The French Lieutenant's Woman

The French Lieutenant's Woman is currently streaming in Australia on MGM Amazon Channel, and in the US on fuboTV and MGM+ Amazon Channel, and it earns its romantic beats rather than assuming them. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. With 244 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Meryl Streep is the anchor, and the chemistry with the rest of the cast carries every scene. Put it on tonight on MGM Amazon Channel and see for yourself.

There is a reason The French Lieutenant's Woman keeps coming up in conversation. The chemistry between the leads is the engine that drives everything, and The French Lieutenant's Woman makes sure it fires. In this story-within-a-story, Anna is an actress starring opposite Mike in a period piece about the forbidden love between their respective characters, Sarah and Charles. Both actors are involved in serious relationships, but the passionate nature of the script leads to an off-camera love affair as well. While attempting to maintain their composure and professionalism, Anna and Mike struggle to come to terms with their infidelity. Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1981. Romance lives or dies on chemistry, and The French Lieutenant's Woman has it in the cast combination that the writers chose to put at the centre of everything. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Romance fans and drama viewers alike will find something to love in The French Lieutenant's Woman. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. The chemistry Meryl Streep brings to it is the engine that drives everything. A rarer quality than it sounds — earning the romantic beats rather than assuming them.