Watch Let Them All Talk

Let Them All Talk is a 2020 film directed by Steven Soderbergh that follows a renowned author named Alice Hughes, played by Meryl Streep, as she takes a transatlantic trip from New York to London aboard the Queen Mary 2. Alice is accompanied by two old friends, Roberta (Dianne Wiest) and Susan (Candice Bergen), as well as her nephew Tyler (Lucas Hedges). Along the way, they meet a young literary agent, Karen (Gemma Chan), who is eager to represent Alice's next book.

The movie begins with Alice being awarded a prestigious literary award, but instead of accepting it in person, she sends her old friend Roberta to do it on her behalf. This sets the tone for the rest of the movie, as Alice is portrayed as a somewhat aloof, enigmatic character who has clearly been successful in her career, but at what cost?

Throughout the journey, the friends reminisce about old times, discuss their relationships, and reveal pieces of themselves that have been hidden for years. While Roberta and Susan are content to reminisce about the past, Alice is more introspective, and her conversations with Karen provide a glimpse into her creative process and the sacrifices she has made for her work.

The film is shot in an almost documentary-like style, with a lot of natural light and a lack of traditional scoring. The dialogue is mostly improvised, giving the actors a chance to really inhabit their characters and bounce off of one another in a way that feels authentic and unscripted.

At its core, Let Them All Talk is a character-driven film that explores the intricacies of human relationships and the choices we make throughout our lives. It's a quiet, introspective movie that rewards close attention and careful observation. While there are certainly moments of drama and tension, the movie is more interested in exploring the nuances of its characters than in playing out a conventional plot.

One of the standout performances comes from Meryl Streep, who imbues Alice with a particular kind of mystique that makes her endlessly watchable. Dianne Wiest is also excellent as Roberta, an old friend who is content to let the past stay in the past. Candice Bergen, too, shines as Susan, a woman who is still nursing old wounds and resentments.

Gemma Chan's Karen is a more recent addition to Alice's circle, and her presence on the trip throws a wrench into the dynamics of the group. As a younger, more ambitious woman who is eager to make waves in the publishing world, Karen has a different perspective than Alice's friends. Her conversations with Alice are some of the most interesting in the movie, as they showcase the generational differences between the two women and the changing nature of the publishing industry.

Overall, Let Them All Talk is a thoughtful, engaging movie that showcases some excellent performances from its all-star cast. While it's not for everyone – the lack of a traditional plot and the slow pace will likely turn some viewers off – those who are looking for a quiet, character-driven movie will find a lot to appreciate here. It's a movie that rewards patience and close attention, and it's a testament to Soderbergh's skill as a director that he's able to make such a seemingly simple movie feel so rich and nuanced.

Let Them All Talk is a 2020 comedy. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.1 and a MetaScore of 72.