Sophie’s Choice

Based on the book by William Styron, Sophie’s Choice follows Peter MacNicol’s Stingo, an aspiring writer, as he arrives in New York City and quickly befriends Kevin Kline’s Nathan and Meryl Streep’s Sophie – with the narrative’s emphasis on the trio’s plotless escapades sporadically allayed by flashbacks detailing Sophie’s tragic past. Filmmaker Alan J. Pakula’s decision to devote virtually all of Sophie’s Choice‘s midsection to the aforementioned escapades proves absolutely disastrous, as it does become increasingly difficult to work up the slightest bit of interest in or enthusiasm for the protagonists’ meandering exploits (ie there’s just so much of the lackluster love triangle engaging in meaningless activities, like hanging out, going to the beach, squabbling and fighting, etc, etc). There’s consequently little doubt that the picture’s positive attributes are rendered almost entirely moot, which is especially disappointing, certainly, given the strength of Streep’s multi-language turn as the tortured title character. And although there are a small handful of affecting moments – the now-iconic scene wherein Sophie makes her heartbreaking choice is undoubtedly as harrowing and gripping as one might’ve anticipated – Sophie’s Choice predominantly comes off as a cynical, too-slick-for-its-own-good bit of blatant awards-season filmmaking.

*1/2 out of ****