Saturday, January 14, 2012

THE IRON LADY


84th Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Makeup

Drama

F.Y.I.
Margaret Hilda Thatcher (née Roberts) born 13 October 1925 served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990.

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Meryl Streep: Margaret Thatcher
Olivia Colman: her daughter Carol
Jim Broadbent: her husband Denis
Alexandra Roac: young Margaret in her ‘20’s
Harry Llyod: young Denis Thatcher
Anthony Head: Deputy Prime Minister Geoffrey Howe

REVIEW
The film takes place over a 24 hour period while former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is clearing out her husband's belongings. Her life unfolds through a series of flashbacks sometimes with actual period television footage. It’s a huge undertaking as it covers almost her entire life chronologically from when she was a teenager at the outbreak of WWII up to the year 2005. That’s a huge undertaking but the producers have wisely chosen not to dwell too long on any of the key events that took place during her career. To have done so would have resulted in a film three or four times longer than it is and who wants that?

Another good choice is to have Meryl Streep portray the Prime Minister. Streep's performance is nothing short of remarkable. She really nailed it this time, not only in the voice (and accent) but with the mannerisms and facial expressions. Streep holds the record for the most Academy Award nominations of any actor with sixteen. There is no doubt in my mind she will up that count by one.

Production values are top notch including costume design, set decoration, makeup (the best I’ve seen in years) and cinemaphotography all contributing to its elegant look.

CLASSIFICATION
for some violent images and brief nudity (nudity = one scene in which a topless lady is on screen for perhaps 1 second, maybe 2).

P.S.
She was nicknamed the Iron Lady in 1976 by Soviet media for her staunch opposition to communism.

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