Silkwood
Dir: Mike Nichols
1983
****
Mike Nichols's relatively unformuliac approach in telling the true story of Karen Silkwood (played effortlessly by Meryl Streep) really helps the viewer to understand the whole picture and to see her as a person rather than just a conspiracy story. It's a great drama with three big stars but it brings a level of important realism to the newspaper headline. It's hard to imagine the level of incompetence happening these day but I bet it does, they're just a little bit more careful that people don't find out. The insight into how the unions worked back then and how they were ridiculed by some makes for fascinating viewing, especially in this day and age whereby big industries are winning over. Mike Nichols is a director I really admire. His films are never predictable but are instantly recognisable, he's an unsung hero in my opinion.