I'm always suspicious of someone who deflects a direct question to someone else. We're not asking Melania right now, Meryl, we're asking YOU.
What Streep does say is that she woudln't want to ruin someone's 'mature life' with revelations about sexual harrassement. Which effecitvely means that sexual harrassment, and stopping women from having a career, isn't a big deal compared to some aging Lothario's good reputation. I find this comment outrageous. But I suppose that's the same logic that led her to applaud a man convicted of raping a minor (and who then evaded justice).
Perhaps Streep thinks of herself as better than everyone else in Hollywood. After alll, she gets ALL the juicy parts for her age cohort. Seriously, does does Hollywood really not have ANY other actresses for these roles? Or maybe, just maybe Streep has secrets of her own that she wouldn't want people to hear about in her mature years.
Whatever it is that leads her to these mealy-mouthed responses, it isn't pretty and it isn't doing her reputation any good at all.
6
Streep doesn't want to hear about her silence? Too bad. She called Weinstein a deity and gave a standing ovation to Polanski. Not ok.
4
I think the attacks on Streep are an orchestrated effort by Trump supporters to retaliate against her vocal and public opposition to the president. Attacking rivals who challenge Trump is out of the standard playbook for the Trump faithful. This has nothing to do with Weinstein or the treatment of women. It’s a craven effort to disgrace and silence an opponent of the manchild with the ego of a three year old who occupies the White House.
9
Of course ,lewd behavior was pervasive and many films from the 80s on were exactly about gratuitous sex. Live it film it seemed to be the occasion and nobody blamed the abusers for some 20 odd years.Oddly nobody has also been honest enough to admit that yes , in fact ,a quick exchange of gratuity may have cinched a choice film part.Now that's a true secret .
Meryl Streep was in The Deer Hunter, released in 1978, one year earlier than Kramer vs. Kramer, but she was a supporting player in Deer Hunter.
1
Meryl Streep, Sadly people with disabilities are "because that’s the last group it’s kind of O.K. to demean, degrade.".: See https://www.huffingtonpost.com/janice-s-lintz/its-time-to-include-disab_...,
But it is essential that we don't just focus on celebrities but regular people and not just the workplace. Somehow the world seems to think if you were once married to a person, then that person can say anything they want to you because of the first amendment even language that would never be acceptable in a workplace environment. See: Do I Matter? Yes, I do matter contrary to what our judicial system seems to think...
1
I thought both Streep and Hanks completely punted over the issue of Weinstein and sexual harassment and violence in Hollywood. Weinstein's conduct was an open secret. Great actors don't make great mavens on this tricky subject.
7
I don’t have quite as high an opinion of these two ‘elite icons’ as they do of themselves...
..but then who could?
Yawn.
And if Ms. Streep didn’t know about Weinstein then it’s summer in Boston (as of this writing, it’s a balmy 2 degrees fahrenheit).
4
I'm concerned with the number of commentators who are lambasting Meryl Streep for not speaking out sooner or more strongly, for claiming she didn't know when an insider like her probably did, etc. How many times do we have to say it? Stop blaming victims or other women for what Weinstein and other harassers have done and said! This is a distraction and not a distraction by accident. It turns the attention away from the perpetrators and those who actually enabled them. Notice that in all these scads of comments about how Meryl is a fake, a fraud, a fill in the blank for not speaking out, taking a stand etc, virtually no one is saying the same thing about Tom Hanks, who is also part of this interview.
Why is Meryl a fake, a fraud, a disgrace etc for not being a profile in courage on this issue and somehow it is okay for Tom? His vague nonsense about locker room conversations (ugh! that phrase again) is, if anything, far lamer than her comments. Why don't you think Tom H is a disgrace to humanity and the acting profession? As a male mega-star in that male dominated town, he was--between the two of them--actually better placed to make a difference. But almost nobody is pointing fingers at him. And that again is no coincidence or accident. The whole game is and has long been: it is always somehow the victim's fault or, failing that, the fault of the nearest woman in the picture.
29
The idea that any prominent woman in a male-dominated field has an obligation to speak about #MeToo is outrageous. It's forcing successful women to behave as victims or, worse, relive stuff they probably put behind them some years ago and don't want to revisit. What exactly are you expecting her to say except "yes, it's unfortunate this stuff goes on"? Do you want her to get on a high horse and sit in judgment of all her male colleagues. Streep has done enough by thriving despite this environment and not becoming angry and bitter. Leave the woman alone!
20
Andra - There are and have been quite a few women who have thrived despite this environment and have not become angry and bitter. Streep is by no means alone!
2
Why does our culture insist on confusing historical figures with the actors who portray them on TV or in movies? Ms Streep and Mr Hanks are talented performers and private citizens with a right to their opinions but they have not earned, and should not be accorded, a public platform to impose their uneducated political opinions as fact. When they earn well deserved accolades for acting, I hope that they will
set an example for their peers by limiting their Thank You Speeches to thanking people.
7
Au contraire! Mr. Hanks response to the question comparing the Nixon and Trump administrations is succinct and profound. Pay attention to the voice of truth. The documentation of demonstrable lies coming from the Trump administration is indisputable. Denial is the first sign of having imbibed in the kool-aid of "alternative fact."
6
In what way are they uneducated? Why are entertainers not allowed to express their opinions? I bet you wouldn’t blink twice if Ms. Streep told us for her preference between hamburgers or cheeseburgers despite not being a trained chef, so why is her opinion on politics forbidden? In addition, some of us have clearly decided that education is not a prerequisite to actually be in politics, so why is Ms. Streep being held to a higher standard than the POTUS?
7
Everyone in our society is entitled to express their political opinions, educated or not, on a public platform. Kid Rock, for example, doesn't hesitate to express his Neanderthal views in public.
4
Strange that this story, "The Post" is even being compared to "all the President's Men". This is about 1st amendment and Pentagon Papers. That was about Watergate-- a different kettle of fishiness.
8
As a young mother of two sons and two daughters, I reared them to love and respect eachother, just as I had been loved by my two brothers. When my sons began the dating game, I remember telling them to treat the young lady just as they would want their sisters to be treated. Therein lies the answer. Respect begins in one's home and there is where a man learns how to treat women.
29
While at dinner on a business trip with a department head at Leo Burnett, he spent the entire evening telling me about his daughter (my age) and how proud he was of her. As we got up from the table in the hotel restaurant, he asked me if I’d like to go back to his room with him. I turned to him and asked how he would advise his daughter to answer that question and walked away.
Conversely, when my father, an attorney, passed away, a woman wrote a comment on his obituary about how supportive he had been to her, the only woman lawyer “at the table” in a legal dispute. I was proud, touched, and sad that there are not more stories being told like that.
39
The more I read or hear about Tom Hanks the person, the further he falls in my estimation.
Meryl Streep on the other hand, goes higher and higher.
He evades, she confronts.
He sidesteps, she is direct.
He is to me a simple male who's been incredibly lucky in his profession.
She is a thoughtful woman who deserves every accolade and award (nominations and wins) she's earned.
19
Amen! And it was evident she (Streep) got the short end of the stick in this piece. All of a sudden it was all about Hanks. What tha...
5
Streep is magnificent in this interview.
16
Ms. Streep is a great example of what happens when judgement is cast although i am decidedly flabbergasted at how quickly it's happened.
Interesting though that the boisterous Hollywood men who may have had her sleep her way through the early part of her career or subjected her to behavior that she would not rightfully submit herself to by others get a pass fot being mature...
1
Thank you, Meryl and Tom, for a fascinating and enlightening discussion.
5
Hollywood. Hear no evil, see no evil and evil.
7
so excited for the Bosom Buddies reboot coming to HBO!!!!
1
I think both Meryl and Tom probably had heard rumors about Weinstein’s womanizing, but that doesn’t mean they knew anything about the hotel room crimes. Plenty of high profile men in Hollywood have reputations as womanizers. Rape and sexual harassment are very different. I don’t believe Meryl— who is obviously a strong feminist— would have ever remained silent if she had heard about a woman being raped or abused.
22
KRAMER vs KRAMER was not Streep's first movie.
2
She was in The Deer Hunter in 1978, but as a supporting actress.
1
maybe her first movie with Hoffman
Attacking a high profile successful woman about what she knew about women who have been subjugated and attacked is just what the sexual harassment criminals want you to do to distract us.
My #Me too story - in my early 20s, when my boss's boss belted out a horrible sexual slur at me in front of a whole bullpen of laughing men. As my mother's outspoken daughter, I had no problem bringing him into a conference room and reading him the riot act about equality, and he listened and apologized. But then the whispers in the bullpen started, and there was no way to get back the easy comradery from before. I left that company soon afterward, and it changed my career trajectory dramatically. Because women are not in every locker room, rest room, dive bar and good course with men, I firmly believe that change has to come from within the men's groups themselves - some of them have to speak up live, when it happens, and make it not acceptable, not cool, to harass and demean women.
My experience with men and boys is that they do better at told what to do instead of what not to do. In that vein, we should profile male CEOs and senior managers who are known for promoting equality - describing the processes they institute, barriers they encounter and how they overcome them will help to role model the good and weed out the bad.
It can get better - it's a journey that needs a roadmap.
33
Listening to Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep give their political view reminds me of something learned long ago about the Left: It's happy when it's a Leftist dismantling the Constitution and unhappy when it's someone else. Everything else is just wind in the sails of whatever's floating this message.
2
Oh, for the days when these (Streep and Hanks) views were actually in step with mainline Democrats, rather than "leftist," here meaning "radical." Please point out in the Constitution where these views "dismantle" our constitutional principles. Where does the Constitution support rape and sexual harassment?
25
This conservative does not condone the wars perpetrated by both Dems and Repubs without Congressional authorization. But that is due to cowardice of both parties in congress. Neat though to hear the use of "states rights " by both sides to suit their agendas. There's enough blame to go around for both sides. But just about now we very nearly don't have a democracy so it hardly matters who's at fault. This is now a corporate kleptocracy.
8
In what way were either of them dismantling the Constitution in this interview?
Why is it that righties ALWAYS have to turn everything into a jab at what they perceive as the left? As in this case, it's usually without any substantive discussion or even mention of the subject at hand. This all purpose comment could be posted on every article and every post on FB - and probably has been.
Sexual harassment is not a political issue.
2
Lovely article.
Shame that there's so much reader vitriol.
Presumably from those who have been faultlessly ethical and consistent in their behavior and words every moment of their entire lives?
23
Agree. Let he who is without sin, and all that...
9
I love this piece. Buckley's questions and their sequence create a wonderful stage for Streep and Hanks' balance and humanism. Bravo!
12
She pretends to be authority on everything (especially politics) but entertainment industry, and she expects president's wife and daughter to give their opinion on what is happening in her field. I don't really understand that.
She says: "...when everybody was doing cocaine, there was a lot of [expletive] behavior that was inexcusable...". Really? So, if somebody does something bad under influence it means it can be forgiven.
Also she says she was pretty. :-)). When? In other life?
9
Your final comment perfectly illustrates Ms. Streep's remark that women are the last group it's ok to demean or degrade. Choosing to punctuate otherwise valid arguments with a nasty jab at her appearance perpetuates hate rather than serves debate.
53
ummm know she didn't. Guess you didn't read the article. Sigh. So let me help you, right there in the article she talks about how she isn't the authority on anything.
Fascinating. Women? I'm telling you, if you really want to turn this ship around, we can. We really can. And I get it, your are angry and confused and bullied or just insecure because your man is intimidated by your mind, so you have to play it small. And we are intimidated by their muscle, so it isn't exactly stupid, but letting men run the world is. And what we have to get a grip on to stop history from repeating itself, if we want wisdom to be our path to learning instead of suffering, then let's all head down to our community college and sign up for an intro to philosophy class. Let's learn how to think. Let's learn how to leave the fascist speechless by Einstein-ing the whole conversation, pointing out the rhetoric, the fallacies of thinking, the distorted habits of thinking the premise that is not provable. I'm telling you, it's better than Law & Order Sarah Silverman! And no body cares if you pass the class or do the homework or even take a test. Just sit in the class. It's enough. I'll meet you there. Quick before community college is gone, because that is where this is going everyone.
6
Re the snide remark about Ms Streep’s statement that she was young and pretty, this commenter totally misses the point of the article.
16
Love the last line from Tom Hanks. Such humility.
26
Wow ... thank God we have celebrities to point out our short comings to us and to make sure our Gov't stays clean, right????? They can't even police their own industry or call out a member of said industry who was blatantly sexually assaulting women for years and yet we're supposed to be impressed by their movie about Nixon???? They should be so lucky.
11
You mistakenly blame the entertainment industry alone. As has been pointed out by many, the sexual assault and harassment parade is showing just how prevalent the sordid practice is in virtually all industries! Streep and others have emphasized this.
21
And yet you complain that they're just actors and shouldn't be voicing their opinions in public. Now you're upset that they didn't.
There's a name for that - it's called hypocrisy.
3
Yes, and we're lucky to have people like them in the industry.
2
Meryl streep's playing ignorant about Weinstein is not her best performance. In my opinion she is just another self serving actress. . . one whom I don't care to see again
10
My wife is in her middle -fifties and yet still completely torn over her relationship with her mother, who did not stop her father, the child predator. Evidence was everwhere. She considers that both parents thoroughly failed her, The male pervert, and the weak female protector. Both are responsible!
14
Tragic, and I am sorry your wife had to go through all of that. My mother was sodomized by her father (long ago, 1936 to 1944, from age 10 to age 18.) Her mother said she knew nothing. It is possible. Regardless of my maternal grandmother's knowledge or lack of knowledge, the relationship between my mother and her mother was destroyed. This was in a rural Western state that relied upon sheep ranching for its main income. That grandfather also sired a child outside of marriage in the 1930s.
6
It's funny that Meryl doesn't want to go into specifics. She had no problem saying that Pauline Kael was jealous of her, that Walt Disney was anti-Semitic or that a producer of "King Kong" called her ugly.
Of course, she waited until all of those people were dead and had no chance of defending themselves.
13
Streep's excuse was that she didn't have social media accounts. Does she not watch the news? Read the papers? Listen to radio? As a Hollywood actress I would think she'd have a small army of PR folks and other consultants to keep her informed. Is this her same excuse for defending Roman Polanski many years ago? And why does she feel the need to use Melania as a scapegoat?
19
In what world is it the job of PR folks to keep their clients informed of the news of the day? In no world. Their job is to arrange for PR and help one participate in PR. You are silly.
11
How could Kramer vs. Kramer be her first film when she was in "Deer Hunter," which came out a year earlier?
3
Remember: Studios & Distributors control when a movie's released into theaters. Many factor come into play. Consequently, it's common for an actor to complete his/her work a year --or several-- before the film hits the silver screen.
25
Looking forward to seeing "The Post".
For all those complaining about Meryl Streep - why is it that a woman, a brilliant actor, needs to be pulled into an issue which has nothing to do with her and blamed for not speaking out? Whether she knew anything is not relevant - she is not the criminal, Weinstein is.
158
I totally agree with you on this. I think many people are jealous of her talent and success and then there's the factor that she's a woman, which they just have to attack.
56
And of course, because she says things that contradict the echo chamber lives they lead, they resent it and project their own distortions and lies onto her.
19
wally, your comment is great. it applies as well to hillary-- why she lost in a squeaker against an inexperienced lout, and why people continue to berate her. it also applies to many accomplished women--whom some less successful people also enjoy bashing.
14
Melania Trump is married to Donald. That is as close to she comes to having a safe base. I don't think it helps to attack women who won't speak out. Same with Ivanka - imagine growing up with a father who only values you for how you make him look. That's confusing. That's kinda impossible, sure it's complicit, but that might not be part of her understanding. That's really what this whole movement gets to be about - understanding, realizing that your world view is getting in the way of seeing people and what is actually happening. We get to realize that some people are very skilled at being two faced and charming, and just because we do not have a problem with a person, doesn't mean another person isn't their target. There are a whole lot of Snidely Whiplashes out there having a whole lot of fun pretending to be one thing when actually being the other. How is it so easy to target victims. I don't care how callous Melania is, you just can't know why. Walking on egg shells? Ivanka sure is. Maybe Melania is a Russian spy - who knows. The point is to know what you know and what you don't and stop mushing what you think and feel and believe with what you know for sure. This time seems to be about America and each of us discovering our character, and I stole that from Steve Franks and James Roday - an Episode from Psych. How is that show not winning awards? Pay attention people! Learn critical thinking skills. Motivation, Understanding THEN Commitment. #metoo.
17
Without Trump, Melania, who could be replaced at the drop of a hat, and Ivanka wouldn't be given a second thought by anyone. They are both riding on the tailcoats of "The Donald." They both made a choice not to have minds of their own and to cave in to his every whim. This is the price they paid to live in the lap of luxury and catch all the breaks. Sad!
18
That's true, that's there survival mechanism. I am not defending their actions. I am offering the reality that your view is from the outside looking in. From the inside looking out, a child of a psychopath is going to build a defense mechanism that is a serious barrier to consciousness.
Do you see your defense mechanism? What we all get to realize is a fixed mindset is pervasive in our culture. A growth mindset, we get curious and we get smarter together. A fixed mindset is like boxing - there is no actual point, there will be many rounds and the most violent person wins. What the world needs now is the ability to debate. So, what is sad for me is that you are attacking a social scientist. I am not the enemy. I am not defending Melania or Ivanka, I am sharing with you the challenge they have and now, I am pointing out that I am guessing you are emotional which makes it hard to be reasonable, unless you habituated critical thinking skills. It isn't the answer. It's what Trump wants you to do. Divide and Conquer is a strategy of war. Sun Tzu? Art of War? eek. Another book to read is Heidegger, Being and Time. He talks about throwness. Also, Murray Stein put together a collection of excerpts from Jung on Evil, including how he at first thought fascism was the answer to Stalinism. Even Jung is susceptible to black and white thinking. Think Rainbows. It's all a spectrum.
9
Right, except oh I forgot, Ivanka created a company that provided jobs to many and helped working women dress-well-for-less, no small requirement in the Man's World in which we all live and are judged by appearance. Pretty sure that requires a mind of one's own. And then there are her well-parented, loving children or is that a tailcoat thing, also?
3
Sorry, Meryl - your attempt to deflect criticism of you by calling out the Trumps does not cover your embrace of a monster (Weinstein) to advance your career, or your standing ovation for a child rapist (Roman Polanski).
This woman is a hypocrite, and a disgusting, immoral person. I will never watch anything with her in it again.
24
I am absolutely convinced that is not what she is doing. She is simply telling her what she is thinking. And I regret focusing on asking her to not target a woman married to a psychopath, because this article, and what Tom and Meryl actually were trying to use the article to talk about, was how a woman in power was completely looked over in our recording of history. Now that is the headline that I want to see.
What you are doing is common, and the problem. You are playing a game of telephone. You are mushing together what you think with what she said. You are accusing her of doing something because of a belief you have. If you unpack your thinking and speaking from this interview - and don't forget to factor in the influence and choices of the reporter - using critical thinking skills, what you will realizer is your premise is not provable, making your comment invalid.
And NYT's, you have a real opportunity here to teach us how to think. If you want the world to go another way, that is what it is going to take. So, I beseech you, to help with that. The number one comment on that opinion piece about women dealing with sexism is full of fallacies of thinking and distorted thinking patterns. Only print those with the analysis. It's not that hard to adapt critical thinking skills. Bring in someone to train the peeps moderating - it'll be more fun than watching Law & Order! Thanks and Good Night.
12
Get back to me after you've nursed your lover through his final months of cancer, supporting him until he died in your arms, as Meryl Streep did with John Cazale. You know NOTHING about this woman and her integrity.
28
A reasonable comment!! I didn't think they existed anymore! Thank you for restoring my faith in humanity.
1
Meryl Streep is a fraud, she should stick to acting.
-She gave confirmed child rapist Roman Polanski a standing ovation at the 2003 Oscars.
-She worked with Harvey Weinstein for years, and referred to him as a god, even though his abominable reputation was an open secret in all of Hollywood.
She has lost all credibility on this issue. She discredits herself and exposes her hypocrisy, as her colleague Rose McGowan correctly asserted. Her disingenuous deflections to the Trump women are pure hypocrisy and theatre. Spare me. You would have thought that all of these scandals would have made Hollywood self-reflect and practice a little humility, but obviously not.
The blatant sanctimony has soured me on her movies, I will definitely skip 'The Post'.
22
Philly, I'm sorry you feel that way. I think Meryl Streep is one of the most intelligent women (who happens to also be an actress, not a politician) around. I think she has been handling the public's demand for her opinion on public issues quite well considering that she is not a politician and never signed up to be one. Rose McGowan has apologized for her criticism of Meryl. If you deprive yourself of her movies and reading the Post, it will only hurt you.
26
No she is not a fraud. She's an actress. I guess you didn't read the article. She talks about that. You are blaming her for not being a social scientist. I am a social scientist and what I notice is no way something you just pick up.
Like, for example, that you are emoting. You are discrediting. Are you Russian? Is someone paying you a couple pennies to print this piece? I care for a woman with dementia and she is being preyed on by dark forces to go on weird radio shows and just disrupt the conversation. She gets paid almost nothing to do that and also to write comments like this. It's makes her feel like she matters. There are other ways we could help her feel like she matters so she isn't so vulnerable to being preyed upon. She is being encouraged to have repeated stress responses which are aging her brain even more, hardening her arteries and killing her organs. Resentment is like taking a poison and expecting someone else to die. Ranting irrationally in the comment section of a paper is an addiction. Is that what is happening here? Or are you just traumatized and can't tell good from bad. That happens too. It's impossible for me to know - if that is the case, head on down to your community college and take an intro to philosophy class. It's better than sudoku. Be humble yourself. I know, I know the world is upside down and it's turning us inside out. Listen to what u say and be that. That works. Practice a lot of humility, explore the other six virtues. Wikipedia!
11
I don't defend what MAY have happened happened 30 - 40 ? Years ago- but now Polanski is a "Confirmed" whatever ? Really. It is fact ?
When exactly, was the trial ?
Right - repeat something long enough & it's nowadays fact. I forgot
1
When in doubt of own hypocritical liberal actions - blame Trump! (Or just insert any Republican)
15
The difference between Meryl and Melania is that Melania didn't lecture half the country about morality. I think Meryl is a brilliant actress but she is not helping the #metoo cause trying to explain why she never spoke out about Harvey.
25
I love both actors. I remember hearing about "the casting couch" when I was very young. I am a few years younger than Streep herself. I was shocked that "the casting couch" could actually be what I suspected (I wasn't a teen yet.) I'm still shocked by this behavior. I'm glad that Weinstein has become outed. This abuse needs to stop -- in all professions. And no leers, touching on the arm, patting on the rump, all of it. I am very happy I no longer get leered at, but that stopped only very recently. For men who've done this in the past or who currently leer at women (if these men are even aware they do this) I ask: "How do you think this makes women feel? Are you aware that women feel like a piece of meat served on a platter ready for you to dive in and gorge upon her?" This is abuse.
I've heard some men tell me (about 10 years ago) that they believe -- they honestly believe -- that women should feel complimented if they leer at a woman, have dirty thoughts about a woman -- because 'he's saying she's beautiful and he desires her, right?' Wrong. All wrong. She feels dirty, disrespected, and she loathes a male who says that or who makes her feel that way.
The upside from this horror show is that this topic is FINALLY being talked about. And we women do NOT accept being treated like this. Among strangers, colleagues or bosses: No touching beyond a handshake or a simple pat on the back, no talking to us in a dirty way, no suggestiveness, no demeaning girls or women in ANY way.
17
Streep is a fraud. She has known about Weinstein for years. But it was not in her interest to say anything about it, and now she expects us to believe that one of the most well-connected actors in Hollywood never knew what everyone else in her circle knew. Hogwash. Why does she have to lie about it? As for Hanks, he speaks in circles, evading the obvious. He knew. Why bother to interview these two at all? They are not and never have been paragons of moral virtue, nor are they well-versed in anything but promoting their careers.
23
Everybody knew about "The Casting Couch" for decades.
Then, women suffered in silence, lest they feared being blacklisted. Some of the most beautiful Hollywood women 50 years ago: Marilyn Monroe, and Jayne Mansfield. Mansfield was mother of Mariska Hargitay, who plays Olivia Benson of the TV show Law and Order: Special Victims Unit.
Half a century ago, a beautiful woman was known only for her beauty, and what she could do for MEN -- increase his status, perform specific favors for him..It was ALWAYS about the Man.
In the past, a woman who was not extremely beautiful could be a nurse or a teacher, a secretary, retail clerk or a mother. Most people are not extremely beautiful or handsome. We are pretty, cute, decent looking or ... whatever.
Beauty has a price that nobody should be required to pay.
And now, we can exercise our right to simply be...ourselves...without some guy looking us up and down, without him suggestively touching us on the arm, and without feeling that this guy is thinking about me in a way I do not want him to.
Speaking up against The Mogul in Power is dangerous. The Mogul in Power who is also The Chief Abuser in Power gives nobody, nobody a chance. Nobody can cross The Mogul in Power/Chief Abuser in Power without getting burned.
Everybody -- male and female actors -- are put in an impossible position, because the Chief Abuser in Power has created situations in which only HE wins.
8
Streep, Hanks - 2020
8
the russian guy in the terminal meets donna from mama mia. they both would read the new york post.
2
Sorry, but I have always thought that actors/actresses have been given outboard importance as to their opinions on political or social topics. Many of the most prominent among them don’t even have high school diplomas let alone college degrees. But after Susan Sarandon, the responsible news media should defer all such stories like this one to the impulse mags at the supermarket checkout line. Most of them are complicit anyway.
9
I'm sickened by #MeToo. That it exists, has existed for many decades and that it is so extensive. I'm absolutely sickened. I'm grateful, however, that we are delving deeply into the abuse of power that some men hold over women in wanting sexual favors. It's decades over due. Society now will not accept this any more. For that we are grateful. But it's long over due.
7
how shallow hanks and streep are. very disappointing responses to a very serious issue.
25
Ms. Streep says here that women are the last group that it's okay to demean. People over 65 are openly laughed at and degraded on late night tv talk shows almost every night.
25
Fascinating that so many come here to deride Ms. Streep, and that so many apparently agree with those sentiments. I never considered her as anything other than an exceptional actress and a woman of tremendous talent and poise. I guess it is an example of Einstein's observation that great spirits will always encounter violent opposition from mediocre minds.
27
Talk of women's rights - how about equal pay for equal work? And don't forget about pockets. Women need pockets in their clothing too! And did you ever realize that dining tables are too high for most women? The rim is exactly breast high. Not good. There are changes to be made. It can't always be a mans world.
13
Meryl, you have so disapointed me. You can wear black at the Golden Globes, it means nothing. You could have been a true sister... you were not.
No more movies with you at the movie theater, on neflix, amazon. I am done with you.
One heartbroken fan.
15
I don't get it. What was she supposed to have done exactly? How was she supposed to have known that he was abusing people?
29
How could someone that connected in a town where information is the second currency not know. I am not blaming her for doing what she needed to do to stay alive but she cannot stop herself from sanctimoniously casting stones.
2
Normally I would see this movie. However, I vowed not to patronize any Anti Trumpers so there.
6
Great idea. Let's see. At last count (and rising) that was at least 62, 000,000 people.
6
This interview makes the obvious unintended point that we live in a compromised culture that encourages people to reflexively make... compromises. Hanks and Streep are part of that culture.
Since the #metoo movement erupted initially in the entertainment industry it was appropriate to ask two prominent actors to express their thoughts on the matter. However, it's obvious from the responses that outstandingly acting credentials do not necessarily translate (contrary to popular opinion) into profound social commentary.
Large sections of the population are still scratching their heads over the phenomena of homophobia, racism, poverty, religion, and virtually everything else including patriarchy and sexually abusive behavior. Is there confusion? Could it be otherwise?
Has progress been made over the last 70 years or so? In fits and starts. Could that be swallowed up in an American Third Reich? That certainly looms as a danger.
The fact that so many people are easily taken in by the "credentials" of celebrity is a measure of the shallowness of contemporary thought and culture.
The big question is will the news media, driven as it is by the profit motive, give platforms to voices distinguished not by some form of spurious celebrity (athletic, cinematic, television or otherwise) but by the intelligence and clarity of their analysis and vision. Will there be more Daniel Ellsbergs and more Pentagon Papers? Will there be enough of them? Those remain open questions.
15
I agree with Ms. Streep; where is the first lady's voice?
6
How many victims of Weinstein might have been spared if a celebrity of Streep's renown had spoken out decades ago? How much sooner might this national conversation have taken place? She clearly has no interest in taking responsibility for her complicity in Hollywoid's tradition of victimizing young people. Her hypocrisy is disgusting.
11
Spoken out about what? How the heck would she have known about it? That's what I don't understand, here.
The first reaction seems to be to blame women.
21
She didn't know. Period. The women who were victimized could have spoken to Meryl and other actresses with more power but they apparently did not. And men with more power, like Brad Pitt, did know about specific instances but did not go public. Where is your castigation for them?
15
EXACTLY! This seems like it's turning into a really convincing excuse to blame women for the misdeeds of men. I'm not seeing scores of tweets and comments calling out all the men who have worked with Weinstein, or Allen or Polanski. Interesting, isn't it?
8
I remember walking out of Tom Hanks' "Batchelor Party" movie at the first denigrating T&A scene promoting the stereotype that women are dumb foils and objects subject to men's sexual misbehavior and predations. I was pretty disgusted then and am glad he's moved on to better material and portrayed more worthy characters. I hope he and Ms. Streep will stepup their game and call out the bad behavior in the industry.
10
My hope:
More people will quit Facebook and Twitter, and get out more.
52
Ironic timing for the release of this movie. Perhaps somebody needs to explain the plot to Trump. The press is even more important now than it was then and we need to do our part and subscribe to big guys, like the Times and the Post, and to our local papers as well. Keep on keeping on, we have your back!
22
The interviewer saying that she didn't think men ignored women by the early 70's is exactly why it is important for movies like this one to be made. I'd have thought that a veteran reporter like Cara Buckley would have known better. Go figure.
I'm more surprised they Meryl Streep was able to get a credit card without a cosigner in the early 70's. It was not yet a time of greater equality.
18
The interviewer didn’t say that she thought men didn’t ignore women in the 70s. The comment was specifically directed to the custom of women leaving the dining room first, leaving the men to discuss important issues over port for an hour or so while the women gossiped in the drawing room. The interviewer was questioning whether this nineteenth century practice had survived into the 1970s.
6
I suspect Streep was able to get a card without a co-signer in the early 70s, was likely because she must have had a decent income. The fact that many/most women needed a co-signer in those days reflected the simple fact that most women did not earn much. My mother worked part time as a lab technician but needed a co-signer in the 70s after the divorce. My stepmother was an M.D. teaching in the medical school and did not need a co-signer at that time. When my mother later became a nurse in the early 80s, she did not need a co-signer, because times changed and she had a bigger income in the 80s as a nurse than she did in the 70s as a lab technician.
7
no, i don't think that was what she meant. at least in the 60s and before my mother needed a spouse's signature or her father's to get a credit card. some of her older store credit cards have her as mrs. john smith, without even her own name.
and she worked, so this wasn't a money thing. they wanted to make sure that if she bought too much, a man would be able to cover for it. she had wealthy, single friends who could not get cards because there was no man to co-sign.
9
The last line stopped me in my tracks. Tom Hanks admits he's never been actively involved in a project with an above the title role for a mature, Oscar-winning actress. I imagine it was said with typical self-deprecation ("Meryl, would you like to play Robert Langdon's foil? Great wardrobe and hotels..."), but I wonder what projects he'll initiate going forward because he can make a difference.
33
That struck me too. I hope he makes that connection.
3
I too read it three times. And it's true. Loved the photos, good interview, and can't wait for the film.
(I must add separately that Spotlight is also on my list of great journalistic films)
6
she coulda been in that disney movie playing the emma thomspon role.
Speaking of Weinstein and the long-overdue "Me Too" movement, why didn't the interviewer ask Ms. Streep if she regrets giving rapist Roman Polanski a standing ovation at the 2003 Oscars when he won for Best Director?
51
While Meryl Streep is a great actress, she is not a good spokesperson. For example, she never met Walt Disney but had no problem calling him a sexist (which I had never heard before). She surely knew Harvey Weinstein very well but claims ignorance. It's great to see so many credible women speaking out, but people like Ms. Streep are not helpful.
25
With all due respect, I don't agree with your position on Meryl Streep's unwillingness to weigh in on #metoo. In general, I think Streep is a wise and thoughtful spokesperson when she chooses to be. I thought her remarks were appropriate, if general.
Is it fair to expect our role models to always weigh in on issues just because we think they should?
19
You don't mention any data to support your speculation, so what seems incredible is your confidence that you know what she heard, read and/or thought.
7
Disney was a sexist. He handed his company over to his nephew because he had no sons and did not believe his daughters had the ability or the potential to run the company. His daughters basically had no say in the company.
3
Meryl Streep is the queen of "group think" in Hollywood. It is so pathetic how these people lead extreme lives and have extreme political views. Not too long ago Meryl Streep said from the pulpit that "I'm going to have a little talk with Clint Eastwood." How dare someone think differently than we do.
13
I find this singling out of "Hollywood" as a monolith of extreme weirdos - when a full 35% of our country has become full-fledged reactionary crackpots who support our maniacal, unfit "leader" - hilarious. What is the groupthink that Hollywood represents to you? You have to be specific or else your words mean nothing. Is it gay rights? Women's rights? The environment? The arts? Speaking up for causes they believe in? (I'm kind of guessing it's this one).
Streep's comment about Eastwood was clearly good-natured. You don't like actors, fine. But let's be reasonable here. They are just as good or bad or silly or misguided as anyone else.
11
This interview is enough to make me hope that the movie is a financial flop. Hanks makes the specious claim that Nixon was trying to cover up his unlawful behavior. The events referred to occurred before he was elected president, not after. If anything, he was improperly trying to protect actions undertaken by an administration of the other party. It is impossible to believe that Hanks did not know that. But hey, anything to try and make a buck.
As for Streep, she does not want to address sexual assault charges that she is aware of, although she did not mind criticizing Trump at last year’s academy awards show, but tries to deflect to Trump’s wife. If she is going to pretend that she was unaware of sexual abuse in Hollywood, which is unbelievable given that the “casting room couch” has been known about for decades, and believes in forgiveness, how can she criticize Trump’s misbehavior. She does seem to believe in forgiveness, or even no criticism, for Polanski, Allen, and Clinton, so maybe she means to say that she forgives liberals.
32
Nixon broke the law only before he was elected? Really?
5
Why does this comment pass editorial standards?
It is just nasty. Mindless and nasty.
9
If Meryl must have known because everybody must have known, then everybody is at fault. That's not what happened. She has said she wasn't aware of the things Weinstein has recently been accused of. I believe her. The impulse toward secrecy is very strong. People who did know -- such as Brad Pitt, because Gwyneth Paltrow told him -- could have spoken up but didn't.
Also, Streep didn't speak at last year's Academy Awards show. She made her remarks about Trump and one example of his grotesque behavior at the Golden Globes in January 2016.
6
These are excellent actors but let's get real, are there any ac tors who are knowledgeable about something other than -- possibly -- the subject of their films? And so who cares what they think about anything else?
And let's also get some perspective. There are approximately 165,000,000 men in the US. #metoo has spotted about 85, all of whom are wealthy, prosperous men in positions of power in a very small universe of industries. Let's say they missed some -- let's say that 50,000 men are bad guys. to extrapolate such dismally small numbers onto the whole country or entire industries is outrageous.
The estimated number of Muslims who follow ISIS or admire Al Qaeda is about 225,000,000, but the Times constantly lectures us that its unfair to label all Muslims based on the evil of that number. If that's the case, can we please stop talking about #metoo?
15
Where do you see statements in the Times that all men are bad?
7
I have no idea where you get the 225 million Muslim ISIS/Qaeda number, but I'll give it a pass. As for your maybe 50,000 men number, here`s a number for you: Ninety Six Thousand reported rapes in the USA in 2016. Since that is the most severe form of sexual harrassment, and many rapes go unreported, you might want to re-consider your feeble attempt to minimize what I have witnessed, and personally perpetrated due to youthful insensitivity (that is my own lamest excuse) and get real about what it might actually be like to be a woman in a patriarchal society.
4
1. Plenty of actors, just like plenty of people named Allan, know what they are talking about beyond their films’ subject matter.
2. #metoo has had a profound impact on much less visible groups of men in every field, not “about 85”, most men who have positions of trust and authority.
3. You blithely claim 225 million Muslims admire Al Qaeda or “follow ISIS”? I estimate your source material to be, other than NYT, and wildly inaccurate.
5
Meryl Streep for President, 2020.
I'm, at most, half joking.
8
I am so happy to learn that Ms. Streep, like many of us, uses neither Twitter nor Facebook.
104
Meryl Streep gushed about Weinstein being "God" and has embraced every hot mic as an opportunity to preach to us as the self-appointed 'conscience of the nation.' She knew about Harvey - she knew, as did everyone in H-wood. I look forward to her keeping her mouth shut until she hears "Action!" I won't even get into this movie, a rehash of the 'glory days' of the news media, as if we'll leave the theater believing investigative reporting today amounts to little more than partisan posturing and poring over tweets to publish. Nice try.
23
Meryl is only saying that she was not aware of Weinstein’s abusive behavior. She knew he was a womanizer. Keep in mind even Selma Hyak who was abused and harassed by Weinstein, never came forward until now. Just because Meryl is an acclaimed actress does not mean she was privy to what happened behind closed doors. Even Selma said Weinstein was a genius and at times a great guy. People are multifaceted and Weinstein is no different. Very unfair to heap blame on Meryl for not knowing.
15
Why would anyone care what these people say any more than a neighbor over the fence? NYT stop deifying people and try simply showing both sides of issues instead of always subverting our President and our country. If you want some rational real American comments simply ask anyone in any of the RED Counties that elected our President. Stop providing a bully pulpit for people like Streep.
13
Frank: Are you saying that only "rational real American comments" come from the
"red counties that elected our President"? Surely the rest of us are real Americans
too and are entitled to our views as long as they are based on the facts, the truth and whats"rational" Meryl Streep is one of our finest American actresses and is
entitled to her views as well. You should keep an open mind, the majority of us
did not elect this president and our voices will be heard.
11
To the media, criticising the president or anyone else in power isn't subverting the country (or even the President). It's called 'journalism'. Everything else, as Orwell wrote, is publlic relations.
8
You mean the jerrymandered "Red" counties? You are forgetting that Clinton won the popular vote. If we did away with the ridiculous Electoral College and let every vote count, you would not be calling Trump "our president", because he really is not. Most Americans did not vote for him.
If we did away with the Electoral College more people might have the insentive to vote.
9
Disclaimer: my knee jerk reaction to hanks re "supposed" flirtation with CIA over the assassination. Moving on, for me at least, this was a fine and interesting article/interview. We all want something more to better fit our own world views. This interview covered a lot of territory and dealt enough frankness for people who usually hide behind publicity agents. thnx NYT
Also, just want to add my fave Streep film is Plenty, from 85.
4
Re this: “Well, it’s easy to say no. I mean, I’m oblivious to an awful lot of this. But I’d be a fool to say that it’s never happened on some job I’ve had, because I’m not in every office.” But four days after the Harvey Weinstein stuff broke someone wrote, “Who says it’s too late to learn new behavior?” There’s no reason not to view this as a reckoning that is going to make us a better society."
Really, Tom Hanks? This answer is about as roundabout as anything Trump would say. But I guess it's hard to remain everyone's friend.
Meryl, my favorite actress since Kramer vs. Kramer (the first grownup movie I ever saw), politics and "fixing things" (aka reality) can't be separated. I look at sexual harassment the way I look at managing weeds. The first step to controlling the problem is prevention. Anti-harassment protocols need to be legislated. I also want to say (and spread the word) that the definition of sexual harassment needs to account for inappropriate comments and advances made by peers, not just by those in higher positions. Inappropriate actions have consequences and can be crippling (paralyzing even) under any circumstances.
5
Do the Millenials care? I get the feeling the Millenials want to push the Baby Boomers and their era under the bus. I can almost hear them screaming," it is time to move on; it is time for you to retire. Newspapers? Tom Hanks? Meryl Streep? Watergate? The Pentagon Papers? We're going to Mars and we aren't taking you with us."
19
As a baby boomer, I think millennials should want to push us under the bus. They are now firmly in the middle of their lives and want more say in our society. Every generation is impatient — god knows we boomers were—so I for one will refrain from young-people-these-days comments.
1
Miami Joe, thank you. As a baby boomer, I found your comment uproariously funny and totally spot on!
4
Great point! I just asked a few students - Millenials - about this movie and they each said they have little-to-no-interest in Watergate and have never seen or read the Washington Post (or the "Washington Times", as one thought it was called).
3
What informed intelligence sounds like.
5
What is Meryl Streep talking about?
"Kramer v. Kramer" was about her tenth movie, if you count the things she did for television. Like the miniseries "Holocaust."
By "Kramer" she had already made Woody Allen's "Manhattan" and "The Deer Hunter" among others.
10
She was not referring to television. It was the first movie in which she played a starring role.
8
Wasn't "Manhattan" after "Deer Hunter?"
these two are actors. skilled, successful a c t o r s. neither have done or said anything making their opinions on anything other than acting worth anything. and, meryl, no the geisha has NOTHING to say. the geisha obviously loves her life. why in the world are misguided, non-thinking people making ex-catalog model and greatly surgically enhanced poseur melania trump some kind of folk hero. my god. just another example of left/right coast arrogance.
4
Somehow I do not find Ms. Streep's comments credible anymore. Isn't she the one who had equated Harvey Weinstein with god?
27
I don't blame either of them of anything besides being brilliant, brilliant actors.
Two of my favorite actors.
I love Meryl's point about Mrs. Trump.
Why is Melania Silent?? (She is the one with no courage commenting on Sexual Predators. Her husband is one. Its like she took up the issue about Bullying on social media when her husband is one of its biggest bullies!! lol.)
9
I do not think she is very smart and or English is not her first language she is an ornament, who made her bed.
4
Streep is a political nightmare - and should have been deported for voicing her views after Trump was elected. She is so disrespectful of the millions of people who want to see our country out of the hands of political crooks!!!! I would never again pay to see any movie she is in. Hanks, he should retire.
6
You honestly think someone should be "deported for voicing her views"?? You know nothing what America and the First Amendment are all about. Veterans and fallen soldiers have given their lives for the right of U.S. citizens to "voice" their views and opinions. As the late, great Bill Hicks said, " I myself am a strong supporter of the 'Right of freedom of speech', as I'm sure most people would be if they truly understood the concept. 'Freedom of speech' means you support the right of people to say exactly those ideas which you do not agree with. (Otherwise, you don't believe in 'freedom of speech', but rather only those ideas which you believe to be acceptably stated.)" Amen.
9
Deport a citizen because of their political views? Pmac, you've just articulated what fascism looks like.
8
So she is not entitled to voice an opinion? No free speech allowed by the Trumpists? Please don't talk about disrespect -- the rallies of those Trump supporters showed the ultimate rudeness, crudeness, and disrespect of any political group in my lifetime -- and he was the ringleader. The so-called president cannot disappear soon enough for most of us.
6
Meryl Streep is obviously uncomfortable with the important #MeToo movement for good reason:
Streep admits she knew of the Weinstein's girlfriends, yet sat idly by while Weinstein allegedly raped multiple women.
Streep is shameful and reprehensible. I can not fathom why she can still get a job in Hollywood.
19
"Streep is shameful and reprehensible. I can not fathom why she can still get a job in Hollywood."
Because she know many other men and women and their secrets
1
Thank you for reporting the timely thoughts of two of our finest actors.
11
I've long admired them both as actors, but I don't understand why Meryl Streep keeps equivocating. It;'s not nuance so much as confusion. It seems absurd to expect leadership on this issue from the current president's wife and daughter - both wedded to an ongoing campaign that rides on generalized contempt for women and all manner of people. Yes, there has to be forgiveness. But not until the suffering caused is meaningfully addressed. "I don't want to ruin somebody's mature life." Fine, but does that imply that other women speaking up about abuse that happened years ago are gratuitously destroying the "mature" lives of abusive men past and present? "Great work." Well, I will never watch a movie again without wondering what and whose suffering facilitated it.
26
pretty much. giving credibility to either on anything other than acting is foolish.
13
Yes, yes, yes.
1
She is a very subtle thinker -- I've thought this for a long time -- and it's on clear display here. "National treasure" is a bit corny, but how wonderful Meryl Streep is on this planet, acting up a storm and speaking her complex mind.
62
I think most people writing comments here feel admiration for these icons because they are icons, and that's for their performances in movies. What the icons are saying in this interview doesn't suggest to me they are champions in the #metoo cause. On the contrary, it makes them uncomfortable to be asked about it and especially Streep just wants to say "let's hope everybody grows out of this behavior in due time, as my friends already have."
Let's just not even ask these two, they don't contribute anything in this debate. I've enjoyed many of their movies.
56
I maintain my deep admiration of these intelligent actors. This is an excellent and thoughtful interview with none of the preening "star syndrome" evident. Streep and Hanks are committed artists who care about their work and their country. And we certainly need their ilk in the ongoing resistance to the reckless lunacy coming from the White House.
60
Give me a break! They are spineless. It's easy for them to pile on Trump and reap those benefits with the liberal community. I find Meryl Streep to be the most hypocritical of all.
12
Based on his constant presence on TV, I'd say that Hanks cares most about the sound of his own voice.
3
Ha ha. I have always found him narcissistic and insufferable. I think it's a tactic he developed to detract everyone from noticing what an entirely mediocre actor he is.
1
Tom’s male privilege is apparent in how differently they answer thesis questions.
15
I have always been such a fan of these three great cinema icons. They are such a sobered, humble talented individuals. I can really wait to watch "The Post".
PS - I will try not to feel disloyal to my beloved NYT by enjoying it too much since I will do it only the love of the arts :)
6
Good interview of two class acts (or so it would appear).
12
They both seem like such nice people...caring and thoughtful.
Glad to see Katharine Graham getting her due respect for the bold and patriotic act she did back then....
42
Tom Hanks would be a great president. We have proof that no experience in politics is necessary.
8
If obfuscation is a qualifying ability, then yes.
4
Meryl Streep would make a better one.
3
Nero was quite an actor, poet and musician. I am sure Hanks and Streep can keep up with the famous Roman
3
Streep completely lost me with this statement:
I want to hear about the silence of Melania Trump. I want to hear from her. She has so much that’s valuable to say. And so does Ivanka. I want her to speak now.
Melania Trump has so much that's valuable to say? Ivanka? Really? They are silent and they can remain so. The only valuable thing those two women could say is to Donald Trump: "I think it would be in the best for the country, for the entire world, if you would leave office NOW!"
They won't say anything like it as they are as spineless and soulless as the entire Republican Party and with Trump continue to be the largest threat to the country and to world peace.
21
my god. more brains and thought processes from this commenter than the great streep. melania is a geisha loving the lux life, the girl probably dumbest person to graduate from penn. and both world class poseurs.
1
on her sexual predator husband.... duh.
1
What about Streep's apparently unstinting support of Polanski? It is worth raising the spector of hypocrasy.
43
Even for me, a Black woman, Meryl Streep is an icon. Her body of work is matchless. To be such a public figure yet still be able to maintain her privacy speaks volumes, I think, to her intelligence and shrewdness. Looking forward to seeing this movie especially during this time when political complicity and deception are similarly happening right before our eyes. Today's media can probably take a clue from the Post's handling of the Watergate scandal. By the way, I love this photo of Tom Hanks.
32
Hahahahahaha and Perfect:
HANKS I will say that I’ve never been actively involved in something that, quite frankly, warranted Meryl to be in the movie.
4
Only the Trumps, Ms. Streep? While I respect and agree with a good deal of what is said here, I have to ask- don't you want to hear from Mrs. Clinton as well?
20
HRC has spoken out very loud and very clear regarding misogyny, stacked decks, and the insidioudness of white male privilege.
If she was a man she would have been the most qualified POTUS ever elected.
Just read her last book (no surprise that it well written. )
(She slso talks about staying with Bill after the sex scandal)
18
The Clintons are not in power and not relevant to the discussion, something you right-wingers still don't get ... one of thousands of things actually.
15
I would have thrown his clothes out on Pennsylvania Avenue, but it is none of my business.
I Found this conversation demeaning. the "idea" was that this was a discussion about icons and morality. it really is an advertisement for the movie. i don't read anything that adds anything to a serious conversation. except that the movie is, i am sure, great. would mr hanks say he knew? should we expect ms streep to say she was abused ? if they did, let them work it out, but not in this forum.
10
She comes across as deeply pretentious, dropping that she was in graduate school in the 1970's, after making sure to explain to readers that at that time, being "highly educated" meant being "wealthy". And a bit sanctimonious to point out that sharing a story about abuse would "ruin a man's life" (how many times must women be lectured to remain silent or you'll ruin HIS life?) and she "wouldn't want to do that", like us poor peasant women are doing, oh my. "Clueless" would be a fit self description however, as she wisely explains to us that she doesn't "get hit on anymore". How many times must we educate the public to understand that abuse is about POWER and control, and that quid pro quo sexual harassment has NOTHING to do with sex? But what would I know, I'm just a poor midwest girl who grew up on a farm, being raised to work like a man. Props to her though for throwing shade on the Trump women, I could not agree more, Meryl's silence is a non issue.
25
First of all, you know very little of Ms Streep's background. Watch Finding Your Roots on PBS. Her take on rich women of Kathryn Graham, and their absence of power "back then" is absolutely correct, not pretentious. As for her refusal to out her harassers and abusers, I agree. Ms Streep and I are the same age. I don't know if the family friend who raped me over 30 years ago is living, but what good would it do for me to expose his conduct? Or how about exposing the racist taunts I endured during my professional career from white women? If a person, of whatever station or box(es) society places you, doesn't gain wisdom and compassion as one ages, life is meaningless.
8
We fawn over our movie stars and make them our avatars to the great detriment of all involved. We got into a box with Reagan and we're never getting out.
9
Maybe you got into a box with Reagan, don't assume any of us liberals ever did.
5
'We' stands for the citizens of the country. Liberals included.
"Because if they dare print it, they’ll find out that we lied."
Lets be accurate here.
For all the criminal things Nixon did around obstruction of justice, Nixon was not involved in anything described in the pentagon papers - his administration started after the events recorded in the Rand report.
Inaccuracy is inexcusable here.
18
Well, apparently Nixon originally thought the Pentagon Papers had nothing to do with him as they only dealt with the activities of the four previous administrations. As a result he was initially fine with publication. But Kissinger convinced him that publication would be a very bad thing as it would compromise Nixon’s own ability to keep things secret from the American people. That’s the “they’ll find out that we lied” part.
Nixon wasn’t concerned about the particular lies the Pentagon Papers exposed. He was concerned about protecting his own lies. As a result he became totally caught up in squashing publication and also in discrediting Daniel Ellsberg. The end result was the the totally illegal break in to Ellsberg’s office at the Watergate in search of incriminating information. And, of course, the impeachment of Richard Nixon.
13
Sad to see these two being so hypocritical and irresponsible. Claiming they are concerned about the country when it's clear their only concern is their own personal wealth and power. Especially Streep. Can't believe she is still actually trying to deny that she knew all about Weinstein, and for years.
"I don’t want to hear about the silence of me. I want to hear about the silence of Melania Trump. I want to hear from her. She has so much that’s valuable to say. And so does Ivanka. I want her to speak now."
Typical Dems. Don't answer the question, just attack and blame Republicans.
23
Actually, the quote is straight from KellyAnne's playbook.
1
When Streep gave that insufferable speech about the racism and misogyny of Trump and his supporters last year, I wanted to throw up. What hypocrisy when she works in one of the most racist and misogynistic industries on the planet.
As someone who grew up in Hollywood, I can attest to the banality with which both racism and misogyny are accepted in that industry. The only way one "makes it" there is by completely eschewing all ethics in favor of one's career. This is commonly accepted as "normal", and of course it is a tactic mostly useful to white people willing to do anything to become famous. This is the real reason so few minorities make it in Hollywood: most are unwilling to sell out their own for a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. Those are the people we should be celebrating, not these tired actors, who in this interview, prove themselves to be either totally clueless or utterly devoid of ethics. Or both. Enough.
26
Thanks for the inside scoop on wicked old Hollywood. But I didn't catch the names of the movies you've appeared in ... ?
2
She knew for years
32
NYTimes, please drop your conservative bias by accepting what others say about Me Too. Here are 2 celebrated and beloved persons who turned the other cheek from Weinstein et al and advanced their careers. Their indifference and neglect in exchange for personal advancement is just as bad an any accomplice, which is the tragedy and the reality of how this type of patriarchy continues with such strength.
31
You have absolutely no evidence that either Ms Streep or Mr Hanks knew of Weinstein's abusive treatment of younger women. Zero. Yet you choose to impugn their character because you must believe the world was always 24/7 social media and relentless oversharing. It really was not like that. Actors of the caliber of Ms Streep and Mr Hanks would not have been treated like non-stars--not because of respect for them but respect for the box office they bring. Both of these actors have rich personal lives and good families, and neither lives in Hollywood.
6
Meryl Streep is one of our great actresses, if not one of the greatest actresses of all time. That doesn't make her a political commentator--nor does she have the obligation to be a political commentator. She's right. The First Lady has a responsibility to speak, and so does Ivanka, in her White House role. I have always thought that the real story was the Donald and Ivanka story, but I may be alone in this. Both Streep and Hanks are thoughtful adults. Life is complicated. Many if not most of us have been at times oblivious to things in our own lives that we should have known about.
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It's refreshing to read the thoughtful comments of two people big enough to be "above it all" yet right-sized enough to maintain their cultural awareness. In particular, I found Mr. Hanks' closing comment about Ms. Streep to be extremely gracious and quite correct.
As far as who knew what and when about Harvey Weinstein, hindsight is a great gift but context is equally great. Not to excuse bad behavior, but those were the times, people accepted things they don't know, and life went on. The movies Mr. Weinstein created and released stand as a testament to his value to our culture even as his personal behavior went against it. Don't we still listen to Wagner operas even though the composer was a prototype Nazi? Don't we still listen to the music Phil Spector produced even though he is a convicted murderer and general all-around dangerous person? I think the honest answer to those questions is yes. The work is taken in the context of the work. That they were bad people in one way or another, or in many ways, becomes a separate topic in my opinion.
No doubt others may differ in their opinion. Thanks to our founding fathers for the First Amendment which allows us to. And thanks to Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep for bringing an important story about that Amendment to the screen.
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Woody Allen: Sweet and Lowdown.
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Well-stated, CP!
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Thank you for this - especially the points about context.
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I have the utmost respect and admiration for Ms. Streep but disagree with this answer. When asked if she wanted to go into specifics about men who sexually harassed/intimidated her when she was young and pretty, "No, no, I don’t. I mean, I was really beaten up, but I don’t want to ruin somebody’s mature life."
This is why catholic priests have gotten away with systemic sexual predatory behavior - to young boys and girls - for centuries. Until the Boston Globe outed them a few years ago, as documented in the recent movie, "Spotlight".
This is why fathers, uncles, brothers, college campus rapists, employers and other men get away with child sexual abuse, sexual harassment and sexual intimidation. Children and young people are usually too afraid to say anything until much later in life. For some reason they think it is "their" fault.
These supposed power broker brutes must be taken down - no matter how old they are. More important, the #MeToo movement has given women of all ages the courage to realize it is not "them" and speak up immediately to put an end to any unacceptable behavior.
It is centuries past time that women end attempts to suppress them and step up to take one-half the power in the world to bring balance to it.
Heartfelt thanks to Ms. Streep and Mr. Hanks for the brilliant movies they have participated in and special thanks to Steven Spielberg for his unmatched social conscience and exceptional movie choice/direction. They are human gifts.
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This remarkable interview draws out the moral richness of these two film icons. I disagree with Njglea's comment here, though I understand and respect its motive seeking to further liberate women from historical patterns of abuse. Ms. Streep, alone, knows what she experienced, internally as well as physically, many years ago at the hands of those who abused her, and she alone is entitled to decide what to do with those experiences. Njglea seeks to turn the life experiences of this highly-regarded actor into an involuntary billboard. Ms. Streep was certainly entitled to disclose those experiences of years ago into the public realm if she wanted to, and that would have promoted a legitimate political concern. Njglea prefers that this famous star's intimate experiences be used to advance an important cause. Ms. Streep decided against that. She does not excuse or trivialize the misconduct, and it is unfair to imply that she has done this in failing to publicize details. Implicit in Ms. Streep's silence is an element of forgiveness that is hers to give. fThis is her experience and her life, and her obviously thoughtful moral choice is more complicated than a political campaign. However justified it would have been to out the bad guys of long ago, Ms. Streep has decided choice to keep those events out of the public eye. She should be respected in that choice.
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Actually, many years ago I read an interview of Meryl Streep in which she talked about performing plays at Yale School of Drama. I was shocked because she was matter of fact and open about an incident with Dustin Hoffman who came to a play and came back stage. She said something to the effect that he came up to her (at that time she was a nobody/drama student), cupped her breast and said Hi I'm Dustin Hoffman. I read this, it was at least twenty years ago, and thought she is a bold and brave woman to report life like it was. She doesn't pull many punches in my view.
I don't agree with several commenters here who think she knew about Weinstein and Hollywood proclivities. I think that after initial great success as a young actress, and she admits she had to deal with awful behavior, back then, she dove head first into family life in New England. She had four kids, etc., etc., and the more she aged out of youthful pretty roles, probably the more "clueless" she did become. She was not having to deal with the Hollywood world, she had chosen a different life.
Streep is a really smart woman, besides being a great actress.
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Spoken like a true catholic man, Gary S.
I simply said I disagreed. I didn't imply that Ms. Streep can say/do anything she wishes. Silence is what has kept women suppressed and oppressed - and little catholic boys and their mothers - for centuries. It is time for the silence to end and those men who got power through sexual misconduct MUST have their lives destroyed as they have destroyed so many others.
That is MY opinion. You are also entitled to your own.
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Thank you for this interview. Two gifted, intelligent actors together at last. Bravo!!!
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It sounds to me that Streep did what she felt she needed to do to advance her career; that is why she is so silent.
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It sounds like a lot of guys came on to her and she said "no" and got on with her unstoppably talented endeavor. And she now refuses to "out" them. And that's different than what you've suggested, Jack.
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Women have been silent about this for a variety of reasons. When you feel powerless, or expect to be demeaned, blamed, or discredited for what has happened to you, silence may seem like self-preservation. Think of a prey animal in the jaws of a predator, and you might get some idea of how it feels to be in the grip of someone like Weinstein, for example. At least people feel empowered to speak up now, and perpetrators are beginning to be held accountable.
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Streep hardly needs to "advance her career" at this stage in the game. You should practice her silence.
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I joined the Air Force in 1971 and had no idea these papers had been made public. It was not a topic we discussed in the black community at the time. Vietnam has affected most of the people I grew up with one way or another. I understand the VA is trying to slow down helping the Vietnam era veterans. We still need help and will as long as we live. Thank you for making this film. When I tell people about Nixon and how the trump administration is some much like them they do not seem to understand. No they will!
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What Tom Hanks was able to do with a volleyball was unforgettable.
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I don't think they're obligated to speak out, so I appreciate Tom Hanks at least not denying he knew. As for Meryl Streep, as my Dad always said, "be careful when someone prefaces their statement with 'honestly'."
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Yes...my dad said the same thing...When some says "Honestly" as a preface it means they are use to lying all the time.
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Same as when they say” Believe me...”
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Publishers are the resistors of change.
Reporters and editors are there to challenge societal norms, inadequate ideas, lies. Readers follow a publication because of what the reporters produce.
Publishers, like Katherine Graham, are there to keep the publication financially afloat by not offending advertisers. As long as there is a balance. As long as there are publishers willing to allow risk.
Today, with the agenda of publishers, reporters are forced to comply with the company line. The publishers enforce their will through the editors. It's the job of reporters today to sneak in enough of the truth, through their writing to tell their stories despite the publisher's agenda.
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Fitting that these two should team up - on screen and in real life. Not just Hollywood's brightest stars, but its clearest voices of conscience. Well done and Oscar-worthy.
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Neither star is what they once were. Both are preachy, over-postured PR machines who have long run out of surprises. Between The Post and Iron Lady, Streep is vying to be the only drag performer who is also a female. Hanks has become stodgy and stale, and quietly growls for a paycheck when he used to warble for fun.
As far as "me too," we can't say whether either knew what was going on. Perhaps they both had no clue. But isn't it telling that not a single victim in all these years felt safe confiding in them?
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" But isn't it telling that not a single victim in all these years felt safe confiding in them?"
No it isn't telling but it is a reach on your part.
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couldn't disagree more....there's something else going on with you and your bias..your opinion of these two stellar actors.
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"Streep is vying to be the only drag performer who is also a female." How offensive this little gem would be if it actually meant anything. As it is, it merely lays bare the writer's condescension, sexism, and conceit.
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"I don’t have a Twitter thing or – handle, whatever. And I don’t have Facebook. I really had to think."
There's an interesting concept in today's world. Maybe more of us should really think before we start posting our insights all over social media.
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I won't have a "smart" phone either, Gary R. Commenting on news sites is the extent of the social media I will participate in. The rest is "shiny thing" brainwashing and giving BIG business direct access to OUR entire lives.
No. It is VERY dangerous.
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It is probably uncommon. I don't use either nor much care to do so. I probably get myself into enough trouble just voicing my opinion and surety in NYT comment sections, and more than a few times, I leave it alone for a while (equally tired of my own mouth/inability to shut up, and tired of the idiocy of others). E-mail is quite good enough for communication, although I prefer a phone, and really prefer in-person.
But yeah, if I had a magic wand, I'd probably make the entire internet go away. I certainly do not think the positive outweighs the negative, and when you toss in "social media," well, that's a whole lot of negative. I've worked with people who spent hours of the (paid) day on FaceBook. It's pretty pathetic, really, an addiction no one is going to call an addiction because there are "positive" aspects of it all. (E.g.: there are positive aspects to cocaine too, but it ain't good for you even if you do look nice and skinny :)
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Twitter openly supports hate speech and Nazis and bans those who fight and highlight them, and Facebook is headed by "They trust me" Zuck.
Avoiding creepy "social media" sites is not just an "interesting concept", it's wise.
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These two confirm the idea that art can change our world.
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After a small lunch of eight on a quiet Sunday in New York, a friend of mild manners and quiet passion, told me that he had been tempted to reach across the table and clock the guest who had made a derisive comment about Meryl Streep. He loved her, and while 'Alas is not Where I live', to quote a young artist, a moment in hindsight to reflect that a brief message addressed to her when he was dying in hospital, she might have responded.
He had worked as a reporter at The White House, and used to speak of the time he acknowledged President Nixon in crossing, he kept kicking himself afterwards for this nod of courtesy towards somebody he held in low esteem.
Dan was my 'movie companion' and was so pleased when he reached the age of discount tickets. It was a given that if Ms. Streep was featured on the billboard of movie fare, we met in all seasons to enjoy her latest performance, and he brushed away emotional tears at the end of 'Postcards from The Edge' at her belting out some country music, causing a moment of concern. 'Are you all right, Dan', I asked, after he replaced his spectacles.
Tom Hanks is my favorite Hollywood actor, and the Office of Kay Graham was a friend to ours, when I worked for an economist and politician in the 90s. An acquaintance, a journalist, who worked for the Washington Post had told me earlier of the tragic death of her husband.
Here's to The First Lady of Hollywood and Mr. Tom Hanks. Predicting a brilliant and powerful performance.
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thank you....i love the way you write...very nice.
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Well said.
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Nice to know we still have a couple of adults, alive and well, active in this country.
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Active? Surely you mean ActING. These two are always "on".
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This is a great interview of two interesting actors. I agree that there should be no locker room talk but disagree that women are the "last people" who can be demeaned. The comparison doesn't help because no people should be demeaned, and I know better.
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Certainly gay people, lesbians, bis, and trans people are still very frequently demeaned, even by so-called "good" persons with the "best" of intentions.
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No, old people are the ladt people who can be demeaned.
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Two national treasures putting a healthy perspective on matters that deserve our attention -- great interview. They both strive to make us better, knowing that they and those with whom they have worked in the past are not perfect. Isn't that the human condition at its level best? Thanks.
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Amen, and so well stated!
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