New article about Tracy Letts’ adaptation of “August: Osage County” for the big screen courtesy The Los Angeles Times: Letts’ play tells of several generations of the colorful Weston family, particularly drug-addled matriarch Violet (Streep) and troubled professor daughter Barbara (Roberts), as they gather in the family home for a few weeks one summer, each personality trying to get the better of the other as they cope with their complicated lives. “I think it’s very recognizably the same piece,” he said. “There’s not a lot of invention per se. There are opportunities to let them loose from the house, and I did some cutting to try to find those places in a play that sound maybe a little theatrical to the ear if you were doing them on screen. But that’s about it.” Several months ago, as he was preparing for that show, Letts traveled to the Oklahoma set of “August” to join actors at a table read and field questions. Roberts, Streep and others peppered him with the meaning of the text. (He said their questions were “workmanlike” queries about their characters and his intentions, “things an outsider might find banal but that are important to an actor.”) The complete article can be read here.

Today spotlight features my second-favorite performance, “Marvin’s Room”, Jerry Zak’s 1996 drama co-starring Diane Keaton and Leonardo DiCaprio. New DVD screencaptures have been added to the image library as well as additional production stills. Three new clips can be found in the video archive, alongside various interviews, featurette and Meryl and Carly Simon recording “Two Little Sisters”. Production notes and review after the cut. As always, please share your thoughts on “Marvin’s Room” in the comment. And check back next week for the “Movie of the Week” finale.

More media on Wednesday’s C2C Innovation Institute Gala (see below) has emerged with a video transcript of Meryl’s speech to her friend William McDonough and an interview she gave to Fresh Dialogues. The first thing that strikes you about Meryl Streep is her grace and poise. She glided into the throng of green designers and architects gathered at the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute Gala in San Francisco this week, completely unruffled by the crush of fans; the flash of smart phones; and the fierce security guards.

Yet instantly, like a chameleon, Streep can switch from serene queen of the movies to cozy confidante. I found myself standing next to her and shook her hand. As you know, she’s renowned for her authentic accents in every exotic role she’s played, so I asked her, “Can you do a good Scottish accent?” She immediately leaned over and whispered in my ear, “I love the way they say murdererrrr!” Rolling those r’s as only a lass from Scotland – or Meryl Streep – can do. Then she laughed with that infectious burst of effervescence. Now that would make even The Iron Lady melt a wee bit. But enough trivia. The best part is, I found her later that evening and she agreed to a Fresh Dialogues interview. We had a lively conversation about her green design guru and close friend William McDonough; and why she’s become an activist for the environment. Enjoy her hilarious tribute to McDonough and check out the highlights of her interview over at Fresh Dialogues.

As reported earlier, Meryl Streep has attended the C2C Innovation Institute Gala this Wednesday. The evening was in honor of the organization’s co-founder William McDonough and featured Meryl and colleague Susan Sarandon as special guests. More information about Cradle 2 Cradle products can be found at their official website – lots of pictures from the gala have been added to the image library.

With only three films left to cover, today I spotlight my third favorite performance – as Karen Silkwood in Mike Nichols’ “Silkwood”. New DVD screencaptures have been added to the image library and all production, promotional and photoshoot pictures have been re-added in better quality. Three new clips can be found in the video archive. Also, make sure to read the site’s special on the real Karen Silkwood. Production notes and review after the cut. As always, please share your thoughts on “Silkwood” in the comments.

Scans from 14 international magazines have been added to the image library, ranging from 1982 to 1999 and coming from publications in the USA, the UK, France, Canada and Brasil. The full list can be found below the previews. As always, my biggest thanks to Alvaro for sending them in. Enjoy reading!

Image Library – Magazine Scans – 1999 – LIFE Magazine (USA, December 1999)
Image Library – Magazine Scans – 1999 – Madame Figaro (France, June 1999)
Image Library – Magazine Scans – 1999 – Pelerin Magazine (France, June 1999)
Image Library – Magazine Scans – 1997 – Le Lundi Magazine (Canada, December 1997)
Image Library – Magazine Scans – 1995 – Speak Up Magazine (Brasil, December 1995)
Image Library – Magazine Scans – 1995 – A&E Monthly (USA, November 1995)
Image Library – Magazine Scans – 1994 – Women’s Weekly (Australia, May 1994)
Image Library – Magazine Scans – 1994 – Gala Magazine (France, March 1994)
Image Library – Magazine Scans – 1994 – Telepoche Magazine (France, March 1994)
Image Library – Magazine Scans – 1985 – Company Magazine (United Kingdom, February 1985)
Image Library – Magazine Scans – 1983 – Moviegoer Magazine (USA, January 1983)
Image Library – Magazine Scans – 1983 – Telerama Magazine (France, April 1983)
Image Library – Magazine Scans – 1983 – Family Circle (USA, May 1983)
Image Library – Magazine Scans – 1982 – Twilight Zone Magazine (USA, March 1982)

Entertainment Tonight is currently adding some fantastic vintage interviews to its site. A most recent addition is Meryl’s 1983 press room interview at the 1983 Academy Awards, after winning Best Actress for “Sophie’s Choice”. It’s a short but funny interview in which she talks about the film, her pregnancy and previous remarks on not to win. You can watch the full clip in the video archive, screencaptures have been added to the image library. Thanks to everybody for the heads-up.

The nominations for the 15th annual Moët British Independent Film Awards were announced today. Nominations for Best Actress go to Alice Lowe for Sightseers, Andrea Riseborough for Shadow Dancer, Elle Fanning for Ginger & Rosa, Judi Dench for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady. Abi Morgan has also received a nomination for Best Screenplay. The winners will be announced at the 15th awards ceremony on Sunday 9 December at the impressive Old Billingsgate in London.

Today’s Movie of the Week fits perfectly for a rainy Sunday – Sydney Pollack’s 1986 “Out of Africa”. Lots of updates have been made for the film, including new DVD screencaptures, deleted scenes and documentary screencaptures as well as over 100 re-added production stills and on-set pictures. Three new clips can be found in the video archive. Also, make sure to read the site special about the real Karen Blixen. Production notes and review after the cut. As always, please share your thoughts on “Out of Africa” in the comments. For the Movie of the Week section, only three films are left, and I’ve saved my three personal films for the finale, so check back next Sunday.

This Sunday’s spotlight features one of Meryl’s best performances of all time – in Alan Pakula’s 1982 “Sophie’s Choice”. To cover the film, lots of updates have been made. All of the production stills, promotional pictures and on-set pictures have been re-uploaded with many new additions, alongside photoshoot pictures to promote the film. Over 1.500 DVD screencaptures have been re-added as well. In the video archive, four new clips have been uploaded, and the 2001 documentary on the film, Death Dreams Of Mourning is still worth a watch. Production notes and review after the cut. As always, please share your thoughts on the film in the comments.