Iron Lady, The (2011) [Blu-ray]
Drama | Biography

Tagline: Never compromise.

The most celebrated actress of our time stars as the most powerful woman of her time. Oscar winning Meryl Streep, the most nominated performer in Academy Award history, delivers the definitive portrayal of Margaret Thatcher, the enigmatic, highly controversial figure who became the first and only female Prime Minister of England. Much more than a biographical epic, The Iron Lady is also the surprisingly intimate journey of a "common" grocer's daughter whose social ambition and steel will - along with the love of her husband and confidant, Denis (Academy Award winner Jim Broadbent) - propelled her to unprecedented power in a world dominated by men.

User Comment: Mr Impossible from United States, 30 November 2011 • Before viewing, "The Iron Lady", I didn't really know much about Margaret Thatcher. Other than she was the prime minister of England for 11 years, she was a very controversial figure and still is to this day. So I was really interested to see the film and I decided to visit the WGA screening.

Now let me begin by saying, Meryl Streep embodies Margaret Thatcher. She doesn't just look like her, but she talks like her, her facial expressions are spot on. Meryl Streep becomes Margaret Thatcher. I would be shocked if she doesn't win an Oscar for this performance. The supporting cast is good too, Jim Broadbent gives an excellent performance, everyone is just great.

However aside from the top notch acting, the movie had a few flaws. The story was uninteresting at times, the flashback scenes were a bit muddled and a little confusing. The movie felt a little too safe, it tried too hard, not to be controversial. Although I don't entirely blame the film itself for that. Margaret Thatcher was such a decisive person, that whichever side the film picked, it would be criticized by a lot of people. I guess the film ultimately achieved the goal.

I also liked the movie didn't dwell too much on the politics, but on the character of Margaret Thatcher. We see the human side of The Iron Lady herself, beyond all the partisan politics and rumors, we get to see a very personal and sad side of her. The subplot focusing on Thacther's grief over her husband's death, as the older version battles with hallucinations and an unwillingness to let go of her dear Denis are heartbreaking.

Overall the movie was really well done, but just shy of greatness. Meryl Streep's performance and the supporting cast, truly elevates the film into a great biopic. Although I wished a little more time was spent on focusing on her political life, the movie successfully showed a deep and moving side of the prime minister. Which a lot of biopics fail to do. Whatever your opinions might be on Margaret Thatcher, don't fault the movie because of the opinion. And I highly respect Phyllida LLoyd, Meryl Streep, Abi Morgan and others for trying to portray such a decisive and highly controversial figure.

Summary: Meryl Streep gives a spectacular performance in a flawed, but great biopic.

User Comment: Troy_Campbell from Sydney, Australia, 27 December 2011 • There's no doubt about it: Meryl Streep will be nominated for her 17th Academy Award for her portrayal of Britain's most controversial Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, in this otherwise underwhelming biopic. Streep is mesmerizing as usual, but the mode of storytelling employed by screenwriter Abi Morgan and director Phyllida Lloyd – sporadic flashbacks among elongated stretches of following the elderly and mentally fragile Maggie – is a huge misfire. The scenes which recount her path from young adulthood through to local politics and then to her 11 years of turbulent leadership are intriguing, however they are too far and few between to really grip. Sure, it checks off the list as far as famous moments go, but a more in depth insight into how she ran the country would've been nice.

Summary: Streep is mesmerizing, the film is not.

User Comment: Mark B from Sydney, 28 December 2011 • This film had so much potential to open peoples eyes to one of the most influential politicians of the time and all it does is focus on an elderly persons slide into dementia.

Approximately two thirds of the film is spent on the post 2003 era (post Dennis Thatchers death) with Thatcher wandering round her flat, talking with her daughter, hallucinating about Dennis, throwing clothes out etc etc. Not only is this thoroughly depressing but it is also so frustrating as you are forced to sit through Streep doing her "I want an Oscar, I want an Oscar" sales pitch.

There were so many highly charged/globally reported moments and periods throughout her prime minister-ship which were just brushed over or completely skipped - the poll tax (which attracts about 5mins of the film), the miners strikes (less than 5 minutes), the Iranian embassy siege (no mention of at all), the Falklands war (maybe 15 minutes but deserved so much more), the policy of privatisations (minimal), and crucially the impact her leadership had on the country (nothing). And this is before raising the events that developed her into the women she was - all that is provided here is a few flashbacks to her father speaking in public. There is no real mention of her fight for the leadership, nothing on her career before politics, and very little about her developmental years (university etc).

In summary it just seems this film was out to try and get in the running for as many Oscars as it could and they didn't care if they screwed any one over to get there.

Not only is Margaret Thatchers retirement private but her declining health should not be used as an opportunity for someone to get in the running for an Oscar. Have some respect!

If they were after a film which created an emotional reaction they certainly succeeded.

Summary: Truly disappointed and quite angry.

[CSW] -3.1- This movie was a bit of a disappointment although the acting was excellent by the entire cast but especially Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher. The acting was so believable that this movie got a much higher rating than the story alone would have ever gotten Whether or not you are a fan of Margaret Thatcher's politics, there can be no dispute that she was one of the most powerful, historic and interesting women of the Twentieth Century. Instead of focusing on the historic and interesting, though, this movie focused on the mundane, and sought to depict her as a pathetic demented figure. However that same delusional personality was used to show how much she cared for the support and opinions of the husband that she may have neglected during her trying political career. Ironically, the movie was also quite sexist, ham-fistedly attempting to show that Lady Thatcher unwisely sacrificed certain elements of her family life for her career. Her character and significance were diminished - - for no discernable purpose. Such a potentially-fascinating person; such an able actress; such a wasted effort...
[V5.0-A4.5] MPEG-4 AVC - No D-Box.

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