"The Iron Lady"

Much against my will I went to see this film.  From what I had read in various reviews I thought the idea of filming a bio-pic of a lady, still alive today, suffering with dementia and seeing her past life through flashes of remembrance was likely to be very distasteful.  However, 'SoD' talked me into going because he thought it was brilliant.  Well, not for the first time, he was right and I was wrong!

First let me say that I understand those who knew Lady Thatcher personally and who have been affronted by what they think is bad taste on the part of the film-makers.  However, I saw and heard nothing that could be taken in the smallest way as a sneer or a gloat at her current condition.  Quite the contrary, because of her suffering she shone through as an even greater heroine than her reputation indicates.  In fact the film was positively tender in its portrayal of her and her marriage to and love for Dennis Thatcher.  It was acutely accurate but painful, I think, in the way it showed the disintegrating relationship between her and her children, the unfortunate collateral damage of a successful career in politics.  Above all it showed the sheer guts and determination of a woman who fought her way up through the massed ranks of Tory men and seized the leadership from under their silly noses.  Sorry to trot out the usual old Dickensian cliché but really, "it was the best of times, it was the worst of times" and the film shows it fairly, by which I mean neutrally, if not absolutely accurately to the last tiny detail.

Putting it as simply as I can, Meryl Streep, an actress I have not hitherto admired overmuch, gave a master-class in acting.  Drama students from now on should be forced to watch her performance as part of their training.  Every single detail was thought out, worked on, practiced and then given over to a performance of stunning and seemingly effortless quality.  I have tried to think of another performance by an actress of equal worth and the only one that springs to mind is Lisa Minnelli in Cabaret - maybe I will think of others tomorrow.  Suffice to say that Meryl Streep is truly excellent in every respect.  At this point I would like to add my hope that if they give an Oscar to make-up artists then those who worked their magic on Ms. Streep's face in her aged scenes definitely deserve to take the prize.

I will confess now that at certain moments in this film I was blinking rather furiously to keep back the tears.  The film is an astonishing achievement and far from being in any way an insult to the Lady in question - it is her monument.

 

Comments

[dearieme]

She was a very necessary PM.

[Jackson]

Ms. Streep did win an Golden Globe award for her fine portrayal.

[Lawrence Duff]

I wonder if the film might be the catalyst for a turning point.

Oh Gawd, saved by the yanks, again!

SoD

[David Duff]

No doubt about that, DM, and how odd it is the way this country seems to throw up great leaders at just the right moment.

THanks, Jackson, yes, I read that and I hope she goes on to pick up every other award going.

Trouble is, Lawrence, I look about me and I can't see another politician of her staure.

[Jimmy Glesga]

The woman stepped in when the left did what is best in their tradition. They fell out with each other as usual. They have no complaint. They are just mouthy tossers.

[David Duff]

Quite so, Jimmy, and I almost feel sorry for thoughtful Lefties (like David Ostler) who find themselves saddled with some prize morons.

[Laban Tall]

In the late 80s the Comic Strip team (Mayall/Edmondson/Peter Richardson/somebody Allan etc) did a one-off called "The Strike", imagining a Hollywood treatment of the miners strike.

It was very funny - Lee van Cleef cast as Tony Benn, Al Pacino as Scargill, and the greatest star was Jennifer Saunders playing Meryl Streep playing Maggie.

It's on youtube - but you need a proxy server because channel 4 won't let you view it in the UK.

[David Duff]

Thanks, Laban, I'll look out for it.