Review of Sophie's Choice (1982) by Kimberly S — 20 Oct 2010

Sophie's Choice is a film well known because it is rumored to be the one containing Meryl Streep's greatest performance. I am not saying this rumor isn't true, in fact I confirm it 100%, but I am also saying that there is more to it than the beautiful and talented Meryl Streep, who might be the best female actress of the past few decades, who is also known to be the person with the greatest number of nominations to the Oscars (16) for acting.

As I was saying, Meryl Streep shines as she has never shone before (or after), but, even though she might be the best part of the film, there is a lot more great aspects in this film for people who are interested.

The plot of this film concerns a kind writer and the film's narrator Sting (Peter MacNicol). He moves to America in 1947 and starts living with Sophie Zawistawski (Meryl Streep), a Polish immigrant and holocaust surviver, and her lover, Nathan Landau (Kevin Kline). The film focuses on the troubled relationship between Sophie and Nathan through the eyes of the narrator, as well as emphasizing too the troubles Sophie went through when she was in the concentration camp, as well as the haunting secret of the hard decision she had to make in the concentration camp that gives the film its title.

As starter, the film is beautiful to look at. The scenery is splendid, with the settings carefully designed, weather they are the depressing concentration camps or the beautiful evenings in New York. Also, the costume design is actually very impressive, with the clothes, sometimes simple but beautiful and others luxurious and wonderful, being pretty to the eye. And the camera work is also very impressive, with the scenes being shot at different and interesting angles, putting each character under the spotlight the right amount they need to be. And the score for this film is also quite wonderful, with soft and beautiful music playing all along the film through the film, setting the perfect mood for the action taking place.

Also, this film was skillfully written and equally skillfully directed. Alan J. Pakula (who also gave us the breathtaking All the President's Men) does both of this jobs in a fashion that it takes the character's emotions to flourish into the screen in the proper way (this might sound more of the job for the actors, but it is of the director and screenwriter to put them in the right place). The screenplay features an intelligent and heartbreaking story, while the direction captures this story and does the transition from paper to the screen properly and beautifully, without sacrificing the script's heart. A particular scene that stays with the viewer is the choice scene. It is a very powerful, heart-wrenching, moving and depressing scene. It is probably the most memorable scene of the film.

But of course the best of the film has to be the performances. Peter MacNicol and Kevin Kline both do an incredible job with their characters. Both are very opposite to each other, with MacNicol's character being kind and sensitive while Kline's being a hothead, but each of them put the right sentiment and value to them. The sad thing is that they are ultimately shadowed by the glorious Meryl Streep. But of course she was the best. Her performance isn't only the best of her career (and if you know Meryl Streep you know that is a lot) but it is also one of the greatest female performance I have ever seen. She doesn't only bring her character to life, but also gets under Sophie's skin to become and a part of her. Her job with the accent, with the expressions is simply excellent. In the scenes where she is telling her story in the concentration camps, her eyes are piercing into your soul while at the same time moving and breaking your heart. But I have to say that the best part is when she is in the concentration camp. The story isn't only more compelling here, but also the life she brings to her character in these few scenes is bigger than in the New York scenes. You can't help it but feel sorry and at the same time love Sophie.

But despite all of the wonderful things of the film I do have a couple of negative things to point out. First, for the first 30 minutes, 40 minutes or so the film moves incredibly slow and has a very stiff feeling. Its not that it is boring, but it just moves slow enough to turn a couple of impatient viewers off. But what I think that was the detail that made me lower the film's score was how Sophie, after being insulted and mistreated around a hundred times by Nathan, would always run back to his arms when he came asking for forgiveness. There are few times when little details like this can anger me, and this was one of them. I don't know how a woman thinks, but I am pretty sure that after being offended with every gun in a guy's army she is most likely to send him to hell when he asks for forgiveness. But then the story makes you forget about this (until it happens again) when it absorbs you. But still, this made me lower the film's grade from a 90-something to an 80-something.

This film has beautiful scenery, an incredibly moving script, powerful direction and nice music, but the best part of it are the performances, particularly from Meryl Streep. But again, Meryl Streep isn't the only reason you have to watch this. But a few couple of probably insignificant details got into my nerves, and made me lower the picture in the film scale.

My score: It is a little hard to rate it, but is is around 85.

My recommendation: You should watch it, and remember, not only for Meryl Streep.