In Britain, the mere mention of Margaret Thatcher can have a dinner party debating from starter to dessert. She has garnered an often venomous reputation that still hangs tacitly in the air of politics like a shadow. But however you feel about her, Baroness Thatcher is undeniably an intriguing character. So, director Phyllida Lloyd (Mamma Mia! 2008) and writer Abi Morgan (Shame, 2011) have embarked on the difficult challenge of profiling Britain's first female premier.
A Steely Review
From highly publicized trailers and brief synopses, we are led to believe that this is the story of Thatcher's rise to power and fall from glory. In actuality, it is a non-linear, flashback-laden movie set over a couple of days in the life of the present day woman, struggling with old age and dementia. Because of this, and the misleading promotions, I would diagnose the film with that thing we all fear, that thing so common in eagerly awaited movies, that thing caused by over-exposure before release, that heartbreaking thing: all the best bits are in the trailer.
Understandably, making a film, of an acceptable length, about the entire life of Margaret Thatcher would be nigh on impossible. To combat this, Lloyd's movie is patchy and rushed. For example, the excellent 2008 BBC TV film Margaret Thatcher - The Long Walk to Finchley (dir. Niall MacCormick), with Andrea Riseborough in the eponymous role, is a feature-length production solely about Thatcher's ambitions to become an MP. That in mind, The Iron Lady comes across more like a shallow montage in its attempts to review a whole life and career. Scenes such as her voice coaching are captivating and entertaining but given very little attention when, in actual fact, they were so crucial to her making. The truth is, dedicating any more time to moments like these would have insisted the film were 48 hours long so, in this respect, Lloyd and Morgan have constructed it well.
The elderly Thatcher's struggle with the abolition of Denis Thatcher's imagined presence is provided as a thread to follow through the film but is unnecessary. That sub-story feels as though Abi Morgan has gone on a quest for a plot only to awkwardly wrench one out from a haystack with no needle in it. For me, a strong plot isn't needed so much in a biopic, as the person's life is the continuous story and the person's life is, presumably, the interest. Still, it's a nice, poignant touch to see Streep's Thatcher interact with the remembered image of her late husband (Jim Broadbent on characteristically top form) and attempt to convince herself of his unreality.
I had been concerned that this would be an overly favourable portrayal of Thatcher's life but, surprisingly, it sustains a reasonable neutrality - though that might be because I expected something far more sympathetic and biased. It is, of course, coming from the former Prime Minister's perspective so it isn't negative by any means but neither does it conveniently dodge some of her more unpopular moves.
As for the film's composition, overall, it's good but not sensational, save for a mighty tracking shot following a demonic-looking Thatcher and her entourage through Westminster. So its content mirrors its construction: one or two great moments, but inconsistent.
Casting Iron - Maggie Versus Meryl
The real magic here, the saviour, is the casting of Meryl Streep, who, even after decades of success, generally still gives often flawless and captivating performances. Her rendition of Maggie is no exception. Here is where the film's production excels itself; the make-up and wardrobe departments have created a perfect stencil of Thatcher that Streep then fills in and fleshes out with uncanny postures and a brilliantly pitched voice. It is less an interpretation than an impression but it does work excellently for this purpose.
So it is the cast that brings this film up a few notches. Olivia Colman's appearance as Carol Thatcher, for instance, is worth mentioning as she does a great job, even if the prosthetic nose is bordering on the hilarious.
The Grade
The real story of Thatcher's rise to power and her reinvention is rivetingly explored in the BBC documentary The Making of the Iron Lady and is worth a look before or after seeing the film.
It's an enjoyable movie but, the thing is, if you want to see a powerful portrait of the Iron Lady, watch the trailer.
I'd say B.
