The Iron Lady

     The other day I had the immense pleasure of seeing Meryl Streep portray one of the most powerful women in modern history, the indomitable Margaret Thatcher. For those who are unaware, Margaret Thatcher was the first woman to head the conservative party and the first to become prime minister of Great Britain with a tenure lasting from 1979-1990. She earned her title as "The Iron Lady" for her tough stances on unions, and labor laws. It is no wonder that such a powerful woman in history would be portrayed by one of the most powerful actresses of all time.

     Meryl Streep gives what I consider to be a career best performance in The Iron Lady. She flawlessly assumes the role of the great Margaret Thatcher as a retired woman suffering from dementia and as a political force of nature. The film begins with a brief glimpse into the modern life of Ms. Thatcher as an elderly woman. It is shortly revealed to us that she is in fact suffering from delusions and paranoia. It is not long before that we are plunged into a series of flashbacks that chronicle Margaret's life as a young girl who never fit in at home or socially.
     Within these early flashbacks the role of the then unmarried Margaret Roberts is played by Alexandria Roach. We are quickly made aware of how young Margaret is uncomfortable with her home life and strives to do something more with herself. Despite being shunned by other girls her age and her mother, her father remained a positive force in her life and supported her continuing her education at Oxford. We are then whipped back and forth between present day and her road to political power.
     The film does it's best to show us that this now demure and somewhat broken woman was once capable of making the most powerful men in the world squirm in their seats with only her words. Unfortunately, what should be a subtle contrast ends up being a coy and often unfair representation of Thatcher in the present day. Director Phyllida Lloyd puts too much emphasis on the life that Baroness Thatcher lives now in an attempt to draw an emotional response from audiences. This tactic comes off as nothing more than exploitations of circumstance and emotional pandering. Margaret Thatcher is not a woman that we should pity, she is a woman who is to be revered.
     Luckily the film is saved by it's accurate portrayal of Thatcher throughout her career and the lengths that she had to go to overcome every trial that dared to hold her back. In one scene Thatcher states, ‘It used to be about trying to do something; now it’s about trying to be someone.' Regrettably screenwriter Abi Morgan does not heed the advice of this line. The problem with the movie is that does not show enough of what Margaret Thatcher did, but instead focuses too much on who she is now.
     In the end, The Iron Lady is still a powerful film and poignant lesson in global political history. Meryl Streep once again more than plays the role she is presented with, she is a solid manifestation of the much maligned former Prime Minister. This definitely a film to see because of it's importance and because of the stunning portrayals by the entire cast. Just be prepared to be somewhat disappointed by the manner in which the story is told.


Rating: 3.5 (Maximum of 5) - Meryl Streep shines in this film that does not match her level of dedication to excellence