As Mary Fisher in “She-Devil”
Seeing as I was 8 years old, I’m unaware of what level of attention this movie got when it originally came out in 1989. But judging from the fact that we owned it on VHS because my dad forgot to return it and the video store never called to get it back, I think it’s safe to say “She-Devil” wasn’t in high demand. But I don’t know why! Meryl’s turn as an egotistical romance novelist who gets saddled with her new husband’s kids and his nasty ex-wife’s rage is filled with quotable lines and a cringe-worthy descent into madness for Meryl.
As Julia in “Defending Your Life”
Most movies lose something with repeated viewings over time. They seem less funny, dated or out of touch. But the themes explored in this not-quite-purgatory dramedy are as eternal as Bob Diamond. Taking place in the land between life and death, the characters are judged — via a very advanced TiVo — on their actions while alive. And no character was as angelic as Julia, whose life is so inspiring her life prosecutor actually shows a flattering clip because he just wanted to watch it again.
Down the hall, Daniel is being dragged through the mud while his sad sack existence is called into question. But when he’s with Julia, it’s as if all that fades away. Meryl is what illuminates this movie, makes it sing — and slurp, in a fantastic dinner scene. This is the kind of performance that should have been nominated for a Golden Globe or that rotating comedy-slot at The Oscars. But because it followed her Academy Award-nominated role in “Postcards From The Edge” people seemed to think Meryl lost hers.
How wrong they were!
What’s your favorite Oscar or not Meryl movie?