The Iron Lady (2011)

“The Iron Lady” is a really weird movie. It’s supposed to be a biopic of Margaret Thatcher, one of the most controversial figures in modern British politics, but it skates over most of the pivotal moments that defined her time as Prime Minister. It’s a movie that covers many tough topics, including the Miner’s Strikes, the Falklands War and the introduction of the Poll Tax, but it doesn’t say anything informative or interesting about these events. Meryl Streep gave an absolutely incredible performance, but she’s the only exceptional part of this otherwise so-so endeavour.

I don’t envy the filmmakers behind “The Iron Lady”, trying to make an accessible film about a politician who is both adored and hated must have been an arduous task. Rather than examining the negative impacts of Thatcher’s time in office, this movie presents a biased depiction of history, one in which all Labour MPs and non-Tories are portrayed as hollering, shrieking lunatics. I understand that “The Iron Lady” is more concerned with telling Thatcher’s side of the story, but it’s a shame that the filmmakers were unwilling to present different points of view.

Meryl Streep is amazing here, from her mannerisms to her voice, she is almost indistinguishable from the real Margaret Thatcher. Jim Broadbent is sadly not as good, he’s more malevolent than benevolent as Denis Thatcher. I think the intention was that he was a genial and warm presence in Margaret’s later life, but he comes off as creepy and unsettling most of the time.

Another element of “The Iron Lady” that fell short was its direction and cinematography. The visuals are too flashy for their own good, which becomes distracting during the more serious moments. Admittedly, this makes a lot of sense when you consider that “The Iron Lady” is helmed by Phyllida Lloyd, the director of “Mamma Mia!”, which also explains why a Hollywood icon like Meryl Streep is in this low budget British film.

My first thought after finishing “The Iron Lady” was that the film was far too short to have any real impact. The movie spends an excruciating amount of time in the modern day, as we watch Thatcher wander around her house, experiencing hallucinations and struggling to remember her past. Making her mental decline the major focus of the film was an odd decision, as it’s arguably the least extraordinary aspect of Margaret Thatcher’s life (there are so many other films that deal with this idea in a more effective way.) This would have been ok if the flashbacks were compelling, but the trouble is, each chapter in the story feels so rushed that they don’t really leave any impression. This is a drama, not a thriller; we want to spend time with the characters and watch them grow, but this movie brushes important moments aside so abruptly that the emotional scenes fall flat.

In conclusion, “The Iron Lady” could have been a truly great examination of a polarizing political figure. Instead, this is a pedestrian affair that houses some truly bizarre ideas that detract from its story. I don’t understand how this strange “Memento” meets “The Notebook” and “The Sixth Sense” smorgasbord is more compelling than a traditional biopic. So although it features a terrific central performance, I wouldn’t recommend “The Iron Lady.”