What About Meryl?

This week, we're in the Great Depression, thanks to 1987's 'Ironweed'. Not even a rousing musical interlude Meryl can save this true bore of a film, which includes what may be the saddest handjob in history and Nathan Lane in full ghost regalia. Thank god for the 'Mamma Mia! 2' news and the promise of more Meryl music to come. Be sure to subscribe to us on iTunes, SoundCloud, and Stitcher and always follow/like us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! Don't be afraid to send some Meryl Fan Mail to whataboutmeryl@gmail.com!

Travel downstream with us this week, as we cover 1994's 'The River Wild'! In this thriller, Meryl plays a river rafting expert bent on showing her family the wonders of the great outdoors, and maybe (just maybe) bringing home the (Kevin) Bacon. Stay tuned for talk of the film's heroic dog (Maggie, or should we say, BUFFY?), John C. Reilly's attractiveness, and the one thing Meryl couldn't do. Let us know what you think by sending us some love through our Facebook or Twitter accounts and don't forget to subscribe to us on iTunes, SoundCloud, or Stitcher.

New York, New York, it's a wonderful town! Especially in black and white, as the ladies learned after watching 1979's 'Manhattan'. Woody Allen's follow-up to 'Annie Hall' only has a teensy bit of Meryl as his author ex-wife (she married HIM?!). Before we get into discussion, we talk about Danita's recent trip to New York City to watch Meryl honour her friend Robert De Niro at the 44th Chaplin Award Gala. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and listen and subscribe to us on iTunes, SoundCloud and Stitcher!

This week, a working class Meryl Streep fights the man in 1983's 'Silkwood' and comedian Dawn Whitwell joins us to talk all about it. Meryl plays the late Karen Silkwood, a nuclear plant employee and champion of worker's rights. Kurt Russell and Cher co-star as total babes. We cover Meryl's mullet, "Silkwood showers," a possible (but unconfirmed) Meryl/Mike Nichols feud, and Cher's incredible performance (which, according to Danita, may overshadow Meryl's).Be sure to listen/subscribe to us on iTunes, SoundCloud, or Stitcher and don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram! Drop us a line at our email too at whataboutmeryl@gmail.com!

This week, we get into some serious 'Dark Matter' with a film that starts with Meryl doing tai chi. (How do you go from Miranda Priestley to that?) After some deep discussion of cultural appropriation, we get into what's really important: whether Taylor Schilling and Meryl REALLY shared a pair of jeans during filming.Let us know what you think of the episode at whataboutmeryl@gmail.com and be sure to follow/like us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and listen/subscribe on iTunes, SoundCloud, and Stitcher!

This week, we're treading dangerously into the political thriller zone with the 2004 remake of 'The Manchurian Candidate'. There's lots to chew on as the film showcases Meryl's supporting skills and ice cube eating abilities in the early 00s. We also talk about everything eyes-related from Denzel's cute glasses to Liev Schrieber's handsome pupils. Be sure to check us out on iTunes, SoundCloud, and Stitcher and don't forget to subscribe too! If you'd like, we'd love for you to like us or follow us on any social feeds like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Celebrate your Easter Monday with a little Easter Meryl (not really) in 2002's The Hours. Three stories, three women, two hosts, one infamous nose and too many perfect pairings (Allison + Meryl 4 Eva) to count. Be sure to like/follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram and subscribe to us on iTunes, SoundCloud or Stitcher!

This week, we're going to Harlem to learn about violin in 1999's 'Music of the Heart'. Before talking about Meryl's style (which we're dubbing 'Danita-esque'), we chat about the contributions of NSYNC, and how effing hard it is to play the violin (Meryl's words, not ours - but also ours.)Make sure to listen/subscribe to us on iTunes, SoundCloud, or Stitcher and follow/like us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! We're working on a website as well so be sure to stay in the Meryl loop!

Time to talk about another defining Oscar-winning performance: 1979's 'Kramer vs. Kramer'. The ladies talk about what must be going through Joanna's mind leaving her child, how Dustin Hoffman's Ted raises him, the courtroom scene, and the tumultuous film shoot. Not to mention a first WAM remote segment with Stephanie Gagne (a.k.a. Emily's mom a.k.a. Meryl mentor). Be sure to subscribe to us on iTunes, SoundCloud, and Sticher and like/follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

In a special *mini* episode, Johanna Schneller, columnist for the Toronto Star/Globe & Mail/Metro, joins us again to talk about what else? More Meryl! She discusses her interview at the Royal Ontario Museum in 2009, how it happened, and an amazing letter addressed to her signed by Streep herself. We also talk about Em's missed opportunity to meet her :(Don't forget to check us out on iTunes, SoundCloud, and Stitcher and like/follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! We'll be back to our regular scheduled program next monday with Kramer vs. Kramer!

After last week's lack of Meryl, we're getting 2.5 hours worth now with 1985's Best Picture-winning 'Out of Africa'. Finally, a man worth Meryl's time (Robert Redford!) comes into the mix. We also talk about having our hair washed and "territorial" hippos. Make sure to subscribe to us on iTunes, SoundCloud, and Stitcher and don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram!

We got a rough one this week with 2007's 'Rendition'. Meryl is only in it for like 5 to 8 minutes! At the very least, it does have several scenes of Jake Gyllenhaal shirtless. We also briefly talk the announcement of Meryl working with Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks! Be sure to check us out on iTunes, SoundCloud, and Stitcher and like and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

Highly demanded and hotly anticipated, we finally get to 2006's The Devil Wears Prada with our special guest, documentary filmmaker/Amazing Race Canada producer & huge Meryl fan Michael Yerxa! Miranda Priestly is one of Meryl's most iconic roles and what follows is the birth of the Streep summer blockbuster. Also, how can Andy afford that apartment?Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram, listen to us out on iTunes, SoundCloud, and Stitcher & shoot any questions/comments to whataboutmeryl@gmail.com!

As we wrap up another Oscar year with another Meryl nomination, let's celebrate when she won shall we? 2011's The Iron Lady had Mrs. Streep embodying Margaret Thatcher, our first female Prime Minister in the United Kingdom. We discuss her 2012 Oscar win for the role and talk some more Oscar stuff too (Will she win for Florence Foster Jenkins? You already know who won!)Be sure to check us out on Facebook, Tumblr, and Instagram and subscribe on iTunes, SoundCloud, and Stitcher. We'll hopefully be coming to Google Play in the coming weeks and tune in next week for a special guest!

This week, we went on a Meryl-fueled field trip to the TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto on the snowiest day of the year. We wanted to see the 1978 classic The Deer Hunter on the big screen because neither of us had seen it before (!!!). Emily ships Meryl and Robert (who can blame her?), while Danita wonders if this movie is all it's cracked up to be. Make sure to find us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Tumblr. If you're digging us, leave a review - we love hearing from you!

We break away from the Meryl Box in honour of our special guest, Movie/TV Columnist (Globe & Mail, Metro, Toronto Star) Johanna Schneller! She joins us to talk 2002's meta-comedy 'Adaptation' and discuss Meryl's take on author Susan Orlean, Chris Cooper's sexiness, and Nicolas Cage embodying Charlie Kaufman's writer's block (not to mention his weight problem, which Meryl points out hilariously). Make sure to follow and like us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and subscribe to us on iTunes, SoundCloud, or Stitcher.

This week, we tackle one of the heaviest films of Meryl's career with one of her career-defining roles in 1982's 'Sophie's Choice'. It wasn't easy to talk about the themes in the film but Meryl's performance was worth the Oscar. Also, Danita talks about sexy she finds Kevin Kline. Check us out on iTunes, SoundCloud, and Stitcher and make sure to like and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!

We travel off to Ireland for an under-the-radar film with 1998's 'Dancing at Lughnasa'. A tale of five sisters living together with lots of folk dancing and Meryl's lovely accent. We also take some time to talk about her 20th(!) Oscar nomination for 'Florence Foster Jenkins'. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram and give us a listen or a review on iTunes, SoundCloud, or Stitcher!

The ladies aren't happy about this week's film, 1993's The House of the Spirits. A movie where Meryl levitates objects and everybody tries to hide it?! How can that be?! Also there's so much unnecessary sexual assault and whitewashing and we can't stand it. Make sure to share, like, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and subscribe and review on iTunes, SoundCloud, and Stitcher!

After our awards show high, we're back on schedule with 1989's 'She-Devil'. Meryl is one of the rich and the famous and wants Roseanne's husband all by herself, setting Ms. Barr down a dangerous path of destruction and revenge. We're joined by a special guest, Roseanne Fan and longtime friend of the show Joshua Korngut, who defends his love against our Meryl love. Can't we all just get along?! Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram and subscribe to us on iTunes, SoundCloud, and Stitcher!