The movie follows the story of Margaret Thatcher, former British Prime Minister. Margaret falls on a bad path in her life when she decides to think about her life and career and get rid of the belongings of her late husband, Dennis. One day, the Prime Minister faces a harsh experience as she reflects on her past and her transition from an ordinary girl to the Prime Minister of Britain.
...ignores the political and historical context of almost EVERYTHING that happens so that they can make the fabulously reductive statement that LIFE WAS TOUGH FOR GIRLS, BUT SHE WAS A TOUGH GIRL.
While it's the filmmaker's right to sympathise with this furiously divisive and much reviled figure in British politics, the uncritical approach severely undermines the film's conviction.
Streep's performance is so true and so uncannily accurate, so full and so complete in its understanding, that she is fascinating every second she is onscreen.
The narrative is not well structured, and Streep's performance suffers as a result.... The scenes with Broadbent are the best. They just aren't worth sitting through a history lesson that isn't taught well.
So, as thrilling as it is to watch Streep imitate Thatcher, The Iron Lady feels like a missed opportunity, not to blame and cast aspersions, but to weigh and assess.
What keeps The Iron Lady afloat is the mesmerizing work of its star. As we already know, Streep goes beyond mimicry to fully inhabit her characters, from The French Lieutenant's Woman to Julia Child.
