Finally! An actress to match Meryl Streep
How many times have I sat in an audience, for a film or play, and thought, “Oh, how much better this would be with Meryl Streep!” When I found myself fading out during Susan Sarandon’s endless soliloquy in last year’s Broadway production of Exit the King, I stayed awake imagining Streep in the role of the aged, discarded queen. Taking another look at Maggie Smith’s exhilarating performance in the film, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, I still couldn’t help regretting that Streep is now too old for that role.
And there’s the problem: Brilliant as Meryl remains, and will continue to be, there are certain parts that are now behind her, and even more she will not have time to play.
So my heart leaped when I watched Laura Linney in the new Broadway play, Time Stands Still. Linney is an actress who has grown quietly and steadily from early appearances in PBS’ Tales of the City and the movies Absolute Power and Primal Fear through the more recent Mystic River, Savages and her amazing, multiple-award-winning portrayal of Abigail Adams in the HBO series, John Adams.
But not until this Broadway foray, where the actress catapults between cynism and anguish, did the depth of Linney’s talent seem clear. As war photographer Sarah Goodwin, recovering from physical injuries inflicted by a roadside bomb but incapable of putting the emotional wounds behind her, Linney delivers zingers as casually as an SNL regular. (“There’s young–and there’s embryonic,” she tells her editor, when he shows up with a girlfriend a generation behind him.) Moments later, a dozen cruel memories cross her face as she recalls the “blood on my lens.”
Linney got her big breaks late–well into her 30s. At 46, she’s in her prime (as the aforementioned Miss Brodie would put it); let’s hope her greatest roles lay ahead.
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Nice catch – Linney is seriously underrated and often overlooked. And speaking for the men, trust me, she’s a thoroughbred hottie while Meryl is a nottie (and getting worse — one more blushing-60something-schoolgirl act from Streep and you’ll be able to hear the collective projectile vomit).
Well, I don’t think Meryl has ever set herself up as any kind of sex symbol–in fact, she has always been self-conscious about her looks. If you’re talking about “It’s Complicated”–the whole movie is a bizarre mid-life fantasy on the part of director Nancy Meyers, so I wouldn’t pin it on Streep. “Mama Mia”–same stretch of the imagination, although I enjoyed Meryl in the role.
In response to another comment. See in context »Can’t say I agree with your assessment–haven’t seen this show you mention, but every other movie I’ve seen Linney in feels stilted and overdone to me. If we’re nominating actresses to take Meryl’s mantle in terms of pure acting chops, I’d put Julianne Moore, Frances McDormand,Allison Janney, Joan Allen, Holly Hunter, and even Julianna Margulies ahead of Laura Linney. Especially because Meryl’s choice of roles is now leaning more towards character parts and not leads.
While I admire them all, I don’t see the range in the actresses you mention, except maybe Joan Allen who started out way stilted but has loosened up over the years. Julianne Moore may get there. I’ll watch Frances McDormand in just about anything, and the older she gets, the more roles may suit her.
As for Meryl, she has been the lead in most of her recent movies, although in several cases, most notably, Julie & Julia, the lead is a character!
In response to another comment. See in context »Discovered Laura Linney a long time ago. She has been the best actress around for quite awhile.