The Iron Lady (12A)
105mins
YOU can hear the sound of Meryl Streep’s Oscar being polished as she dazzles
in the role of Britain’s most revered – and often hated – Prime Minister.
Director Phyllida Lloyd’s political biopic begins with her upbringing as a
grocer’s daughter in post-war Grantham, where the young Margaret Roberts
shows the tenacity which later had her leading the country.
She gains her place at Oxford University then rises quickly through the
Conservative party.
Margaret’s initial footsteps in the corridors of power are viewed with the
sort of sexist suspicion that was no doubt rife in Westminster during
Thatcher’s early days.
But with determination and elocution lessons, she soon wins the respect of
colleagues and country.
But the film is let down by lingering too long on Mrs Thatcher’s years after
retirement and subsequent descent into senility.
As tragic and touching as this is, the result reduces the meat of the movie to
brief flashbacks, which are lacking in any real substance or drama.
Moments such as the sinking of the Belgrano or the miners’ strike are only
briefly touched upon and not given the gravity they deserve. The result is a
rather sentimental view of a fall from grace.
Streep gives a mesmerising performance as Thatcher — as does Jim Broadbent as
Denis and the wonderful Olivia Colman in a startlingly accurate portrayal of
fussing daughter Carol.
But one can’t help feel that without the magnificent Streep, The Iron Lady
would be a forgettable TV movie.
RATING: THREE OUT OF FIVE
ALEX co-hosts Sky’s weekly film show with fellow presenter and film fanatic
Robyn Bright, Fridays at 7.30pm on Sky Movies Showcase HD and Saturdays at
midday on Sky 1 HD.