Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Adaptation): “Oddly, I have never met Meryl Streep. Since I don’t really know Meryl Streep, and have no personal anecdotes to share, I went to Wikipedia and prepared a short report . . . .”
Altman received his second standing ovation of the night — the first was after he introduced the public screening of A Prairie Home Companion, which preceded the award ceremony. “This has really been depressing. And I’ve worked with Meryl, and that depressed me a lot.” The first day he shot with Streep was “the worst day I’ve ever had. I didn’t have anything to do!
“I was redundant! Meryl Streep doesn’t need a director. She’s kind to them; she’s really nice. She’ll compliment you, and say, ‘That was good — what you did.’ I was so happy the next day to get on the stage with a lot of other actors. I didn’t have to be just . . . whelmed by Miss Streep. Anyway, Meryl — I’ll get over this. In spite of the personal sadness I got from working with you, I’m glad I did.”
Presenting the award to Streep was Boston’s own Susan Orlean, a staff writer for the New Yorker and former Phoenix writer, whose nonfiction book The Orchid Thief was the basis for Adaptation. Streep, you may recall, portrayed Orlean. (Adaptation received its own screening on Thursday, followed by an hour-long panel discussion with Streep, Cooper, Kaufman, and Orlean, moderated by Maslin.) “I have a nice present for you, and it’s really heavy!” said the diminutive Orlean. “Am I going to be able to hoist it?”
Streep would have no such problem. In fact, as she walked on stage to accept her award, she picked Orlean up and spun her around, to excited cheers.
ADVERTISEMENT
 |
“Thank you very much! Oh my God! I know I’m not the only person who has to pee (sooo bad), so I’ll make these remarks brief. I’m just so grateful that there are places like the Coolidge that honor these weird little independent films like the ones Robert Altman continues to make against all odds. We have to keep these theaters going and thriving. And how about these seats, people?” Sitting in the painful reminders of another era all night (modern, comfortable chairs are part of the Coolidge’s restoration plan), Streep could only conclude, “I’m definitely kicking in!”