The Iron Lady

4 stars

Rating: PG-13
Stars: Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent, Harry Lloyd, Alexandra Roach and Richard E. Grant

A moving biopic about Margaret Thatcher’s rise and fall as The Iron Lady of Britain.
 
What’s the story?
Directed by Phyllida Lloyd, The Iron Lady depicts Margaret Thatcher (Meryl Streep), the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, as an elderly woman suffering from dementia, reminiscing about her days in parliament. Her life is revealed through a series of flashbacks featuring a young Thatcher (Alexandra Roach) and the complications she faced from terrorists, the British people and a male-dominated government during her time in power.
 
Why see it?
This movie is an interesting, personal view of Margaret Thatcher and her life. We see her at her strongest and at her weakest, and truly feel for the Iron Lady as we are led through the trials and challenges of being one of the only females in government. Streep’s magnificent portrayal of Thatcher is a joy to watch; she captures the essence of the Iron Lady perfectly, from the strong, assertive airs of an ambitious Prime Minister, to the quirky, detached disposition of an old lady. Her Oscar-worthy performance definitely adds to this entertaining film and turns it into an enjoyable picture about a woman’s triumphs and failures, and her finally learning to simply let go of her past, and embrace the present.
 
Problems:
Although small clips of events during that time period are shown, the film glosses over many key points of British history. We are only shown snapshots of the miners’ strike, as well as the IRA bombings. The film portrays Thatcher as a feminist leader, leaving a lasting impact on Britain, yet we see little of how she actually improved the country, and more of her hallucinations of her dead husband. The film could have been improved if more of her interests and accomplishments had been displayed, like her role in improving the British economy and her interests in chemistry and law. It focuses more on her personal life, the sacrifices she made to be Prime Minister and the slightly romanticized relationship between her and her husband, Dennis (Harry Lloyd and Jim Broadbent).
 
All in all:
The Iron Lady is an interesting take on one of Britain’s most influential, yet controversial, political figures.