Silkwood, 1983.
Directed by Mike Nichols
Starring Meryl Streep, Kurt Russell, Cher, Craig T. Nelson, Fred Ward, Ron Silver, David Strathairn, M. Emmet Walsh
SYNOPSIS:
Silkwood, the 1983 film from Mike Nichols that was nominated for five Academy Awards, arrives on a new Blu-ray from Kino Lorber that features an interview with producer Michael Hausman. Meryl Streep, Kurt Russell, and Cher are the main stars of this film that’s based on a true story.
Silkwood is a movie about isolation. Based on a true story, it tells the tale of Karen Silkwood (Meryl Streep), who works at an Oklahoma nuclear material processing facility with her boyfriend, Drew (Kurt Russell), and roommate, Dolly (Cher). After becoming contaminated by plutonium, she becomes a union activist for safety issues at the plant, much to the chagrin of some co-workers who don’t want her to rock the boat.
The worst betrayals come from Drew, who leaves her, and Dolly, who’s quick to criticize her, although both eventually come around to her viewpoint. Karen is also isolated from her children, who live in Texas with her ex-common law husband. In response, she throws herself into her crusade to draw attention to safety problems at the facility, which are a matter of life-or-death given the fact that even a little plutonium contamination can lead to cancer and even genetic changes that can be passed on to babies.
Producer Michael Hausman conducted a 16-minute interview that’s the only making-of bonus feature on this Blu-ray from Kino Lorber. He tells some interesting stories from the production, such as his attempt to film at the actual facility where Karen worked and how director Mike Nichols decided to handle the climactic moment of her story, which remains a controversial event to this day.
The other bonus items consist of several trailers and TV spots.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★/ Movie: ★ ★ ★
Brad Cook
Originally published July 31, 2017. Updated April 16, 2018.
