‘Manhattan’

During the month of May we (Maile Aiu and I) have been paying tribute to Meryl Streep. Last week, Maile took us into 2009’s “Julie and Julia” (Streep’s 2010 Oscar nomination). I decided that since Maile discussed Streep’s second-to-most-recent work (her most-recent movie, “It’s Complicated,” just hit DVD), I’d go back 30 years and examine Streep in her second film.

Although she is only in three or four scenes in “Manhattan” she shows us immediately why she became a star (the same year she’d win a best supporting actress Oscar for her third film, “Kramer vs. Kramer”).

“Manhattan” is one of Woody Allen’s best films. Of course two years prior he made the multi-Oscar-winning classic “Annie Hall.” In “Manhattan,” Streep plays Allen’s character’s ex-wife Jill, who left him for a woman.

“Manhattan” is a genre of film that Allen helped create, the male/female relationship film — with long scenes discussing relationships, sex, life and all the things we want to say but don’t. The film examines all the emotions we hide.

Streep’s key role in the film is that she is writing a book about her marriage to Isaac (Allen). Isaac is, of course, a flawed, neurotic who has his own troubles with his relationships and friendships and of course doesn’t want Jill (Streep) exposing these details.

The Streep story is a subplot. She was actually filming “Manhattan” and “Kramer vs. Kramer” at the same time, scheduling shooting days around each other (both films take place in New York City).

Readers should go back and check out her early work. “Manhattan” features a 30-year-old Streep bursting onto the screen with the same presence of character that she does now as a 16-time Oscar nominee.

Check in next week for more Streep. We have two more recommendations planned for you this month. On a side note, enjoy “Manhattan.” It also has a great performance by Diane Keaton.