Sophie's Choice

Starring: Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Peter MacNicol, Josh Mostel, John Rothman
Directed by: Alan J. Pakula
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Romance
1982

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A writer (Peter MacNicol) befriends an unstable couple (Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline) who change his life in unexpected ways.

Review:

Tim: I went into this movie wanted to know what choice did Sophie have to make, and how good was Meryl Streep, since she won her first Academy Award for Best Actress (she already had a Best Supporting Actress for Kramer vs. Kramer). I can say that Sophie's choice was truly devastating, and Streep blew me away with her performance. While the movie was way too long (2.5 hours was just too much) and at times, too gelatinous in its movement, this is still a very good movie with a few exceptional parts.

I'll start with Streep. In today's world, Streep has almost become a joke (not a bad one) because she's nominated for nearly everything she does. She's a great actress, but I couldn't believe she won an Oscar for The Iron Lady when the movie around her was so bad. She does get too much love from critics. So, with that in mind today, I was not prepared for the shattering, unforgettable performance she delivered here. I sat up in my seat because I'd become numb to how great of an actress Streep is. Here, she transforms herself in subtle ways to become Sophie- it was mesmerizing to watch. I was stunned into silence by how incredible she was in this film. It's a wonderful role and she gets so many opportunities to showcase her talent. I can't think of another actress who would have nailed every single moment she needed to. Streep was truly incredible and I'm so happy she won Best Actress.

The film is really about three people, and the other two are very strong as well. Kevin Kline is a surprisingly good actor- he does a lot of stupid comedy, so you sometimes forget the guy can really act. While some of his antics felt a little too over-the-top here, he does a generally strong job of playing this slightly unhinged, energetic, bipolar individual. It's a remarkable performance for the range he needed to display, and he does so exceptionally. I've also always liked Peter MacNicol. There's something so vulnerable about him that draws you into his characters. He was ideal for this role because he's safe and stable, and he perfectly embodies that in between these volatile characters. The dynamics between these three characters are what makes this movie so fascinating. It's interesting, because we identify with MacNicol, we feel for and are drawn to Streep, and we're mesmerized yet repelled by Kline. There's so many different emotions going on in this film.

Sophie's Choice is definitely a movie about these three characters. The plot moves them forward, but it's really secondary to developing a deep understanding and appreciation for these characters. I do think director Alan J. Pakula could have created a little more forward momentum- there's no reason for this movie to be as long as it was. Still, it does give us time to know these characters deeply. One thing I liked about the film was we know it's called "Sophie's Choice", so the question is, what is the choice she has to make? The film sets you up in one direction- for 80% of the film, I'd have guessed wrongly about what her choice was. When we finally find out the choice, how she made it, and what it did to her, we're devastated. We know these characters, we've been fascinated by her, and now we understand. It was brilliant and heartbreaking and not something I'll ever forget. This pushes the film forward to its eventual, powerful conclusion.

I really enjoyed Sophie's Choice. It's a hard movie and not one I would watch very often. I wish the film had moved at a slighter quicker pace and didn't drag in places. It could have cut some of the more unnecessary moments. Still, this is not a film you'll soon forget, and I don't know if Streep has ever been better than she was in this film.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Kramer vs. Kramer, Life is Beautiful, Gandhi