkwood - thank God Fonda didn't play the part, as was originally planned. Kurt Russell and Cher both turn in solid performances. The movie is, as I said earlier, very low-key and slowly paced. The quality of the acting is what makes the film work so well.
jab@uokvax.UUCP (01/03/84)
#R:bbncca:-39900:uokvax:3900010:000:1065 uokvax!jab Jan 1 15:31:00 1984 I feel the need to comment on this film. "Silkwood" is well-made, and tries VERY CAREFULLY to avoid becoming another "China Syndrome". If something wasn't a fact, it wasn't presented as one. (The best example being the death of Ms. Silkwood. Nobody KNOWS the circumstances of her death, and the movie didn't try to show us anything it couldn't back up.) The film is being heralded as one that depicts the plight of the "working masses". (Gene and Roger certainly thought so.) I found it hard to view it that way, probably because I'm from Oklahoma and I found myself continually distracted by the way that the "little details" were presented. (In essence, it makes Oklahoma look like a subculture left over from the 1920's. It isn't. (It's left over from the 1950's, let's get it straight.)) I was quite pleased with the "cinematic" details: I expected Streep to perform well, but was amazed that Cher is beginning to emerge as an actress. If you're NOT from Oklahoma, and you are not a rabid pro/anti-nuke, you should enjoy this film. Jeff Bowles Lisle, IL
gam@proper.UUCP (Gordon Moffett) (01/11/84)
A well-done film, a bit bland politically (yes, it's no "China Syndrome"). Kurt Russell has come a long way from "Computer Wore Tennis Shoes". Cher seemed to be just `there.' But Meryl Streep -- she is so amazingly good! Watching her in this role was the best part of the film for me. She is clearly America's best actress. When you compare her here and in "Kramer vs Kramer" and her Kate in "Taming of the Shrew" and so on, you're just stunned that this is the same person.
rh@mit-eddie.UUCP (Randy Haskins) (02/23/84)
I saw this movie the other night when I was bored (alone, no less, a less-than-optimal move). I thought it was great. The only technical problem I saw was that the impact of the ending was considerably lessened by Meryl singing "Amazing Grace," a song which I hate with all of my heart. If I'd done the film, I'd have done the ending with no sound at all (that's always a good one). Even with the "impact lessened, I went home and sat on my couch for a while before I could do anything. As far as the movie, I thought Cher did an OK job, but she wasn't terribly convincing as a lesbian living in a relatively small town (think about it, there would be lots of tension here....). I don't think the interaction she provided was that great. I think people have been lauding her performance as if they're suprised she can act at all. Of course, maybe I'm just having trouble being objective, since she'll naturally pale along side a talented performer like Streep. Enough for now.... -- Randwulf (Randy Haskins); Path= genrad!mit-eddie!rh