Ironweed *** (1987, Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep, Carroll Baker) – Classic Movie Review 6637

Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep apparently so enjoyed making Heartburn (1986) together that they immediately made another movie together, this time playing alcoholic drifter Francis Phelan and his former radio singer friend Helen Archer, begging for work and booze back in their home town Albany, New York, in 1938, still living in the shadow of the Great Depression.

The outstanding acting from the two great stars is the main lure, and they were both Oscar nominated, and there are some very fine supporting performances too. Lauro Escorel’s cinematography, composer John Morris’s score and Jeannine Oppewall’s period set designs are outstanding.

However, the film’s enormous length of 143 minutes and downbeat screenplay (from screen-writer William Kennedy’s own bestseller) are harder to like, though Kennedy provides a lot of good writing.

Ironweed is directed by Kiss of the Spider Woman’s Hector Babenco, who seems to revel in the details of the story’s dreariness, but then that is the story.

Also in the cast are Carroll Baker, Michael O’Keefe, Diane Venora, Tom Waits, Fred Gwynne, Margaret Whitton, Jake Dengel, Nathan Lane, James Gammon, Will Zahrn, Laura Esterman, Joe Grifasi and Hy Anzell.

The cut version runs 134 minutes.

After her 2018 nomination for The Post, Streep has an incredible 21 Oscar nominations. She and Nicholson both have three Oscars so far.

Composer John Morris (1926–2018).

John Morris, also the composer for The Producers, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein and The Elephant Man, died at 91 on January 25, 2018.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6637

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