The Iron Lady (Margaret Thatcher Biopic)

Handsome Bob

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/news/a302673/first-look-meryl-streep-as-margaret-thatcher.html

The resemblance is eerie. Not sure if I'll go to see this as there are few politicians that unsettle me more than Thatcher. I'm not sure if I could watch a film that will no doubt glorify her in some manner. But I shall wait for the trailer before making the decision.

FrDickByrne

I've just proven to myself what as Frankie Boyle once said "There is nothing I will not masterbate to on the internet."

missingtime

Meryl Streep is one of those actors that are an instant movie turn off form me.

Handsome Bob

missingtime wrote: »

Meryl Streep is one of those actors that are an instant movie turn off form me.

Agreed, though I did like her in Doubt and..........The River Wild. :pac:

bonerm

missingtime wrote: »

Meryl Streep is one of those actors that are an instant movie turn off form me.

Agreed. The lady's not for watching.

Busi_Girl08

Looks more like Bette Midler to me. :eek:

chin_grin

I saw this earlier and the expression on her face still makes me laugh. You can just hear the creaking of the bands that are pulling her scalp back.

Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

brianthebard

Doesn't look a thing like her its just the wig.

MagicMarker

Brought to you by the director of Mamma Mia!

I wonder if she'll break out in song?

chin_grin

MagicMarker wrote: »

Brought to you by the director of Mamma Mia!

I wonder if she'll break out in song?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K08akOt2kuo

nyarlothothep

doesn't look evil enough.

DrumSteve

while I despise thatcher the resemblence is uncanny.

JP Liz V1

Streep is by far the best actress around and an interesting choice for this role

Phony Scott

I always saw her as a thinker first and a human (maybe) tenth. This could be one cold hearted movie. If they could get the directing equivalent of Kubrick, the makers maybe on to something.

Did anyone see the tv movie on Thatcher called 'The Long Walk to Finchley,' which was about her early years? I don't know if it was any good, but it must have been decent, because it had a follow-up about her downfall years later simply known as 'Margaret'...

Also Magaret Thatcher was very particular in her enunciation, something I can't see Meryl Streep pulling off.

pickarooney

Phony Scott wrote: »

I always saw her as a thinker first and a human (maybe) tenth. This could be one cold hearted movie. If they could get the directing equivalent of Kubrick, the makers maybe on to something.

Did anyone see the tv movie on Thatcher called 'The Long Walk to Finchley,' which was about her early years? I don't know if it was any good, but it must have been decent, because it had a follow-up about her downfall years later simply known as 'Margaret'...

Also Magaret Thatcher was very particular in her enunciation, something I can't see Meryl Streep pulling off.

If there's one thing Streep is rated for it's her exceptional ear for voices. It will be interesting to see if she does Maggie's original Lincoln accent she took such pains to hide at any stage.

ReacherCreature

'Lol' at the Irish nationalist-film buffs out in force. I think this movie should be watched purely from a film point of view, not dragging Irish history in (which is important, don't get me wrong) and ruining what could be a good film.

n0irin

I'm impressed but somewhat unnerved by that picture. When is this supposed to be coming out? I'm not sure yet if it's something that I'd like to watch...

mike65

Why a Yank? Just for the American market? I'd have though someone like Helen Mirren would have been the obvious first choice.

ReacherCreature

mike65 wrote: »

Why a Yank? Just for the American market? I'd have though someone like Helen Mirren would have been the obvious first choice.

Interesting. I found her fascinating in The Queen but don't know if it'd be 'marketable' to use her in this. As people will think it's a trilogy or a Helen Mirren 'double'. I agree, it'd be an interesting addition.

irishh_bob

Phony Scott wrote: »

I always saw her as a thinker first and a human (maybe) tenth. This could be one cold hearted movie. If they could get the directing equivalent of Kubrick, the makers maybe on to something.

Did anyone see the tv movie on Thatcher called 'The Long Walk to Finchley,' which was about her early years? I don't know if it was any good, but it must have been decent, because it had a follow-up about her downfall years later simply known as 'Margaret'...

Also Magaret Thatcher was very particular in her enunciation, something I can't see Meryl Streep pulling off.

the young actress who played maggie in the long road to finchley was outstanding in the role , i cant see even streep , topping it

irishh_bob

mike65 wrote: »

Why a Yank? Just for the American market? I'd have though someone like Helen Mirren would have been the obvious first choice.

mirren is a trendy lefty , i doubt she would take on the role

mike65

She played Betty Windsor anyway proper actors don't let petty ideology get in the way of meaty role.

Lirange

Streep is a lefty too though maybe not as vocal as some. Also whilst she's greatly respected as an actress by most she's hardly an automatic box office draw in America either.

mike65 wrote: »

Why a Yank?

If she can pull off the role the best of all those up for the part then why not?

foxyboxer

The Daily Mail in the UK must going ape with pleasure.

Kalina

I think Meryl will do a great job with this role! Definitely will be worth checking out!

JP Liz V1

I bet Streep will secure another Oscar nomination for this

JP Liz V1

Teaser Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Im2UvBs_gfs

Da Shins Kelly

This is an 'Oscar movie' if I ever saw one.

Sad Professor

Yeah, this definitely screams Oscar bait, at least for Streep. But deservedly so if she pulls it off. From the director of Mamma Mia, which I haven't seen, so I'm not sure what to expect.

bnt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDiCFY2zsfc

This shows more of Jim Broadbent as Denis, Anthony Head as Geoffrey Howe, and Richard E Grant as Michael Heseltine. I can't see Thatcher's predecessor (Callaghan) or her successor (Major) in the cast of characters, which is weird.

I read a report that Meryl so wanted the part that she slashed her usual fee to $1M, and then donated it all to a women's museum charity in the USA i.e. she's making no money for doing this. She's not quite perfect as Thatcher, but definitely close enough to set my teeth on edge ... :eek:

Tipsy McSwagger

Looks like they are making her out to be some kind of hero which will only appeal to ignorant americans and the British upper middle class.

bnt

Tipsy McSwagger wrote: »

Looks like they are making her out to be some kind of hero which will only appeal to ignorant americans and the British upper middle class.

Not so sure about that - a heroine in her own mind, certainly, but the trailer doesn't seem to imply that everyone feels the same way. "Iron Lady" is not necessarily a compliment: Iron is hard and cold, so what happened to make her that way? Looks like the film will develop that side too.

But I can see how some folks in Ireland won't be happy with this. Compared to everything else going on, in the UK and globally, the Irish situation was a distraction. Don't expect any kind of detailed analysis of why the IRA tried to blow her up - they'll be portrayed as terrorists from her POV, no more. The politics have been hashed over many times and are beyond the scope of this forum.

Skinfull

A movie about her demise? Sure I'm in but one about her political rise and saving the British empire*? Ugh... no thanks!





*clearly I didn't watch the trailer and have no intention of going to this at all!

Flashgordon197

Just saw this and was quite disappointed. I know a drama cant be an accurate portrayal historically or go into much detail about historical events . But this film focused too much on her relationship with Dennis T. Lots of scenes with a dementia suffering Thatcher talking to Dennis-who is dead then cue flashback. I dont think this film "got" her

Carlin

I would like to see Mike Leigh or Ken Loach make one on her.

The Pontiac

Carlin wrote: »

I would like to see Mike Leigh or Ken Loach make one on her.

Me too.

bnt

Well, Boris Johnson liked it, despite a few niggles, and uses the opportunity to say a few words about Thatcher herself:

Yes, she is eventually felled by the men in grey suits, but by the end Streep has effectively reminded us of what Thatcher was really all about. It wasn’t just me-first, get-rich-quick, Devil-take-the-hindmost exaltation of the values of Essex Man. That was the caricature. Thatcher herself emerges from this film as a far more revolutionary and inspiring figure - because she was a woman. From the very beginning and at all the critical moments you can see that what really actuated Thatcher was a feminine impatience with the cosy, clubby, complacent politics of the post-war consensus - a consensus that was held overwhelmingly between men of a certain age and class. Of course she believed in thrift and hard work and rewards for merit - but a proper understanding of what Thatcher really stood for is vital today.

Flashgordon197

This is a film review thread but despite what Boris J said-inequality increased dramatically under Thatcher. If anybody can contradict me(with real facts) there is fifty euro waiting for you!

jonnyfingers

Went to see this last night. An absolutely mediocre film in my opinion. It crawls along, spending far too much time on something there is little hard evidence of (how Thatcher lives with dementia in recent times) and not enough time on her political career or formative years. Very little development of any characters other than Thatcher, in fact I struggle to remember the names of most of the supporting characters less than 24 hours after seeing it. I was extremely bored and even checked my watch a few times, something I haven't done in a long time.

Streep does play Thatcher very well but the script does not help her. To often she has to act like a demented old woman having conversations with her dead husband instead of playing Thatcher in her prime.

Not recommended at all, go see something else instead.

irishh_bob

Carlin wrote: »

I would like to see Mike Leigh or Ken Loach make one on her.

wetdream for the hard left

suzie987

I went to see the film and have to agree with the above two reviews.

Although I didn't find it quite as boring - I just cannot understand why the majority of the film is based on a woman in her 80's suffering with dementia?? It would have been a far better film if they just portrayed her life in chronological order up until she stepped down as prime minister and leave it at that, rather than through flashbacks.

Am no fan of Thatcher but I also think it was fairly disrespectful to portray her as an old demented woman who hallucinates her husband is still alive, especially if she actually has dementia.

irishh_bob

suzie987 wrote: »

I went to see the film and have to agree with the above two reviews.

Although I didn't find it quite as boring - I just cannot understand why the majority of the film is based on a woman in her 80's suffering with dementia?? It would have been a far better film if they just portrayed her life in chronological order up until she stepped down as prime minister and leave it at that, rather than through flashbacks.

Am no fan of Thatcher but I also think it was fairly disrespectful to portray her as an old demented woman who hallucinates her husband is still alive, especially if she actually has dementia.

i cant see how a film ( largley ) about thatcher suffering with dementia is anymore interesting than any woman anywhere in the world with dementia tbh , thatcher was interesting because of politics and politics only

Boulevardier

I took my folks to this the other night, with misgivings as I have always heartily loathed the lady being depicted.

Myrtle's acting was superb. As for the politics of it, that can be viewed from 2 directions: If this film is meant as a depiction of Thatcher's career, then it is objectionable propaganda. However, if it is intended as a depiction of how she herself sees (or saw) her own career, it makes more sense and need not be accused of flagrant bias.

That does not mean the picture that emerges is a balanced one. For one thing, the film completely omits her career as a scientist. On the political side, it misrepresents the difference betwen her and other tories, including Heath, and it also neglects to mention the big business money and well-funded think tanks which underpinned her rise to power.

(Sorry mod, didn't see older thread. Thanks for moving my post.)

irishh_bob

Boulevardier wrote: »

I took my folks to this the other night, with misgivings as I have always heartily loathed the lady being depicted.

Myrtle's acting was superb. As for the politics of it, that can be viewed from 2 directions: If this film is meant as a depiction of Thatcher's career, then it is objectionable propaganda. However, if it is intended as a depiction of how she herself sees (or saw) her own career, it makes more sense and need not be accused of flagrant bias.

That does not mean the picture that emerges is a balanced one. For one thing, the film completely omits her career as a scientist. On the political side, it misrepresents the difference betwen her and other tories, including Heath, and it also neglects to mention the big business money and well-funded think tanks which underpinned her rise to power.

(Sorry mod, didn't see older thread. Thanks for moving my post.)

big business money underpins most conservative parties rise to power , the producers might just have assumed everyone knew that already

Pride Fighter

Truly awful film. One of the worst I've ever seen. Goes to and fro too much, no coherent plot and does not deal with the main issues of her premiership.