 "The
Iron Lady"
Reviewed by Andrew Johnson
Many consider Meryl Streep a lock for the Best Actress Oscar
with her performance as British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
It is a towering performance.
With this first female leader in the western world, you either
liked Thatcher or disliked her; there seemed to be no middle
road. Told in a series of flashbacks in “THE IRON LADY,”
we see how this woman became a member of parliament, had to
endure the “old boys club” with not even bathroom
facilities when she arrived for her first day in taking office
(being met by a room with an ironing board no less) to the
day when her destiny was realized and she would “rule
Britannia over all.”
As an elderly woman, she sees and speaks to her now dead husband,
well played by Jim Broadbent. We question whether her mind
is still intact. But as she reflects back to her past accomplishments,
we see how she butted heads with unreasonable unions in both
the garbage strike and the miner’s strike, had ideologically
similar goals of President Ronald Reagan, domineered and bullied
her colleagues, had an ego out of control, and even stated
“We have been a grandmother” (with only the Queen
of England having the right to use this royal collective term
“we”). Her poll tax, where everyone both rich
and poor alike had to pay the same per person amount, brought
great negativity toward her. She was always considered an
outsider, not coming from the privileged upper class, though
her Oxford education helped elevate her status. Margaret Thatcher
did win great acclaim when she would not accept Argentina
invading and annexing The Falkland Islands, Britain’s
possession in our hemisphere, sending warships to reclaim
the territory, which they did.
Coming into office in 1979, Thatcher’s cinematic tale
is told through this woman’s eyes. A quote of hers,
not in the film, seems to say what she was all about: “There
is no such thing as society, only individuals.”
Direction by Phyllida Lloyd, from a screenplay by Abi Morgan,
hits the mark at all times. Your interest never wanes as step
by step you realize what makes this woman “tick.”
The story takes on Shakespearean overtones in the telling
of a great leader who is both astute and flawed in many respects.
Many aspects of her life are truly moving. And the relationship
between Thatcher and her daughter Carol (Olivia Colman) is
fascinating to watch as well, sort of a Cordelia to a King
Lear in the Shakespearean play. Love and tensions abound with
the two. Even Alexandra Roach playing the younger Margaret
Thatcher does so well in conveying the uphill climb and tenacity
of this woman.
Margaret Thatcher is alive today, said to have dementia in
her middle 80s. Interesting to note that director Phyllida
Lloyd had directed Meryl Streep in a film before this one:
“MAMMA MIA.” Quite a different mode, no?
This “iron lady,” as Thatcher was called, was
a trailblazing politician and the longest serving Prime Minister
of the UK. This political life she chose evoked great cost
to her personally in the relationships she had with supporters,
detractors, her own family, and even herself. Prejudice of
class and gender were her constant battles. She was “a
lone woman in a sea of men,” wrestling with a nation
in turmoil, and literally becoming a superstar so to speak.
Her treacherous colleagues brought about her downfall and
resignation in the end.
“THE IRON LADY” is a worthwhile film for viewing,
especially seeing the masterful performance of one of our
finest actresses today, Meryl Streep.
The Players: Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent, Olivia Colman,
Alexander Roach, Roger Allam, Anthony Head, Susan Brown
Richard E. Grant, and Harry Lloyd
The Filmmakers:
Directed by Phyllida Lloyd
Screenplay by Abi Morgan
Director of Photography: Elliot Davis
Music by Thomas Newman
Released through The Weinstein Company
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