Let Them All Talk Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Meryl Streep, a famous author, drags her friends on a cruise to avoid flying, resulting in passive-aggressive squabbles and then… she dies!

🍿 Let Them All Talk: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Setting Sail with Secrets

Alice Hughes, a celebrated author, reluctantly agrees to accept a literary award in the UK. Due to health concerns, she opts for a transatlantic cruise on the Queen Mary 2, inviting her nephew Tyler and two old college friends, Roberta and Susan, to join her. Each character harbors unspoken tensions and hidden agendas that quickly surface once they’re at sea.

Agent’s Game

Adding another layer of intrigue, Alice’s agent, Karen, secretly joins the cruise. Anxious about the direction of Alice’s new manuscript, Karen attempts to glean information about the project by befriending Tyler. She is under pressure from the publisher to deliver a sequel to Alice’s most popular book, but Alice remains secretive about her current work.

Confrontations and Revelations

As the cruise progresses, long-simmering resentments begin to boil over. Roberta feels exploited by Alice’s past work and seeks an apology, leading to strained interactions. Tyler develops romantic feelings for Karen, complicating her mission to extract information. A tense dinner party exposes the deep-seated bitterness between Alice and Roberta, forcing them to confront their shared history.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Alice (Meryl Streep): A celebrated author travels on a cruise with her nephew and old friends while grappling with her past and current writing struggles.
• Karen (Gemma Chan): Alice’s literary agent joins the cruise, secretly trying to uncover details about Alice’s new book for the publisher.
• Susan (Dianne Wiest): One of Alice’s old college friends, she is a selfless woman who joins the cruise and navigates the tensions between Alice and Roberta.
• Roberta (Candice Bergen): Another of Alice’s old college friends, she harbors resentment towards Alice, believing her life was negatively impacted by Alice’s writing.
• Tyler (Lucas Hedges): Alice’s nephew, he accompanies her on the cruise and gets caught between Alice and Karen’s agendas.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Alice: “I mean, it’s… you shouldn’t be shy with this kind of thing, this… this attraction to someone. I think attraction is… It’s the animating force in the universe, really.” – Alice reflects on the importance of acknowledging and treasuring attraction to another person.
• Tyler: “That’s a fact.” – Tyler agrees with Alice, while listening to her insight on how attraction is the animating force in the universe.
• Roberta: “I loved you when you were Al.” – Roberta expresses her feelings to Alice, highlighting how she feels distanced from her old friend.
• Alice: “We spend time polishing the vase while the house crumbles.” – Alice laments about focusing on inconsequential things, while the more important aspects of one’s life fall apart.

💰Box Office

• Budget: N/A
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 Let Them All Talk Reviews

Personal Review

I was initially drawn in by the cast, especially Meryl Streep. The improvised dialogue felt authentic, but at times the story dragged. I found myself invested in the characters’ relationships, especially the tension between Alice and Roberta. The ending took me by surprise and made me rethink everything I had just watched. Overall, it’s a thought-provoking film, even if it’s not a non-stop thrill ride.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Meryl Streep, Candice Bergen, and Dianne Wiest”
  • “Viewers who appreciate character-driven stories”
  • “Those interested in films exploring themes of friendship and aging”
  • “People who enjoy dialogue-heavy movies with a touch of humor”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Brief strong language”
  • “Themes of strained relationships and past regrets”
  • “Mention of death”

Professional Reviews

• IndieWire: “Soderbergh’s experiment in improvisation yields surprising results, with the cast breathing life into their characters amidst the luxurious backdrop of the Queen Mary 2. While the plot meanders, the performances are captivating, making it a worthwhile watch for those seeking character-driven drama.
• The New York Times: “Though the cast is impressive, the improvisational nature of the film leads to uneven pacing and a lack of narrative focus. The characters are interesting, but the story fails to fully engage, leaving the viewer adrift at sea.

Audience Reactions

The raw, unscripted dialogue made the characters feel incredibly real and relatable.: Viewers generally appreciated the naturalistic performances and the focus on character dynamics, though some found the pacing slow.

Meryl Streep’s performance was a standout, bringing depth and nuance to a complex character.: Many praised the acting, especially from the three lead actresses, highlighting their ability to make the improvisational dialogue compelling.

Overall Consensus: A character-driven drama with strong performances, but the improvisational style may not appeal to all viewers due to its uneven pacing.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Much of the dialogue was improvised by the actors, based on scene outlines provided by director Steven Soderbergh.”
• “The film was shot in only eight days on the Queen Mary 2, while the ship was actually making its transatlantic voyage.”
• “Steven Soderbergh served as the film’s cinematographer and editor under his pseudonyms Peter Andrews and Mary Ann Bernard, respectively.”

🖥️ How to Watch Let Them All Talk?

Let Them All Talk is exclusively available on HBO Max. As an HBO film, it isn’t typically available for purchase on platforms like Prime Video or Apple TV, but check HBO Max for current streaming options. A subscription is required to watch the film.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Let Them All Talk, you might like these similar films:

• Frances Ha (2012): Both films explore the complexities of female friendships and navigating life’s challenges.
• The Trip (2010): Features improvised dialogue and focuses on conversations between characters on a journey.
• Hannah and Her Sisters (1986): Explores the intertwined lives and relationships of a group of sisters, dealing with similar themes of family and personal growth.
• Enough Said (2013): Focuses on relationships and conversations between mature adults, with a focus on character-driven storytelling.

🛒 Let Them All Talk Related Products

• The Meryl Streep Collection (DVD): A collection of Meryl Streep’s most iconic films, showcasing her versatility and talent.
• Queen Mary 2: Transatlantic Cruise Experience: Recreate the movie’s setting with a luxurious cruise on the Queen Mary 2, exploring the same locations featured in the film.
• The Writer’s Toolkit: A Creative Writing Guide: Enhance your creative writing skills with this comprehensive guide, inspired by the writer character in the movie.
• The Complete Works of Blodwyn Pugh: A collected and bound edition of the works of Blodwyn Pugh.

🎧 Soundtrack

Let Them All Talk features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Santa Maria (del Buen Aire)” – performed by Gotan Project

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Meryl Streep On What It Was Like To Improvise, On A Cruise Ship, In The New Film “Let Them All Talk”

Ever wonder how Meryl Streep can be so effortlessly brilliant? Turns out, for ‘Let Them All Talk’, she improvised the *entire* script on a cruise ship! This interview is a fascinating look into her process and the film’s unconventional production—I was totally blown away by this!

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