Tags
1980's, Based on a true story, Cher, Karen Silkwood, Kurt Russell, Meryl Streep, Mike Nichols, Silkwood
Film Title
Silkwood
Director
Mike Nichols
Cast
- Meryl Streep as Karen Silkwood
- Kurt Russell as Drew Stephens
- Cher as Dolly Pelliker
- Craig T.Nelson as Winston
- Diana Scarwid as Angela
Based o
n the story of Karen Silkwood, a worker at a nuclear power plant in Oklahoma who died mysteriously whilst on her way to meet with a journalist, she was presumed to have had evidence regarding violations in the workplace. Directed by Mike Nichols, Silkwood emerges as a taut and effective, character driven drama full of fine performances.
Karen Silkwood works at Kerr-McGee power plant in Oklahoma with her boyfriend Drew Stephens and lesbian roommate Dolly Pelliker. Karen is a tough, mini-skirted, gum chewing worker who has a turbulent personal life. One day in the midst of her mundane shift, Karen is contaminated and is hosed down in a harrowing shower scene. Aware that she will suffer a slow and painful death, she investigates the plant for further evidence of negligence and calls for union. Through her work and determination, her relationships with others become strained as she strives for the truth and justice.
As well as being somewhat of a biopic, the film is also an interesting character study of one normal women thrown into an extraordinary situation. In the title role, Meryl Streep embodies the determination, strength and defiance of this woman.As the story for her struggle for truth is told, the audience sympathises with her as a result of her refusal to back down. She is offered strong support fro
m Kurt Russell and a low-key performance from singer turned actress Cher. Both of them surprised me with their effectiveness towards their characters. Cher especially caught my attention in the role that got her noticed as an actress; as Dolly she is the wise-cracking best friend but a melancholy pervades her quietly expressive portrayal. She is barely recognizable when clad in dowdy clothing and hardly any make-up really looking the part, but her subtle emotionally earnest performance adds to this.
The main themes are the struggle for justice and business corruption, but I also thought that fear was a theme expr
essed throughout a lot of Silkwood. The title character fears for her life because of her dangerous work and fears that no one will listen ,Drew fears losing Karen to both the contamination and her constant union work and the lonely Dolly fears losing her friends who she considers to be her own family. There is also a reference in the contamination sensor as each worker walks through it dreading the screaming of an alarm to confirm they’ve been what the others referer to as ‘cooked’.
Although the film unravels at a slow and thoughtful pace, it is still compulsive viewing as we watch Karen’s crusade becoming more vocal and her voice being heard by authority. Only in the last hour does the film slightly lull in places, but overall the slow unravelling works to show us the extent of what is happening. Even if the story doesn’t interest or grip you or the pace seems to last forever, the fine performances from the cast, especially Streep, Russell and Cher will keep you watching until the end. A moving and engaging film, made more moving due to the basis of the source material.
Good write-up here Vinnie. It’s been ages since I saw this but I really liked it. As you say the performances are excellent and it’s such a great story. All the more harrowing due to it’s true nature.
Thanks, I agree knowing its a true story makes it all the more harrowing.
Is there any way you can an email subscription button to your site Vinnie? I keep missing your posts but if I can get a direct email notification then I can keep up.
Very nice review Vinnie. I can’t remember when I saw this but its been a while. I kinda have me wanting to revisit it. Good stuff!
Thanks for the comment, hope you get the chance to see it again.
Despite the fact Mike Nichols directed one of my favorite movies of all time, The Graduate, I’ve never even heard of this one. I’ll have to check it out. Nice review.
Thanks, glad I introduced it to you and I hope you get to see it.
Good review. Although it was one of a glut of anti-nuclear movies coming out of Hollywood at that time, it managed to go beyond that issue.
Thanks for the comment.
I really want to see this!
A tragic story very well told – I am no great admirer of Mike Nichols usually but along with WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF and THE GRADUATE this is easily his best film and I think has one of Meryl Streep’s finest and least mannered performances,
Thanks for the comment, Meryl Streep is great in the title role.
It’s a shame that there isn’t a particularly good DVD available out there. Given the subject and the stars involved, one would have thought extras would have been forthcoming …
Man its been a long time since I last watched this. Great write up as always Vinnie 🙂
Thanks for the comment man.
Great review. Need to check this one out. That cast is amazing, and I completely worship Meryl Streep.
If you are a Streep fan I’m sure you will enjoy this film.
I find it hard to believe there are people who haven’t seen this film, for the reason that it’s a true story, and which is what separates it from the other anti-nuclear films of it’s time. I’ve read two books about the Silkwood/Kerr-McGee story, and looked-up the real Dolly Pelliker on a recent trip to Oklahoma, who hadn’t seen “Silkwood” since it’s debut in 1983, but told me she thought they did a really great job on “Silkwood”. She said Drew Stephens also thought it was great, but died in 1994. Once home in California, I sent “Dolly” my “Silkwood” CD, and she was so happy; to see the film again after so many years. She said, “It was even better than I remembered”.
Another great flick. I haven’t watched it in years, but I remember being impressed by the acting. Hard not to be when you have Streep and Cher.
Thanks, yeah both of them were great in the film.
The real “Dolly Pelliker,” Sherri Ellis, told me she’d been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in July, and I just learned she passed away last Friday, November 2, 2012, in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Her family has generously donated her body to medical research. I only knew Sherri a few years, but found her to be one of the nicest, interesting, and most misunderstood ladies I’ve ever known.
I remember character actress Sudie Bond appears nude here as one of the older women who requires being hosed down. I always thought that was memorable because usually you only see attractive young women naked in movies and never the other way around.
Yeah the shower scenes in this are very harrowing to watch.
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We discussed this on Cindy’s blog.
Maybe Streep’s best performance, ably backed up by Cher, and the rest of the good cast.
A film you never forget.
Best wishes, Pete.
Yes, Streep is fantastic in the lead of this. As is Cher and Kurt Russell, who support her with good work. A very haunting movie I must say. It’s been years since my last viewing, but I can still remember a lot of it.