Friday
Sep272013
Thoughts I Had... The First Image of Meryl in "Into the Woods"
Friday, September 27, 2013 at 11:00AM Uncensored as they come to me... thoughts on the first on the first still from Into the Woods
- This image gives me hope and I need it with this movie which could easily be a disaster because Rob Marshall
- "blue hair"... no longer a euphemism!
- Someone needs a manicure. (The place I go for my mani-pedis services Marcia Gay Harden. The manicurist couldn't speak English but obviously knew her client was a celebrity because she'd plastered her photo all around her station -- and was beaming when I acknowledged them. This has nothing to do with Meryl Streep but you know whoever does her manicures feels like they won the Oscar of nail polishing!
- If they were going to give her the puffy black shoulder sleeves THANK GODDESS they surprised with the hair otherwise it could've been confused as an outtake from her eccentric auntie cameo in Lemony Snicket
- Colleen Atwood's 11th nomination and 4th win for Best Costume Design? I'd call her the Meryl Streep of that category except that there are two Streeps of that category. The other being Sandy Powell (who also have 10 noms and 3 wins)
- I love La Streep's singing voice. I mean LOVE it. I still regularly listen to her songs from Postcards from the Edge, Ironweed, Death Becomes Her and that wonderful undersung practically sung-through performance in A Prairie Home Companion. So I'm happy she's doing a real musical and not Mamma Mia 2: More Screaming, More Running, More OverActing
- Since Into the Woods is SUCH a creation of the stage I hope they find a way to transfer it happily to this new medium. I'm hoping they really use the title setting wisely. Woods can look beautiful, eery, earthy, surreal... they're so flexible and rangey; they're the Meryl Streep of Nature.
Reader Comments (26)
My initial thought on the image --- Meryl looks AWESOME.
The fact that they replaced the girl cast as Little Red Riding Hood with an actress who was a little older/had stage experience gives me hope.
I can't say the image makes me feel anything, but I will say that I have trouble imagining her singing those tender songs and the camera closing in on her face. I mean, it might seem ridiculous.
I do hope this will be at least good and why not great, dammit?
Since we're talking stage (in a way), I would totally be interested in reading about the new Glass Menagerie production in New York by any of the filmexperience contributors.
Very happy! :)
Photo looks great even if I'm not thrilled with Streep in the role. However, her casting bothers me less than Marshall at the helm.
It might just be this AWFUL computer I'm working on today, but in this picture Streep looks a bit too much like Helena Bonham Carter (who, if she could sing better, would have made a FABULOUS witch)... and surprisingly, I'm kinda digging it!
The "French Lieutenant's WHORE" is still up in her tree.
Marcia Gay Harden is a goddess! I am glad to know her manicurist appreciates her.
But yeah, Meryl looks great here. I am almost more excited for Anna Kendrick, though.
2014 will be great musical year for Kendrick as she plays Cinderella and Cathy in the Last 5 Years. She will fit both roles well I think
Ditto Ditto Ditto. And, thanks for pointing out the nails. Hadn't noticed. I'm a bit of a nervous wreck over this movie and not sure it is a good idea, but this still gives me a glimmer of...hope?
Mrs. Lovett...
Hoping for the best. Marshall can frame a scene well and if Beebe is lensing for him again, the movie should look good. The film seems well cast, but my biggest concern is whether or not Marshall is once again turning to his ridiculous conceit that audiences can no longer handle an spontaneous outburst of song. It worked well enough in Chicago (even though some really good numbers had to be cut), but did Nine no favors. The action can't keep stopping to just to conveniently return us to a stage for the next song.
I don't know why but she looks weirdly like an old Kristen Stewart. The hair,the chin; just get that vibe. I am sorry, I laughed at this still. It screams disaster to me though hopefully I am wrong.
Awesome. But in the back of my head, my thoughts still go to Bernadette..
nice thoughts on the production ... I like the Streep look for the movie.. I really know nothing about the stage play....
Is she actually crawling OUT of the tree??
LOVE it. Love the look. I almost wish the nails were even gnarlier, maybe they will be up close. In fact, the detailed face work is even more incredible in the larger HD version on EW.com -- something very very haunting and desperate about Meryl, neither adjective I think of in relation to my Mer.
Honestly, when I first saw the photo I thought, "is this Act I or Act II?" She's almost not ugly ENOUGH compared to most Witches onstage, who are almost unrecognizable in Act I. I realize that stage makeup might read too harsh under film cameras, but I figured a Hollywood makeup artist would have LEAPT at the chance to make a truly AWFUL-looking Witch.
Though there are many actresses I had envisioned in this role, I'm still excited to see her as the Witch. I feel the same way about her as Violet Weston in AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY. (Though I'm of course still excited to see that as well, being a native Oklahoman and all)
Like you, Nathaniel, I also LOVE Meryl's singing voice. I think she moves from style to style with ease. She's classically trained, which to me means she wanted a basic foundational vocal technique that she could then use to sing whatever style she wanted. At least, that's why I chose to be classically trained in college even though I never intended to pursue an opera career.
I swear to God that the very first moment I saw this I thought: FUCKING AWESOME! and I think the people around me heard my thoughts.
Despite the backlash
Despite what some people consider an unworthy 3rd Oscar
Meryl Streep is really something above unique.
I really hope Blanchett wins Lead for "Blue Jasmine" and saves herself from future backlash for something some people might consider unworthy and not good enough.
My first thought was that the still looked rather familiar and you helped me realize why, Nathaniel: it's extremely similar to her look in Lemony Snicket. I'm a little disappointed in the designers, honestly.
I also echo Will H above that I'm so glad Little Red Riding Hood was recast. Lila Crawford is a little robotic for my tastes but is infinitely better than that shrill tike they cast at first.
Evan -- it's actually the same designer that's why. Colleen Atwood did Lemony Snicket, too.
I think Streep looks amazing, as usual.
Looks a lot like Miranda Richardson in Sleepy Hollow.
remember that time you suggested cate blanchett was dangerously overexposed and should consider taking a break?
can you forward that article to meryl?
Edith Head is the Meryl Streep of Costume Design. She had 8 Oscars and 35 nominations.
Ariel -- well, true. But i was thinking of living designers to better correlate with Streep.
Everyone -- i admit it. This is my new desktop wallpaper.
Nathaniel- lol I have to admit it's my bg as well, right now I'm very excited for this, thanks to this picture.