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The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)

Rate: 6
Viewed: 6/18

6/18: The French Lieutenant's Woman or...The French Lieutenant's Whore?

Since Meryl Streep's character was discovered to be a virgin after the consummation, it turns out she wasn't a whore after all. So, we go with the first title. I feel like Jeremy Irons had made a career out of doing the same type of films over and over as evidenced in The French Lieutenant's Woman, Damage, The House of the Spirits, Chinese Box, and Lolita.

Let's be fair to Jeremy Irons because The French Lieutenant's Woman is really his first film in a leading role, and obviously, he's very good. He practically saves the film while Meryl Streep ruins every scene with the most fake acting possible. They have no chemistry to begin with. The trouble with Meryl Streep is she lets her sultry eyes (Hollywood sure has a fetish for them, doesn't it?) do the work for her. Her abuse of this trick is constant throughout the dull film. That's why I've never thought Meryl Streep as a great actress despite her being Oscar-nominated many times which is 21 so far.

I can't say if I like the split storylines which are when the thespians are being themselves and when they play characters in the movie within the movie. At first, I thought this particular technique, which is unique because I can't recall a film doing the same thing, was distracting, but it had become better and maybe more compelling than the made-up romance story. The funniest part during the entire time is Meryl Streep acted way better when she was being herself.

All in all, despite Meryl Streep, The French Lieutenant's Woman lies on the shoulders of Jeremy Irons' exceptional acting and the endearing Victorian cinematography.

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