Cast: Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent, Harry Lloyd, Alexandra Roach and Richard E. Grant
Director: Phyllida Lloyd
Ratings: 2.5/5
Portrays Margaret Thatcher as a person and not as a politician...
By Priyanka Ketkar
"Don't say it is your duty...it is your ambition", says Denis Thatcher (Jim Broadbent) to his wife and that was the extent of Margaret Thatcher's obsession for "doing something" for the world. What started off as just a simple desire to "shake-things up", led her to become the first ever female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The Iron Lady, a biopic on her life, strife and living, aims a lot and achieves a lot as well, but somehow, it falls short in the portrayal of the Minister in the truest sense.
"Maggie" i.e. Margaret Thatcher (Meryl Streep), a simple grocer's daughter who went on to become one of the first, and the most powerful women in Britain, had a life that was separate from her political life. But was it really that separate? M.T's. (the way her husband called her) life revolved around politics. Her father was a conservative and he instilled those values in her to such an extent that the there was no stopping her. In the latter years of her life, post-politics, she continued to live with her husband D.T. i.e. Denis Thatcher (even after his death). Suffering from Alzheimer's, she keeps hallucinating about her husband until she decides to let him go. Through those hallucinations, her old memories get refreshed and she is suddenly thrust into her past. It is time to let go of Denis's things, her past regrets, and some bitter memories and embrace the remaining life with elan. And yes, she does it.
The Iron Lady doesn't try to portray Margaret Thatcher as the cold-hearted woman driven by success who ignores her husband and her kids (like Meryl Streep's Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada). She loves her family and as she says it, they are her priority and it is "non-negotiable". The movie also shows a sudden grey side to her when she mistreats her colleagues but we still sympathize with her.
Merly Streep has done such a fabulous job as Margaret Thatcher that her Oscar win is absolutely and totally justified and the credit definitely also goes to her make-up artists. She is so involved with her character that she makes a perfect Thatcher and not once do we want to believe otherwise. May it be the corporate woman Miranda Priestly, the woman in love Donna, the world famous cook Julia Child or the historical icon Margaret Thatcher, Meryl Streep has always done complete justice to her roles and continues to do so. Jim Broadbent in his supporting role as a supportive husband is a true support to the strong personality behind Thatcher. Young M.T. and D.T. played by Alexandra Roach and Harry Lloyd respectively have also done an impressive job.
The flashback and flash-forwards might have proven to be extremely confusing but they have been edited so well that you never lose track of what is going on. The movie's biggest drawbacks are its speed and the lack of probing into the details of her political life. It is extremely slow and the only time when it picks up is when Margaret is letting go of Denis. Yes, it takes us through her significant achievements, some incidents that have a deep impact on her but all of this is done on a surface level. The movie not once tries to prod too much in to her political rise, her work and her career but in fact, focuses on Thatcher as a person (That might be taken as a positive point by some as well).
Despite all its ups and downs, The Iron Lady undeniably brings alive the olden, golden days. After watching this movie, you will definitely get to known Margaret Thatcher better... if not as a politician at least as a person. No doubt it is worth watching but be sure that you won't get too much about Maggie, out of it. Yet, get ready to watch Meryl Streep at her best and to know a wee bit more about the life & living of The Iron Lady.