I had never read her piece on why she hates Sophie’s Choice the book – and I just read it and it is HILARIOUS. I remember reading the book and liking it a lot – but her comments on why she hates it are AWESOME. I think she might be onto something here!!
Excerpt:
We are only ever given two reasons to like Sophie. She has a nice ass and she survived the Holocaust.
Also:
Stingo is a bastard. He’s the narrator, and evidently he’s supposed to be sympathetic, but he’s an asshole.
And:
Only my rage kept me from giving up.
Again, I do recall liking the book but her comments seem to be pretty much spot-on if you really think about it.
“She has a nice ass and she survived Holocaust”
That’s the most brilliant sentence I think I’ve ever read.
I’ve never seen the movie, but I can’t imagine it’s chock full o’blow jobs, like the book seems to be. Does Meryl even DO that?
The blow-job is only referenced in the movie – we don’t actually, you know, see it.
But yeah – her husband (played by Kevin Kline) brags about Sophie’s sexual prowess to the virginal Stingo – raving about how she does this, that and the other …
Finally, Stingo and Sophie get together and she takes him through her Greatest Hits. It’s basically her last hurrah before the bleak and bitter end that is her life.
The sex scene between Stingo and Sophie is probably about 5 pages long in the book – but of course in the movie – they kind of fade out after the two end up in each other’s arms.
Meryl Streep is amazing in the movie, i will say that. Kevin Kline is great too.
Yes, I liked Sophie’s Choice too and Bookslut’s opinion is unable to change that by not even a scintilla. And Meryl Streep–whom this Irishman feels is one of the truly brilliant American actresses–is excellent in the film.
damian – well, it’s not about changing your opinion. It’s about enjoying someone else’s opinion, even if it’s different than yours. I think it’s a brilliant little essay and it made me laugh.
And yeah. Meryl was incredible – a true high-water-mark for actors.