Ironweed (film): Difference between revisions

The story is set during the 1930s [[Great Depression]]. Francis Phelan, a washed-up and retired baseball player, deserted his family in the 1910s after accidentally dropping his infant son, causing the child's death. It is implied that Francis was drunk at the time, but he claims he was just tired and fails to understand why no one believesbelieved him. Francis became a [[Homeless|vagrant]], roaming streets and punishing himself by recalling men he knew who died years earlier in different circumstances. Wandering into his hometown of Albany on [[Halloween]] in 1938, Phelan seeks out his lover and drinking companion, Helen Archer. The two meet up in a mission managed by Reverend Chester, and later in Oscar Reo's gin mill. Over the next few days, Phelan takes a few menial jobs to support Helen, while haunted by visions of his past. Eventually, Francis returns to his old family house and tries to make peace with his wife Annie, his son Billy, and his daughter Peg. Meanwhile, local vigilantes attempt to violently drive the homeless out of Albany. During the course of the day, a series of events unfolds that permanently changeschange Francis' life.

Streep received raves from most critics. [[Janet Maslin]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote that "Meryl Streep, as ever, is uncanny. Miss Streep uses the role of Helen as an opportunity to deliver a stunning impersonation of a darty-eyed, fast-talking woman of the streets, an angry, obdurate woman with great memories and no future. There isn't much more to the film's Helen than this, and indeed the character may go no deeper, but she's a marvel all the same. Behind the runny, red-rimmed eyes, the nervous chatter, and the haunted expression, Miss Streep is even more utterly changed than her costar, and she even sings well. The sequence in which Helen entertains the real and imagined patrons of a bar room with a rendition of 'He's Me Pal' is a standout."<ref>[https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9B0DE5DB163BF93BA25751C1A961948260 Maslin, Janet. The New York Times (December, 1987) "Ironweed (1987) Film: 'Ironweed,' From Hector Babenco"]</ref>