Ironweed
Theatrical release poster by John Alvin
Directed byHéctor Babenco
Screenplay byWilliam Kennedy
Based onIronweed
by William Kennedy
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyLauro Escorel
Edited byAnne Goursaud
Music byJohn Morris
Production
company
Distributed byTri-Star Pictures
Release date
  • December 18, 1987 (1987-12-18)
Running time
143 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$27 million
Box office$7.3 million[1]
pale blue Victorian house with ornate woodwork
Victorian house, known as the Dillenbeck House, in Slingerlands NY (outside Albany) used in the film Ironweed.

Ironweed is a 1987 American drama film directed by Héctor Babenco. Adapted to the screen by William Kennedy from his similarly-named Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Ironweed stars Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep, with Carroll Baker, Michael O'Keefe, Diane Venora, Fred Gwynne, Nathan Lane and Tom Waits in supporting roles. The story concerns the relationship of a homeless couple--Francis, an alcoholic, and Helen, a terminally ill woman--during the years following the Great Depression. Major portions of the film were shot on location in Albany, New York. The film received mixed reviews and was a box-office bomb, but Nicholson and Streep received Oscar nominations for Best Actor and Best Actress, respectively, for their performances.

Synopsis

The story is set during the 1930s Great Depression. Francis Phelan (Nicholson), a washed-up and retired baseball player, deserted his family in the 1910s after accidentally dropping his infant son, causing the child's death. It is implied that Francis was drunk at the time, but he claims he was just tired and fails to understand why no one believes him. Francis became a vagrant, roaming streets and punishing himself by recalling men he knew who died years earlier in different circumstances. Wandering into his hometown of Albany on Halloween in 1938, Phelan seeks out his lover and drinking companion, Helen Archer (Meryl Streep). The two meet up in a mission managed by Reverend Chester (James Gammon), and later in Oscar Reo's (Gwynne) gin mill. Over the next few days, Phelan takes a few minor jobs to support Helen, while haunted by visions of his past. Eventually, Francis returns to his old family house and tries to make peace with his wife Annie (Carroll Baker), his son Billy (Michael O'Keefe), and his daughter Peg (Diane Venora). Meanwhile, local vigilantes attempt to violently drive the homeless out of Albany. During the course of the day, a series of events unfolds that permanently changes Francis' life.

Cast

Reception

Critical response

The film received mixed reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 58% based on reviews from 24 critics.[2] At the time of its release, it garnered enthusiasm because of the presence of stars Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep.

Roger Ebert wrote, "Nicholson and Streep play drunks in Ironweed, and actors are said to like to play drunks, because it gives them an excuse for overacting. But there is not much visible 'acting' in this movie; the actors are too good for that." Ebert gave the film three stars out of four.[3]

Streep received raves from most critics. Janet Maslin of The New York Times wrote that "Meryl Streep, as ever, is uncanny. Miss Streep uses the role of Helen as an opportunity to deliver a stunning impersonation of a darty-eyed, fast-talking woman of the streets, an angry, obdurate woman with great memories and no future. There isn't much more to the film's Helen than this, and indeed the character may go no deeper, but she's a marvel all the same. Behind the runny, red-rimmed eyes, the nervous chatter and the haunted expression, Miss Streep is even more utterly changed than her costar, and she even sings well. The sequence in which Helen entertains the real and imagined patrons of a bar room with a rendition of 'He's Me Pal' is a standout."[4]

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat appreciated the film's spiritual message, writing, "Mixing realistic and surreal scenes, Argentinean director Héctor Babenco puts the accent on what he calls the spiritual dimensions of William Kennedy's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel... If you ride with the emotional undertow of Ironweed, there's no way you'll ever look at street people in quite the same way".[5]

Awards and nominations

Award Category Subject Result
Academy Awards[6] Best Actor Jack Nicholson Nominated
Best Actress Meryl Streep Nominated
Golden Globe Awards[7] Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama Jack Nicholson Nominated
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards[8] Best Actor Jack Nicholson (Also for The Witches of Eastwick) Won[lower-alpha 1]
Moscow International Film Festival[9] Golden St. George Héctor Babenco Nominated
New York Film Critics Circle Awards[10] Best Actor Jack Nicholson (Also for Broadcast News and The Witches of Eastwick) Won

References

  1. ↑ Ironweed at Box Office Mojo
  2. ↑ "Ironweed (1987)". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  3. ↑ "Roger Ebert (February, 1988) "Ironweed"". Archived from the original on 2009-02-03. Retrieved 2008-12-24.
  4. ↑ Maslin, Janet. The New York Times (December, 1987) "Ironweed (1987) Film: 'Ironweed,' From Hector Babenco"
  5. ↑ Brussat, Frederic and Mary Ann Archived 2012-03-13 at the Wayback Machine. Spirituality & Practive, film review, February 1988. Last accessed: January 29, 2011.
  6. ↑ "The 60th Academy Awards (1988) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
  7. ↑ "Ironweed – Golden Globes". HFPA. Archived from the original on March 31, 2016. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  8. ↑ "The 13th Annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards". Los Angeles Film Critics Association. Archived from the original on December 8, 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  9. ↑ "16th Moscow International Film Festival (1989)". MIFF. Archived from the original on 2013-03-16. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  10. ↑ "1987 New York Film Critics Circle Awards". Mubi. Archived from the original on March 4, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  1. ↑ Tied with Steve Martin for Roxanne.
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