BEST MERYL STREEP MOVIES
“The Deer Hunter” (1978) In her first Oscarnominated performance, Streep plays a steel-town resident linked to several men who leave to fight in the Vietnam War.
“The Seduction of Joe Tynan” (1979) Alan Alda wrote and stars in this drama, not as wellknown as other Streep films but boasting fine work by her as a political worker who gets involved with a married senator (Alda).
“Kramer vs. Kramer” (1979) Streep earned a supporting Oscar as a quietly desperate wife and mother gone AWOL. Also starring Dustin Hoffman, Turner Classic Movies shows the film Friday. Jan. 22. “The French Lieutenant’s Woman” (1981) Giving her knack for playing complex roles free rein, Streep is superb as an actress involved in a passionate affair, as is the 19th-century character she’s portraying.
“Sophie’s Choice” (1982) The choice is wrenching for the concentration-camp survivor played by Streep in her best-actress Oscar winner. “Silkwood” (1983) Streep’s knack for making ordinary people seem extraordinary is evident in her portrayal of the plutonium plant worker.
“Out of Africa” (1985) Letting her show off her chameleon-like skills, the part of author Karen Blixen is ideally suited to Streep.
“Heartburn” (1986) Reteamed with “Silkwood” director Mike Nichols, Streep plays a variation on author-filmmaker Nora Ephron in depicting romance, marriage and resulting woes. “Postcards From the Edge” (1990) Carrie Fisher’s semi-autobiographical novel yields the tale of the strained relationship between daughter-andmother celebrities, played by Streep and Shirley MacLaine.
“The Bridges of Madison County” (1995) Streep and director and co-star Clint Eastwood prove an ideal match in the adaptation of Robert James Waller’s melancholy love story.
“One True Thing” (1998) Anna Quindlen’s novel supplies strong roles for Streep as a cancer patient and Renee Zellweger as the daughter who cares for her.
“The Hours” (2002) In the saga of three women of different times who share a common thread, Streep is magnificent as a modern book editor staging a party for an an AIDS-stricken poet (Ed Harris).
“The Devil Wears Prada” (2006) For a textbook example of how to do a lot with a little, witness Streep’s purposely minimal emoting as an imperious fashion magazine editor.
“Mamma Mia!” (2008) Yes, she sings, too! While Adele has nothing to worry about, Streep demonstrates she can carry classic ABBA tunes. “Julie & Julia” (2009) Streep flawlessly channels chef Julia Child, effectively showing the woman behind the icon in the earliest phases of the cooking star’s international fame.
“It’s Complicated” (2009) A winningly accessible Streep is terrific as a mom trying to juggle her insatiably amorous ex-husband (Alec Baldwin) and a nice-guy architect (Steve Martin).
“The Iron Lady” (2011) Matching Streep to the role of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was a cinch to earn the actress her third Oscar.
“The Post” (2017) Directed by Steven Spielberg, Streep expectedly embodies legendary publisher Katharine Graham perfectly in this Pentagon Papersera saga of her Washington Post dealings with executive editor Ben Bradlee (Tom Hanks).