This movie has annoyed people on both sides of politics by treating Margaret Thatcher ‘lightly’. We see her as a young, idealistic woman, determined to do some good work in the world ( a charming performance from Alexandra Roach). We see her rise and rise and rise to power, and her eventual fall (Merryl Streep is truly spectacular).
And we see Margaret as an elderly woman, dementia looming, talking and reminiscing with her deceased husband, Dennis (Jim Broadbent, in a sweet, finely judged performance). Merryl Streep is heartbreaking in these scenes.
What you won’t find in THE IRON LADY is any deep political analysis. The great issues of Margaret’s time are treated as a series of tests, hurdles she has to jump to prove her toughness.
Financial reforms, fights with unions, with Argentinians, with the IRA, with colleagues, angry faces at the window of her limousine- she’s under stress, exhausted, she toughs it out, she wins!
That’s about as deep as it gets!
I learnt some interesting things about Margaret’s life, however because she’s always more interested in ideas rather than feelings, and because she was so sure of herself about almost everything, the audience is kept at a distance. How exactly can we relate to someone like her?!
Never mind- Merryl’s performance is huge, astonishing. Where’s my Thesaurus? You get the idea.
Now to change the mood, I’d like to hand out some imaginary Oscars. Harry Lloyd as the young Dennis Thatcher is sweet and quirky, matching Jim Broadbent’s work as the older Dennis (and the imaginary one).
The make-up artists do some of the best old-age work I have seen in quite a while. And the whole film looks conservative but stylish, with a lot of care put into it. Well done, everybody!
Alexandra Roach’s almost loveable performance as the Margaret, and Merryl’s performance as the older version, are the heart of the film! They get through to our feelings, because in those stages of her life the Iron Lady mask wasn’t so firmly in place. Merryl’s performance isn’t huge in these scenes: it’s sad and human and real. She could be your mother- or mine!
THE IRON LADY is a grand experience. It must be seen. Criticism is beside the point. As Margaret used to say, ‘There is no alternative!’.
© Peter Morrison
27th July, 2012
Tags: Sydney Movie Reviews- THE IRON LADY, Merryl Streep, Jim Broadbent, Harry Lloyd, Alexandra Roach, Phyllida Lloyd, Sydney Arts Guide, Peter Morrison.