REVIEW: THE IRON LADY. MERYL, STREEPS AHEAD OF THE PACK WITH A COMPASSIONATE PORTRAYAL THAT OFFERS ‘GENUINELY MOVING MOMENTS’. THREE STARS!
By Doranman on January 23rd, 2012
‘Meryl Streep manages to create a credible individual out of all the contradictions surrounding the former Prime Minister’.
PLOT
For those who feel a little bored with celebrity biopics and their Oscar baiting ways lately, The Iron Lady proves that portraying a famous person need not begin and end with imitation. Meryl Streep manages to create a credible individual out of all the contradictions surrounding the former Prime Minister, while replicating the tics and mannerisms that dominated the Nine O’Clock News through most of the eighties; at times I became convinced I was back in a decade of street riots, relentless Tory cutbacks and politically expedient foreign wars..…er..
‘The film resists bringing any ostensibly feminist ideas to the fore’.
REVIEW
The film takes place in the present, over the course of three days, as an increasingly debilitated baroness struggles to connect with members of her family, peer group and house help. It is not only the fog of dementia that is the source of her isolation, but also the disconnect of a former world leader marooned and powerless in a world she no longer recognises. The commentary to her predicament is provided by late husband Dennis (Jim Broadbent), who appears in a series of dementia triggered hallucinations, and flashbacks chronicling her colourful political career.
The film has stirred some controversy over its depiction of senile dementia. Indeed the indignity of such an ailment is never something to be sneezed at, and it is my belief that the film handles the subject fairly. It is never allowed to dominate the story, or diminish the titular character’s formidable resolve.
‘Outrageously, it holds a meagre 56% on rotten tomatoes!’
Less delicately handled is the disaster that is Carol Thatcher’s prosthetic nose, and while Olivia Colman does a spot on impersonation, the nose ultimately dominates every scene she appears in, and casts a long shadow even in her absence.
The absence of Mark Thatcher, on the other hand, casts an even deeper shadow. As he cancels an umpteenth birthday appearance over the phone, we see the toll a woman’s ambition must sadly take on her family etched in every line on Streep’s face. The film resists bringing any ostensibly feminist ideas to the fore however.
In fact the film’s greatest strength is that it steers clear of politics almost completely, which might explain the mixed reviews it has received (outrageously, it holds a meagre 56% on rotten tomatoes). Carol and Mark have both described the film as a “left-wing fantasy”, while on the right we have commentators complaining that it white-washes the more odious and damaging aspects of Thatcher’s reign. Neither claim is correct in my opinion.
‘It tells a familiar story in a new way, or rather in a way that can only happen after the dust of the past has settled’.
VERDICT 
What the film does is humanise its subject in a way that many biopics strive, and fail, to do, although admittedly this has much to do with Streep’s extraordinary performance. It transcends the crude Spitting Image gargoyles which have dominated our perception of Thatcher for so long.
As these kinds of films go, this is one of the best. It tells a familiar story in a new way, or rather in a way that can only happen after the dust of the past has settled. It will upset some for its refusal to take sides, but as a stand alone piece of story-telling it flows well and has some genuinely moving moments.
Worst Bad Good
Better Best
January 24th, 2012 at 7:50 am
Interesting review, I had high hopes for this one at first but I guess it will only be Streep’s performance that lifts the film.
Very nice site!
[Reply]
Ronan Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 4:23 pm
Hi Matt, welcome to Filmplicity! Glad you like the site, thanks for reading and commenting and for the kind words!
[Reply]
January 24th, 2012 at 5:53 pm
Great review Doranman! Love your thoughts on this. This never a film that particularly interested me much but it is good to hear an alternative opinion.
[Reply]
January 24th, 2012 at 9:02 pm
This one never really interested me.
[Reply]
Ronan Reply:
January 25th, 2012 at 12:08 pm
Me neither Julian but I always leave room for a little surprise here and there. Thanks.
[Reply]
January 24th, 2012 at 9:49 pm
What you’ve written about The Iron Lady and scored it sums up what I’d expect. I have recently tired of all of these biopics (ironically, because I love history) and I was hoping Hollywood would’ve taken a break after The King’s Speech.
I may see this one down the line, but I’m not running out the door to check it out anytime soon!
Thanks for the review!
[Reply]
Ronan Reply:
January 25th, 2012 at 12:11 pm
Biopic are a funny wonder because they often split opinion and alieniate audiences. I wasn’t interested in this because politics and british history don’t hold much appeal for me but hearing how the film deals with Thatcher in human terms restores my faith in what I do like about biopics and reminds me what the good ones have done well. I’m thinking of The Queen and The King’s Speech in particular. Who knew I was such a royalist! Thanks for the comment T!
[Reply]
January 25th, 2012 at 4:09 pm
Streep’s performance is so true and so uncannily accurate, so full and so complete in its understanding, that she is fascinating every second she is onscreen. As for the film itself, the structure is a bit off and the screenplay doesn’t really give us much else other than a history lesson, but a good history lesson at that. Nice review Ronan.
[Reply]
Ronan Wright Reply:
January 25th, 2012 at 11:04 pm
Hi Dan, thanks for the comment love! I should just clarify that while it is me, Ronan, blogger un-extraordinaire and proprietor of Filmplicity who is now responding to you, The Iron Lady was in fact written by one of our oh so talented contributors who, confusingly enough, is also called Ronan! Because of this he goes under the moniker ‘Doranman’. I haven’t seen the film myself but I’m not really bothered. Biopics come and go and are generally so-so and unless it’s about someone I’m particularly interested in, I usually avoid them. With the exception of The King’s Speech and The Queen. Thanks for commenting Dan!
[Reply]