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"THE IRON LADY"--A MOVIE REVIEW
Meryl Streep is, in all probability, the most awarded, if not financially rewarded, actresses of the past few generations. She is called 'the best actress of several generations' and holds the record for the most Oscar nominations and received her 19th for "The Iron Lady". She is acclaimed all over the world and, recently, starred, and carried, 4 major pictures.
In "The Iron Lady" she gives a master class in acting, showing how to use an accent, wardrobe and make up to impersonate, not become, Margaret Thatcher. There are a small group of people, and I belong to them, who claim that they can see Streep acting, not becoming the character she is playing. She puts over who Thatcher may have been but because she is so much into her impersonation that she doesn't connect with anyone else in the film from Jim Broadbent playing her husband Dennis, Olivia Brown as her daughter Carol or the various actors playing the politicians she was involved with.
Alexandra Roach who plays the young Margaret Thatcher is a more realistic human being, with feelings, while Streep portrays the elder as a person without connections to the human beings around her.
The direction by Phyllida Lloyd, and the screenplay by Abi Morgan, is confusing at times and, aside from the fact that Thatcher was the first female Prime Minister of England, unless you come with the knowledge of her run in office and what she did, or didn't do, you won't learn much or her importance in history.
Americans will hear a lot in the movie that they are hearing now from the Republicans as they seek the nomination for President and though the film should resonate with the American audience they already may be bored with election stories and the movie will be too slow moving.
Jim Broadbent brings what emtions, warmth, he can to the film but Streep is too busy 'acting' to bring any part of the human being that Thatcher may have been.
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It doesn't sound interesting. I've been falling asleep in the movies lately. I saw a "Joyful Noise," and though the singing was fantastic, the story line was predictable and abrupt. I saw the "Descendants" and it was so slow and the theme music so horrible that I didn't enjoy it. I didn't like George Clooney in that role either. |
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I thought the movie, "Descendents" was just okay but Clooney deserves the Oscar. I enjoyed "A Joyful Noise" for what it was and just watching Parton and Latifah brings a smile to me face--the kids were good singers.
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I saw nothing new in Clooney's performance. Even seeing him in tears was not convincing to me. A joyful Noise could easily have been a concert movie and I would have enjoyed every bit of it. |
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Clooney, as an actor, brought across Clooney as a man--the warmth, puzzlement, dealing with an everyday world--being completelt believable--theer was no actor 'there'. |
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Martin, Meryl Streep and Anthony Hopkins are to of my favorite actors, Martin have a great Saturday. James news |
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I agree about Hopkins--though recently he has been doing the roles for the money not the challange (which is his right--he paid his dues) but Streep--let's agree to disagree. :O) |
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The movie has had mixed reactions here in the UK, mainly because The Iron lady is still alive and not in the best of health. She suffers from dementia and even her enemies from her political life feel it is painful to see her, or anyone suffering from dementia. So the feeling generally is that whilst it is a well made film, it really should not have been made whilst Mrs T is still alive. |
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Yes, the film revolves around her dementia--seeing/talking to her dead husband--and looking at her past--we weren't sure if she was still alive as they don't say anything at the end of the movie so I had to goodle it. I think people who go to see it will go to see Streep not Thatcher. |
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I have always liked Meryl. I easily get absorbed in her roles, and generally like her films. My favorite is "Out of Africa." But I'm not too pulled to see this film. I didn't care for Thatcher. |
I prefer Meryl Streep in comedic roles rather than serious drama. She's a good actress but I too feel the same as you do....I see "acting" rather than becoming the character.