Meryl Streep takes on a whole new gig – a hard-rocking singer/guitarist – for Oscar®-winning director Jonathan Demme and Academy Award®-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody in Ricki and the Flash. In an original and electrifying film loaded with live musical performances, Streep stars as Ricki Rendazzo, a guitar heroine who made a world of mistakes as she followed her dreams of rock-and-roll stardom.
Returning home, Ricki gets a shot at redemption and a chance to make things right as she faces the music with her family. Streep stars opposite her real-life daughter Mamie Gummer; Rick Springfield, portraying a Flash member in love with Ricki; Kevin Kline as Ricki’s ex-husband; and Audra McDonald as Kline’s new wife.
Meryl Streep is one of those actresses who really can do no wrong and certainly her body of work speaks for itself which having already interviewed for Into the Woods, I was pretty much used to her sense of humor and honesty in answering questions. Rick Springfield who plays her lead guitar player in her band The Flash and her love interest and her real -life daughter Mamie Gummer who plays her depressed daughter in the movie accompanied Ms. Streep for the press event.
It was quite the lively press conference with Mr. Springfield wandering in before the actual start time. He took the time to take photos with everyone which is always fun and riffed on one of the guitars in the room. I always love when big stars step outside the planned event and chat with us.
6 Fun Facts I learned Chatting with Meryl Streep, Rick Springfield and Mamie Gummer
1. In the film, Ricki Rendazzo (Meryl Streep) leaves her family to pursue her dreams of being of rock star. Did you know that Ms. Streep had to pass up taking a role in E.L. Doctorow’s Ragtime.? And why she was pregnant with her son, Henry. She joked that it worked out okay in the end.
2. In the film, Rick Springfield’s character , Greg plays a ’68 SG and in real life so does Springfield. In fact, Springfield wrote Jessie’s Girl on the same 68SG featured in the movie. Can you believe the song just celebrated it’s 34th anniversary. Yikes!
3. Wooly Bully (the Sam Sham and the Pharoahs) was a song heard by Ms. Streep on the way home from a wedding. Songs were a mix of Director Jonathon Demme choices that fit the movie and songs she could actually play. And Demme allowed them to arrange the songs as well.
4. Demme insisted the mother and daughter not talk outside of their scenes. It is quite obvious by their joking during the press conference that the pair are very much at ease with each other but Ms. Gummer rises to the acting occasion being totally enraged and angry at the first sight of her mom when she appears out of nowhere after years away.
5. “Always defend your character” that is the advice Ms. Gummer’s mom told her. “It’s counter productive to judge your character” she mentioned when talking about Julie, the depressed daughter.
6. And how did Rick Springfield come on board to play Ricki’s love interest. If not for Demme’s vision that The Flash be a real band, Springfield might not have been a part of the film. Demme really wanted an actor who could sing, play guitar AND act. Lots of actors can act but Demme wanted an authentic shredder who could go toe to toe with Meryl. After his initial audition, Springfield had to come in and meet Meryl to ensure the two had chemistry together. And the rest is film history.
Ricki and the Flash Rocks into Theaters Friday, August 7. And stay tuned for my review.
Greg (Rick Springfield), Ricki (Meryl Streep) and Julie (Mamie Gummer) in TriStar Pictures’ RICKI AND THE FLASH.
Ricki and the Flash Trailer
Disclosure: NYC Single Mom attended the Ricki and the Flash press event junket.
this looks like a fun movie