Country: United States
Genre: Suspense/ Drama/ Mainstream
Director: Mike Nichols
Year: 1983
Rating: 
TRASH CINEMA RECOMMENDED MOVIE
Silkwood is based on the real story of Karen Silkwood, a worker in an uranium pellet plant who became active in the union, and ultimately became a whistle blower, with the usual disastrous results.
Unfortunately, that means that the filmmakers are stuck with the character of the real Karen Silkwood, who was not terribly likeable. Screenwriters Nora Ephron and Alice Arlen don’t go into a lot of detail as to the reasons, but Karen Silkwood abandoned her kids. She also drinks and smokes weed, is rude and selfish, and is none too bright.
Of course, once she gets involved in the union, she becomes less self-involved, but she’s still kind of a twit.
Meryl Streep, constitutionally incapable of dishonesty as an actress, especially at that point in her career, disappears into the role of Silkwood. She never begs for our sympathy, which must have been tempting, considering how unlikeable the lady was.
While it’s impressive how well the role is acted, it tends to limit our enjoyment of the picture. When Silkwood gets into trouble, we think “Of course. She’s an idiot,” and we aren’t exactly heartbroken, either.
The other roles are very well-acted, too. Kurt Russell, who can sometimes be pure canned ham, is impressive as Silkwood’s boyfriend, Drew Stephens. Cher is absolutely wonderful as Dolly Pelliker, Silkwood’s lesbian roommate, who happens to be in love with her. The rest of the character actors involved read like a who’s who: Craig T. Nelson, Fred Ward, Ron Silver, Josef Sommer, Bruce McGill, David Strathairn, M. Emmet Walsh, James Rebhorn, Anthony Heald, Will Patton…is that crazy or what?
Mike Nichols does a great job depicting the working class, white trash mileau. He doesn’t talk down to them, but he doesn’t softpedal their simplicity, either.
Silkwood is interesting on a number of levels: as an examination of a subculture, as a peek into union politics and the early nuclear industry, and so on. Silkwood is extremely well made, but with a hero as unlikeable as Karen Silkwood, there’s a limit to how successful it can be as drama.
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