"Bridges of Madison County" v. "One True Thing"

Ugh. This is like comparing asparagus to brussel sprouts. I hated both of them. You could cover them in bacon and I would still be consuming them AGAINST MY GODDAMN WILL. 
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...I mean, it's not making them any *worse*

I don't even need to go in depth with my Ruthless Reasons for this one. 

If I try as hard as I can to imagine a world in which I barely know who Meryl Streep is, and Bridges of Madison County​ is the ONLY movie I've ever seen her in, then yes, I suppose I could conceptualize a parallel universe where I find her acting "good" in this. The accent - while totally distracting - is still pitch perfect and therefore (groan) "believable." As far as Range, Depth, and & Chutzpah go: she gives us Settling for Less Meryl, Falling in Love Meryl, Tortured Meryl, Social Anxiety Meryl, Hard Decision Meryl, Jealous Meryl, Doing The Right Thing Meryl. It's by no means a perfect score, but it's certainly not her worst. 

​In One True Thing, she manages to make the intentionally oblivious, exhaustingly optimistic, long-suffering wife somehow NOT insufferable to watch, and that's an accomplishment. It's Renee's movie, to be sure, but even when they give Meryl an inch she takes a mile. As for depth, don't forget that harrowing monologue; and as for range, there is a beautiful moment where she FINALLY gets so pissed off with how hard her life has become that she throws a few plates on the ground. It's a huge moment for her character, and I feel like they didn't give Angry Meryl the screen time she deserved. 

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​...I'd rather watch Meryl & Renee over Meryl & The Human Equivalent of Beef Jerky​ ANY DAY, but as far as performance goes, ultimately, One True Thing gave u too little too late. 

ACTUAL FOOTAGE OF CLINT EASTWOOD'S SEXUAL APPEAL

​BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY

1) CHARACTER: 4/5

2) RANGE: 8/10

3) DEPTH: 12/15

4) CHUTZPAH: 12/20

TOTAL: 36
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​ONE TRUE THING

1) CHARACTER: 3/5

2) RANGE: 7/10

3) DEPTH: 10/15

4) CHUTZPAH: 12/20

TOTAL: 32
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I CANNOT BELIEVE that the next film in The Great Eight is going to the one where CLINT EASTWOOD THINKS THAT WEARING BIRKENSTOCKS IS AN ACCEPTABLE FORM OF "DRESSING UP," but here we are: 
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BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY