Merylissima
These are the winners of our Letters to Meryl Streep contest as chosen by Rickyv, with citations.
“Bisaya Short Films, for saying “Hindi ko pa kilala si Vilma, kilala na kita.” And for making it sound like Meryl Streep can really really be our friend.
“xaru4ever: Ang baduy ng letter pero ang sosyal ng effort!
“pantas_magoria for using Meryl Streep as a vehicle to write about himself!”
Congratulations, Meryl fans, you can claim your prizes starting Friday, 23 October, at the Columbia Pictures office on the fifth floor of the Shangri-La Mall on Shaw Boulevard and Edsa, Mandaluyong. Look for the marketing assistant, Zyla Quiambao. You can claim your posters by giving the email address you registered here.
The first time I saw Meryl Streep, she was playing an Aryan woman married to a Jewish artist (played by James Woods) in the TV miniseries, Holocaust. Then I saw her as the mom in Kramer vs. Kramer (I bought the novel—it was mediocre, but it got me a royal scolding from my parents because the first page contained the word “fuck”) and in Manhattan as Woody Allen’s ex-wife who had abandoned him for another woman.
I didn’t see The Deer Hunter until much later, on video, but I knew that she was engaged to one of her costars, John Cazale. John Cazale died of terminal bone cancer even before The Deer Hunter finished shooting. Meryl was devoted to him until the very end.
John Cazale only appeared in five movies, but those five movies were The Godfather I and II (he was Fredo), The Conversation, The Deer Hunter, and Dog Day Afternoon. Dog Day was one of the first movies I ever saw by myself, on TV in my parents’ house—it came on after the morning cartoons, heavily edited but comprehensible. Cazale played Pacino’s sidekick.
There are three moments from Dog Day Afternoon that stand out clearly in my memory. First, when Pacino’s wife appears. . .and he’s a guy (Chris Sarandon). So I grew up thinking that guys could marry each other. Second, when Pacino starts pacing up and down the sidewalk in front of the bank screaming, “Attica!” I didn’t understand what he meant, but it was electrifying. (Later I learned his character was getting the crowd worked up by reminding them of police brutality at Attica state prison).
Third, and my favorite, was the scene in which the police have promised a getaway vehicle, and Al asks John what country he’d like them to escape to. And John replies, “Wyoming.” It struck me as being sad and funny at the same time, even if I couldn’t explain why. Good acting can do that to you.
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
October 22nd, 2009 at 15:14
Napakasaya! Wala ako sa Manila at ipapakuha ko sana ito sa kaibigang di rin sanay sa Maynila gamit ang email na naka register dito kaya’t nag google maps ako ala Netherland at sabi ang Shangri-la Mall ay ang Shangri-la Plaza Mall na nasa Wack Wack Green Hills, Mandaluyong City. Sana’y mayroong magsasabi ditong ako’y mali.
Maraming salamat Meryl, Ms. Zafra, at kay Rickyv (na gusto kong malaman kung sino).
October 22nd, 2009 at 17:38
I saw Dog Day on channel 9 too and the “Attica, Attica” scene drove me to our old Collier’s encyclopedia which wasnt much help since it was the 1965 edition.
October 23rd, 2009 at 23:18
“pantas_magoria for using Meryl Streep as a vehicle to write about himself!â€
I object!(= I would not dare “bareback” Madame Streep for implicit self-promotion, though, after hitting the Submit button I was afraid I would come across that way. But I just wanted to write a letter about how personally I’ve been touched by Meryl Streep, and I pretended that only Meryl will be my audience, and that’s what came out. Anyways…BIG THANKS to Ms. Zafra and the mysterious Rickyv (I second the motion, Bisaya!). THIS MADE MY DAY! (=
P.S. Mamatay kayo sa smileys! (=
October 26th, 2009 at 10:59
“xaru4ever: Ang baduy ng letter pero ang sosyal ng effort!” Hahaha. I most certainly agree…once a jologs, always a jologs. Thanks Jessica, and Rickyv.