Streep brings NYC socialite to life in 'Florence Foster Jenkins'

Meryl Streep as Florence Foster Jenkins

Florence Foster Jenkins loved to sing. And sing she did.

But she was undoubtedly the worst singer of her generation. Or dare I say any generation! 

And she certainly was not good enough to sing at Carnegie Hall. But she did. 

Jenkins (1868-1944) was a New York City socialite. Her life of great wealth and love of great music was brought to the silver screen by the one and only Meryl Streep. 

The movie, directed by Stephen Frears, also starred Hugh Grant as her devoted British stage actor husband, St. Clair Bayfield.

Jenkins, a soprano, is tone deaf, but she fancies herself a great opera singer. Her husband perpetuates that myth. He pays people to write positive reviews of his wife’s performance. 

The two have a marriage in name only, since Jenkins was infected with syphilis by her first husband when she was 18. But it’s clear they love each other.

The movie - rated PG-13 - also featured Simon Helberg as the pianist hired to accompany Jenkins’ off-key-to-say-the-least singing. Helberg’s character, Cosme McMoon, a gifted young pianist, politely calls Jenkins’ voice “flat.”

This is a fun film, and one that touches the heart and soul. Streep truly becomes the heiress whose ambition clouds rational thought processes. She really believes that her fingernails on the blackboard style of singing sounds good.

If you want to sit back and laugh go see Florence Foster Jenkins. You’ll definitely be entertained.