The Iron Lady (2011)

In her dotage, Margaret Thatcher (Meryl Streep) recalls her illustrious and often volatile years as England's first female Prime Minister. Okay, let's cut to the chase. Streep is superb, sheer perfection. She is the reason to see the film and even if she gets the Oscar, she damn well deserves it. As to the film itself, it's average at best. When the film is over, we still don't know anything about Margaret Thatcher, not really, she remains an enigma. The film attempts to cram too much information about her career with very little about the woman. There's precious little time expended on the young Thatcher (Alexandra Roach). We're told why she wants to enter a life of public service but we're not shown, we're not privy to it. The film is framed with an annoying device of the elderly Thatcher talking to her deceased husband (Jim Broadbent, who's a bit much) and splattered through out the film between scenes of Thatcher's climb to the 10 Downing Street and her fall. Directed by Phyllida Lloyd (MAMMA MIA) who doesn't do too badly with her daunting subject. The film takes no stance on Thatcher. It doesn't glorify her yet neither does it demonize her. It pretty much leaves it up to us to make up our minds. With Richard E. Grant, Harry Lloyd, Anthony Head and John Sessions.