The Iron Lady Review

Director: Phylidia Lloyd

Starring: Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent, Anthony Head, Richard E. Grant, Susan Brown, Alexandra Roach, Olivia Colman

Certificate: 12A

Running Time: 105 Minutes

Synopsis: A look at the life of Margaret Thatcher, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, with a focus on the price she paid for power.

Growing up in the North East of England during the 1980s, Margaret Thatcher and her conservative government were seen as the absolute scorn of the country. To be fair, no political party are ever completely accepted, and keeping everyone in the UK happy, when you’re involved in politics, is a game nobody is going to win. Thatcher’s reign as Prime Minister included the likes of the controversial Falklands conflict, battles with Scargill over the miners’ strikes as well as the introduction of the unpopular Poll Tax. Never one for catching the news on television or reading newspapers in my youth I, like so many children growing up in those turbulent times, would get their unique political hit from the unforgettable SPITTING IMAGE puppets.

So now we finally have a feature film focusing on the controversial figure of Thatcher, and even before a trailer was released, Academy Award-winner Meryl Streep was immediately touted as a possible Oscar favourite once again. The big question is, does Streep pull it off? Judging from the plaudits she is receiving, you will already know the answer, but does the film hold up to her performance?

THE IRON LADY begins with ‘Maggie’ in her ripe old age, talking away to her deceased husband Dennis (Jim Broadbent) about the current price of milk. The film tos-and-fros as she reminisces (via her frailing mentality) through the events that shaped her life and career. The performances from all the cast can not be faulted. TYRANNOSAUR’s Olivia Colman is great as her daughter Carol (although her prosthetic nose takes a bit of getting used to). Jim Broadbent too is terrific as Dennis, loyal but pushed to the sidelines during his wife’s reign. Streep on the other hand is truly remarkable as the Iron Lady herself, whether playing Thatcher as a middle-aged woman at the height of her career or under heavy prosthetic make-up as the dementia-suffering former leader. Another Oscar would certainly not look out of place on her mantelpiece after this performance. The cast portraying Maggie and Dennis in their early years also give enough depth to make the later and present-set transitions effective.

The problem I had with the film on the whole, was the unevenness of the storytelling, never staying in one period long enough to engage and connect with the other characters’ motivations. In fact major plot points you would expect to feature prominently feel almost rushed and/or skirted over all too quickly. The IRA bombing of the Tory party conference in Brighton is actually shown twice during the course of the film, a traumatic event in her life, and both times are rushed and are essentially the same scene.

Overall the film is fine but fine may not be enough to grab major honours. It captures the human side to a figure that many saw as a monster that brought Britain to its knees. It’s a sad tale in the end and highlights the one thing that many of us, let’s be honest, are not looking forward to or even fear – getting old. The heartbreak that comes watching your loved ones in their twilight years, especially those with dementia, is not the way you want to remember them or even be remembered when our own time comes.

An average film held up by an incredible performance.

 THE IRON LADY is released today in cinemas.