There is something about people who are dying that forces them to find a desire for fight and struggle where there wasn’t one before. This fight is not always visible, it’s also not always a moment of strength. It’s often tense, tough, a struggle for their very existence. And at the end of the day it’s hard to portray realistically. So when it is, we have to take note.
The performance that Meryl Streep gives in One True Thing is not her flashiest, boldest, or most impactful performance but it has a level of honesty and power to its vulnerability that makes it so extraordinary. It’s the persistent struggle that people with terminal illnesses and chronic pain live with that requires massive amounts sympathy and understanding.
What Kate (Streep) has to fight through is indescribably complex. And Streep shows this far better than we actually realize, which is what makes the role so powerful. It’s simple on the surface, but far more complex underneath it.
Why is the role so complex, because its subtle. Subtlety is a mountain that you have to climb in performance slowly and meticulously. It does not give off flashy or memorable moments as easily and it is often more constant and tiring to truly nail correctly, but in those moments it is so entrenched in the performer it just is.
What makes Streep’s work in One True Thing so spectacular is that you feel she is truly wrestling with all these struggles and ultimately makes these hard choices her character makes so much more believable. So the whole performance comes together not because it’s a powerful or massive performance, but because it’s true, subtle, and powerful in the quiet.
So let’s breakdown this performance.
My criteria for judging each performance is as follows:
Intentions and Choices – What was Meryl doing as a performer and did it come across in a way that was interesting and compelling?
Physicality and Vocal Choices – Was there a select set of choices for Meryl’s posture, gestures, rhythms, accents, and all other physical aspects, and did they help add to the character or distract from it?
Character Backstory – Were there choices Meryl made that showed us secrets beyond the script or screen? Did those choices add to her work or were they something that took us out of the present story.
Stand Out Moments – What scenes from the movie worked the best, or worst, and how did those reflect on Meryl’s performance?
Overall Movie Quality – How is the movie outside of Meryl’s performance? Is it a brilliant work because of her, in spite of her, or is her performance the only thing that makes the movie redeemable?
So let’s break down Kate Gulden in One True Thing:
Intentions and Choices – There is so much pain permeating underneath the surface and it comes together in a way with a powerful and tender delicacy that comes through only in a way where you are looking at those details and otherwise just feel they are part of her existence. (10/10)
Physicality and Vocal Choices – The physical pain she feels is so powerfully conveyed. It’s amazing to watch and really show this pain even in the moments when she is silent, in the background, or happy. All of it works phenomenally. (10/10)
Character Backstory – I didn’t feel a lot of backstory from this one. She felt more tertiary to the other characters of the story and her background was less important than her present moment. However the overall character is grounded in the present story with little focus before that. (6/10)
Stand Out Moments – The story doesn’t lead to many standout moments but the deterioration in the later third of the movie is so powerful to watch as a whole that it just shows great escalation of character and story in an extended amount of time. (7/10)
Overall Movie Quality – Overall the movie is a bit slow and a bit melodramatic. It’s not perfect but it does have good moments and quality interactions between the characters. (7/10)
Total Score 40/50
Current Ranking:
Kramer vs. Kramer
The Deer Hunter
Postcards From the Edge
Sophie’s Choice
One True Thing
Silkwood
The Bridges of Madison County
Ironweed
The French Lieutenant’s Woman
A Cry in the Dark
Out of Africa
We are officially halfway through this journey. 10 more movies stand between us and the end of this journey. Meryl is showing great growth and skill and now we are coming into the era where I was aware of her performances as they premiered. So I’m excited to re-evaluate them now.
But until then, thanks for taking the time to get Ploominated.
Ploominate 