The Iron Lady - mini review

[manncann]

Just came back from an advance screening of 'The Iron Lady'. Starring Meryl Streep, it is the story of Margaret Thatcher's rise to power and her struggles in her later years. The film shifts between the present day where a dementia adled Thatcher copes with the loss of her husband and re-living past glories and horrors. Intersped are flashbacks to her younger days struggling to make a mark in a supremely male dominated political scene. Espousing the virtues of her father, she bulldozes her way to the very top with a strong willed conservative bent to ensure Britain's survival. It's oddly strange viewing a film based in the 70s-80s and hearing the same arguments being repeated today (crush unions, pull yourself up by your own bootstraps, fiscal responsibility, and a hawkish military stance).The film is not really remarkable save for Streep. This is a guaranteed nomination for her performance and she makes you believe you're watching the real Thatcher rebuke her opposition in Parliament, or brow-beating members of her cabinet for being so weak willed. She's quite possibly the finest actor of our age and this role proves. Unfortunately the film was a little weak. It focused too much on the present day Thatcher and her dementia rather than expanding on the conflicts she faced (the IRA, the Falklands, attempted assassination). The film has been criticized by current British PM David Cameron for portraying the Iron Lady as a lonely senile has-been and I'm somewhat inclined to agree. Despite the flaws I think it's still worth seeing just for Streep's performance.