. all of the character in this astounding book or movie be as good or as unimportant a viewer or reader find them to be and simply because william styron develop them that way represent stingo be an unexperienced nerd and have live an idyllic life in the south with nothing happen in his life and yet aspire to write the great american novel while how perfect for a virginous male to so fortunate to live with people who educate him what a horrendous journey life can be . mcnichols be perfect for this role and because he be the opposite of sophie . nathan be mad and know he be mad and long with all his soul to be otherwise while a little madness drive people to do astound thing . kline be perfect while what a shame he have never find another role a good . sophie be the haunt lady whose life make her that way while styron development of her character be masterful . i read an interview in which he be ask how he felt his novel be present in the film . his reply and i take the money and ran . he could foresee there would be controversy over his work . some viewer and especially the young one and can not appreciate how actress have develop over the life time of movie making . they should watch some of the silent film to learn that mime be the only way to express an emotion . mellodrama and intentionally so yet and look at the entire work of bette davis and joan crawford a example of contrived performance . they be and at last and able to confront one another in baby jane attempt to out drama one another make it the wonderful film it be . there be simply no other actress and that we know of and who be more talented a performer than streep . unlike davis and crawford and she be not concerned about her star power . she become whatever character she be play and no matter if we like them or not . so what if sophie choice be a vehicle to demonstrate her power . please write another . william styron and stand forth . because of her absorption into her character and the many nuance she develop in choice and take a look at the deer hunter to see how powerfully she play an un extraordinarily plain woman perfectly . under play a character and to make you believe people be actually like that and be the mark of a great actress . i ardently pray there will be another role for ms. streep even in her old year that will allow u to become totally engrossed and to get outside of our own life and to become completely destroyed and delirious and shattered just for a couple of hour and to realize there be still such talent in the world that we can afford to watch and at least . thank heaven for this magical film .