The Iron Lady

If ever there was a politician whose legacy and larger-than-life character deserved the big-screen treatment, it was always going to be Margaret Thatcher (fingers crossed Silvio Berlusconi’s next in line). The first and only woman to be elected Prime Minister in the UK, she proved to be a notorious figure that not only split the country in half with her divisive policies, but also alienated members of her own party with her dominant, uncompromising nature. She is an iconic character that many aspiring writers dream of concocting.

What a disappointment then, that Phyllida Lloyd’s biopic makes for an uneven and uninspiring viewing experience that will fail to grip liberals and satisfy conservatives in equal measure.

The plot, for starters, is as formulaic as biopics come, with an octogenarian Thatcher (Meryl Streep) reminiscing about the good old days in power, whilst sipping away on whiskey and confronting apparitions of her late husband Denis (Jim Broadbent). It’s a tired and tested formula that audiences have been subjected to since Salieri’s bitter accounts on Mozart in 1984’s Amadeus. Meanwhile, the idea of Maggie struggling to release Denis’ ghost has a whiff of A Beautiful Mind to it, and is a contrivance that screenwriter Abi Morgan should have risen above.

But it’s not just the contemporary scenes that weigh the film down. The flashbacks may be ripe with historical heft and even provide valuable insight to how Thatcher became the tough as nails politician we all love/loathe, but their selective use means The Iron Lady feels less like a coherent narrative, more like a stylishly shot history lesson. Much like Oliver Stone’s W , it strives to give a compassionate portrayal of its controversial protagonist, but lacks the bite and rebellious streak a film of this calibre requires.

What cannot be faulted whatsoever though is Streep’s portrayal of the iron lady herself. An actress who is genetically incapable of turning in a bad performance, her transformation is so uncanny, you’d swear you were watching the real Thatcher. The mannerisms, the deep, commanding tone, her dry putdowns… it’s all there. She is also ably supported by Jim Broadbent, who brings some very welcome comic relief to the table as the fun-loving, ever supportive Denis Thatcher. And Olivia Colman’s brief but emotionally restrained performance as daughter Carol also deserves kudos, not least because she must do all of her acting underneath an unflattering prosthetic nose.

Alas, what could’ve been a compelling piece of historical storytelling has sadly turned out to be something of a missed opportunity. A handful of nominations for Streep aside, don’t expect The Iron Lady to make the same impact as last year’s The King's Speech.

2/5