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The Iron Lady (film)

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The Iron Lady
US Theatrical film poster
Directed byPhyllida Lloyd
Written byAbi Morgan
Produced by
Starring
Music byThomas Newman[3]
Production
companies
Distributed byThe Weinstein Company (US)
20th Century Fox (UK)
Pathé (International)
Release dates
  • 26 December 2011 (2011-12-26) (Australia)
  • 6 January 2012 (2012-01-06) (United Kingdom)
  • 30 January 2012 (2012-01-30) (United States)
  • 15 February 2012 (2012-02-15) (France)
[1][2]
Running time
105 min
CountriesTemplate:Film UK
Template:Film France
LanguageEnglish
Budget$13 million
Box office$88,978,695 [1]

The Iron Lady is a 2011 British biographical film based on the life of Margaret Thatcher, the longest serving Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of the 20th century.[4] The film was directed by Phyllida Lloyd. Thatcher is portrayed primarily by Meryl Streep,[5] but also, in her formative and early political years, by Alexandra Roach. Thatcher's husband, Denis Thatcher, is portrayed by Jim Broadbent, and Thatcher's longest-serving cabinet member and eventual deputy, Geoffrey Howe, is portrayed by Anthony Head.[6]

The film met with mixed reviews, although Meryl Streep's performance was widely acclaimed, earning Best Actress awards at the Golden Globes, the BAFTAs and the Academy Awards.

Plot

The film begins circa 2008 (opening against the backdrop of news of the Islamabad Marriott Hotel bombing) with an elderly Lady Thatcher buying milk unrecognized by other customers and walking back from the shop alone. Over the course of three days we see her struggle with dementia and with the lack of power that comes with old age, whilst looking back on defining moments of her personal and professional life, on which she reminisces with her (dead) husband, Denis. She is shown as having difficulty distinguishing between the past and present. A theme throughout the film is the personal price which Thatcher has paid for power. Denis is portrayed as somewhat ambivalent about his wife's rise to power, her son Mark lives in South Africa in the present day and is shown as having little contact with his mother, whilst it is suggested that Thatcher had a strained relationship both with her own mother and with her daughter Carol.

In flashback we are shown Thatcher's youth working in her father's grocery store in Grantham, listening to his political speeches as Alderman and announcing that she has won a place at Oxford University. Her struggle as a lower middle-class young woman trying to break into the male-dominated Tory party and find a seat in the House of Commons is then depicted, along with businessman Denis Thatcher's marriage proposal to her. Her struggle to fit in as a "Lady Member" of the House, and of Edward Heath's cabinet are also shown, as is her friendship with Airey Neave (later assassinated by the Irish National Liberation Army), her decision to stand for Leader of the Conservative Party, and her voice coaching and image change.

Further flashbacks examine historical events during her time as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom including the rising unemployment due to her monetarist policies and the tight 1981 budget (over the misgivings of "wet" members of her Cabinet – Ian Gilmour, Francis Pym, Michael Heseltine and Jim Prior), the Brixton Riots of 1981, the miners' strike of 1984–5, and the bombing of the Grand Hotel during the 1984 Conservative Party Conference, at which she and Denis were almost killed. We also see (slightly out of chronological sequence) her decision to retake the Falkland Islands following their invasion in 1982, the sinking of the ARA General Belgrano and subsequent victory in the Falklands War, her friendship with Ronald Reagan and emergence as a world figure, and the economic boom of the late 1980s.

By 1990 Thatcher is shown as an imperious but aging figure, ranting aggressively at her Cabinet, refusing to accept that the Community Charge (the "Poll Tax") is regarded as unjust, and fiercely opposed to European Integration. Her deputy Geoffrey Howe resigns after being humiliated by her in a Cabinet meeting, Michael Heseltine challenges her for the party leadership and her Cabinet colleagues force her resignation as Prime Minister, about which she is still angry and bitter twenty years later.

Eventually, Margaret is shown finally packing up her late husband's belongings, and telling him it's his time to go. Denis finally leaves her (without his shoes), and having dealt with her grief properly, she is left alone washing up a teacup in her kitchen – something she had promised Denis she would never do.

Selected cast

Production

Filming began in the UK on 31 December 2010, and the film was released in late 2011.

In preparation for her role, Streep sat through a session at the House of Commons in January 2011 to observe British MPs in action.[10] Extensive filming took place at the neogothic Manchester Town Hall, which is often used as a location double for films which feature the Houses of Parliament because of its architectural similarity.[11]

Meryl Streep has said: "The prospect of exploring the swathe cut through history by this remarkable woman is a daunting and exciting challenge. I am trying to approach the role with as much zeal, fervour and attention to detail as the real Lady Thatcher possesses – I can only hope my stamina will begin to approach her own."[12]

File:Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher (2011).jpg
Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher

Reception

The Iron Lady received generally mixed to positive reviews.

The film's depiction of Thatcher has been criticized by her children, Mark and Carol Thatcher, who are reported to have said, "It sounds like some left-wing fantasy."[13] Karen Sue Smith of America Magazine has cautioned that it is not historically accurate.[14] Stuart Jeffries of the British newspaper The Guardian was cautiously optimistic about a non-British actor playing Thatcher, but expressed concern that its "narrative trajectory" could overlook "rage about what Thatcher, economy destroyer and warmonger, was doing to Britain" in favour of an "exclusive focus on Thatcher as a woman triumphing against the odds."[7]

The Mail on Sunday reported in August 2011 that some viewers invited to a test screening of the unfinished film were concerned at the film’s depiction of Margaret Thatcher’s frail health in recent years.[15] This view was also shared in the media subsequent to the film's release. The Daily Telegraph reported in January 2012 that "it is impossible not to be disturbed by her depiction of Lady Thatcher’s decline into dementia" as part of an article that was headlined: "The Iron Lady reflects society’s insensitive attitude towards people with dementia."[16] Roger Ebert gave the film two stars out of four, praising Streep's performance but lamenting that "she's all dressed up with nowhere to go" in a film that cannot decide what it wants to say about Thatcher; "[f]ew people were neutral in their feelings about [Thatcher], except the makers of this picture".[17]

Early reviews have praised Streep's portrayal.[18] The Times Kevin Maher said: "Streep has found the woman within the caricature."[18] David Gritten at The Telegraph commented; "Awards should be coming Streep's way; yet her brilliance rather overshadows the film itself."[19] Xan Brooks of The Guardian said Streep's performance "is astonishing and all but flawless".[20] Critic Baz Bamigboye of the Daily Mail wrote: "Only an actress of Streep's stature could possibly capture Thatcher's essence and bring it to the screen. It's a performance of towering proportions that sets a new benchmark for acting."[21] Richard Corliss of Time named Meryl Streep's performance one of the Top 10 Movie Performances of 2011.[22]

On Rotten Tomatoes the film currently holds a "rotten" rating of 53% based on 189 reviews, with an average rating of 5.8/10.[23] Metacritic gives the film a score of 54 based on 41 reviews by critics.[24]

Film review blog Movie Metropolis praised Streep's performance but criticized the lack of depth given to the rest of the story, which seemed to only focus on the glory days of Thatcher's reign.[25]

For her performance, Streep won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama, the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, and the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.[26][27] The film also won the Academy Award for Best Makeup.

Soundtrack

  1. Soldiers of the Queen
  2. MT
  3. Grocer's Daughter
  4. Grand Hotel
  5. Swing Parliament
  6. Shall We Dance?
  7. Denis
  8. The Great in Great Britain
  9. Airey Neave
  10. Discord and Harmony
  11. The Twins
  12. Nation of Shopkeepers
  13. Fiscal Responsibiility
  14. Crisis of Confidence
  15. Community Charge
  16. Casta Diva
  17. The Difficult Decisions
  18. Exclusion Zone
  19. Statecraft
  20. Steady the Buffs
  21. Prelude No. 1 in C Major, BWV 846 (J.S. Bach)

The trailer for the film features Madness' ska/pop song "Our House".[28] The teaser trailer features Clint Mansell's theme tune for the sci-fi movie Moon.[28]

Awards and nominations

Awards and Nominations
Award Category Nominee Result
84th Academy Awards Best Actress Meryl Streep Won
Best Makeup Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland Won
Australian Film Institute Awards Best International Actress Meryl Streep Won
BAFTA Awards Best Leading Actress Meryl Streep Won
Best Makeup Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland Won
Best Original Screenplay Abi Morgan Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Jim Broadbent Nominated
Boston Society of Film Critics Best Actress Meryl Streep Nominated
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards Best Actress Meryl Streep Nominated
Best Make-up Marese Langan Nominated
Central Ohio Film Critics Association Best Actress Meryl Streep Nominated
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards Best Actress Meryl Streep Nominated
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards Best Actress Meryl Streep Nominated
Denver Film Critics Society Best Actress Meryl Streep Won
Golden Globe Awards Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama Meryl Streep Won
Irish Film and Television Awards Best International Actress Meryl Streep Nominated
Best Costume Design Consolata Boyle Won
London Critics Circle Film Awards Best Actress Meryl Streep Won
British Actress of the Year Olivia Colman Won
National Society of Film Critics Awards Best Actress Meryl Streep Nominated
2011 New York Film Critics Circle Awards Best Actress Meryl Streep Won
New York Film Critics Online Awards 2011 Best Actress Meryl Streep Won
Online Film Critics Society Awards Best Actress Meryl Streep Nominated
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards Best Actress Meryl Streep Nominated
Satellite Awards Best Actress Meryl Streep Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Female Actor in a Leading Role Meryl Streep Nominated
Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards Best Actress Meryl Streep Won
Toronto Film Critics Association Awards Best Actress Meryl Streep Nominated
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Best Actress Meryl Streep Nominated

References

  1. ^ a b "The Iron Lady". Box Office Mojo. 22 January 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  2. ^ Bamigboye, Baz (22 April 2011). "Meet Meryl, the queen of the blues as new pictures reveal her latest role as The Iron Lady". Daily Mail. UK. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  3. ^ "Thomas Newman to Score 'The Iron Lady'". Film Music Reporter. 23 September 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  4. ^ Hoyle, Ben (21 March 2007). "Iron Lady set to follow the Queen on screen". The Times. UK. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  5. ^ Peck, Tom (2 July 2010). "Meryl Streep takes on her toughest role: the Iron Lady". The Independent. UK. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  6. ^ "The Iron Lady (2011)". IMDb. 19 October 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  7. ^ a b Jefferies, Stuart (9 February 2011). "Meryl Streep playing Margaret Thatcher – what's not to like?". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
  8. ^ Thompson, Jody (18 February 2011). "First look: Newcomer Alexandra Roach who's set to become a star as a young Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady". Daily Mail. UK. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  9. ^ Palmer, Martyn (29 November 2011). "An American playing Margaret Thatcher? Behind the scenes on the remarkable film starring Meryl Streep as The Iron Lady". Daily Mail. UK. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  10. ^ "Meryl Streep attends parliament for Thatcher research". The Independent. UK. 20 January 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  11. ^ McQueeney, Kerry (5 December 2011). "The day Meryl Streep gate-crashed our wedding: Moment Hollywood legend made an appearance at couple's special day... dressed as Margaret Thatcher". Daily Mail. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  12. ^ "Image of Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher unveiled". BBC News. 8 February 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
  13. ^ Walker, Tim (17 July 2010). "Margaret Thatcher's family are 'appalled' at Meryl Streep film". The Daily Telegraph. UK. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  14. ^ Karen Sue, Smith (20 February 2011). "A Grocer's Daughter". America Magazine. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
  15. ^ Walters, Simon (21 August 2011). "Friends revulsion at film that portrays Lady Thatcher as 'granny going mad'". The Mail on Sunday. Associated Newspapers. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  16. ^ "The Iron Lady and Margaret Thatcher's dementia: Why this despicable film makes voyeurs of us all'". The Daily Telegraph. UK. 14 January 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  17. ^ The Iron Lady rogerebert.com. Retrieved 8 February 2012
  18. ^ a b Meryl Streep film The Iron Lady wows British critics BBC. Retrieved 16 November 2011
  19. ^ The Iron Lady: review The Telegraph. Retrieved 16 November 2011
  20. ^ The Iron Lady: first screening The Guardian. Retrieved 16 November 2011
  21. ^ An insult? No, this shows why Maggie was so mighty Daily Mail. Retrieved 16 November 2011
  22. ^ Corliss, Richard (7 December 2011). "The Top 10 Everything of 2011 – Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady". Time. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  23. ^ "The Iron Lady (2011)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  24. ^ "The Iron Lady". Metacritic. 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  25. ^ "Review: The Iron Lady (2011)". Movie Metropolis. January 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  26. ^ "Meryl Streep Explains Globes Cursing". Access Hollywood. 16 January 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  27. ^ BAFTA winners announced
  28. ^ a b The Iron Lady Movie official homepage

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