Title: Ironweed
Release: 1987
Director: Héctor Babenco
Main Cast: Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep
Summary of Ironweed:"Ironweed" is a 1987 American drama movie directed by Héctor Babenco. The screenplay, written by William Kennedy, was adjusted from his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. The film stars Hollywood icons Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep, both providing effective performances.
Set in 1938 throughout the Great Depression, the movie focuses on the life of Francis Phelan (Nicholson), a previous professional baseball player who has ended up being a drifter after accidentally triggering his infant son's death. He returns home to Albany, New York, after 22 years of wandering and homelessness in an attempt to fix up with his past and the regret he carries.
In Albany, Phelan strolls the cold streets, works mundane tasks, encounters ghosts from his past while battling alcohol addiction. His companion throughout the movie is Helen Archer (Streep), a singer turned alcoholic drifter herself. The pair browse the hardships of life on the streets together, consoling each other amid severe realities.
Haunted by hallucinations of people he feels accountable for their death, including a strikebreaker whose brains he spilled out in a trolley worker strike years ago and his premature son that he dropped while drunk, Phelan is tense and having a hard time to come to terms with himself.
While in Albany, Francis pays a visit to his spouse Annie Phelan (Carroll Baker) and their enduring children. He hardly acknowledges them and does not want to horn in their lives due to the magnitude of his guilt. This belief is echoed when he reconnects with his estranged sibling.
Streep's character, Archer, unfortunately passes away in a rundown mission while Francis' fate is delegated ambiguity. The film ends with Francis possibly freezing to death on a riverbank however smiling, suggesting he may lastly find the peace he's been yearning in death.
Kennedy's script teems with viewpoints on life, death, guilt, and the human capability to endure. It provides an unflinching take a look at the effects of the Great Depression and offers sharp social commentary on the lives of the marginalized classes in society.
Throughout their journey, we witness heartbreaking efficiencies by Nicholson and Streep who vividly portray the heart-wrenching reality of their characters' lives. Their brilliant acting and the stark representation of the film earned both actors Academy Award elections.
Conclusion:"Ironweed" is a gripping and emotionally extreme drama that shows the life of homeless people throughout the Great Depression. The strong efficiencies by the leads and the intense storyline make this movie unforgettable. Although the film's grim subject might be off-putting to some, the extensive character research studies, atmospheric setting, and competent instructions make it a cinematic masterpiece.
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