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The Iron Lady (film)

British biographical drama film

The Iron Lady is a biographicaldrama film based on the life and career of Margaret Thatcher, a British politician who was the longest-serving Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of the 20th century and the first woman to hold the office.[5] The film was directed by Phyllida Lloyd and written by Abi Morgan.

Thatcher is portrayed primarily by Meryl Streep,[6] and, in her formative and early political years, by Alexandra Roach. Thatcher's husband, Denis Thatcher, is portrayed by Jim Broadbent and by Harry Lloyd as the younger Denis. Thatcher's longest-serving cabinet member and eventual deputy, Geoffrey Howe, is portrayed by Anthony Head.[7]

Despite the film's mixed reception, Streep's performance was widely acclaimed.

She received her 17th Oscar nomination for her portrayal and ultimately won the award for the third time—29 years after her second Oscar win. She also earned her third Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama award (her eighth Golden Globe Award win overall) and her second BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.

The film also won the Academy Award for Best Makeup and the BAFTA Award for Best Makeup and Hair.

The film was loosely based on John Campbell's biography The Iron Lady: Margaret Thatcher, from Grocer's Daughter to Prime Minister.[8]

Plot

The story begins with Thatcher in the present experiencing dementia and seeing her deceased husband Denis with her as a ghost.

In a series of flashbacks, the audience is presented with a young Margaret Roberts working at the family grocer's shop in Grantham, listening to the political speeches of her father, whom she idolised&#;&#; it is also hinted that she had a poor relationship with her mother, a housewife.

We learn she has won a place at Somerville College, Oxford University, revealing that her interests toward Politics rather than Chemistry and her struggle as a young lower-middle-class woman attempting to break into a snobbish male-dominated Conservative Party and find a seat in the House of Commons.

She meets affluent businessman Denis Thatcher who is impressed by her eloquence and asks her to marry him; she accepts, but only after telling him she will not be satisfied to look beautiful at his side and be a mere housewife and mother: "I don't want to die cleaning a teacup."

Her struggles to fit in as a "Lady Member" of the House and as Education Secretary in Edward Heath's Cabinet are also shown, as are her friendship with Airey Neave, her decision to stand for Leader of the Conservative Party, her eventual victory, including her voice coaching and image change.

Further flashbacks examine historical events during her time as Prime Minister, after winning the General Election, including the rising unemployment related to her monetarist policies and the tight budget (over the misgivings of "wet" members of her Cabinet – Ian Gilmour, Francis Pym, Michael Heseltine, and Jim Prior), the Brixton riot, the – UK miners' strike, and the bombing in Brighton of the Grand Hotel during the Conservative Party Conference, when she and her husband were almost killed.

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    • Also shown, slightly out of chronological sequence, is her decision to retake the Falkland Islands following the invasion by Argentina in , the sinking of the ARA General Belgrano and Britain's subsequent victory, her friendship with U.S. PresidentRonald Reagan aiding her emergence as a world figure, and the economic boom of the late s.

    By , Thatcher is shown as an imperious but ageing figure, ranting aggressively at her cabinet, refusing to accept that the "Poll Tax" is unjust, even while it is causing riots, and fiercely opposed to European integration.[a] Her deputy, Geoffrey Howe, resigns after she humiliates him in a cabinet meeting. Heseltine challenges her for the party leadership, and her loss of support from her cabinet colleagues forces her to resign as Prime Minister after eleven years in office.

    A teary-eyed Thatcher exits 10 Downing Street for the last time as Prime Minister with Denis comforting her. She is shown as still disheartened about it almost twenty years later.

    Eventually, Thatcher is shown packing her late husband's belongings and telling him it's time for him to go. Denis' ghost leaves her as she cries that she is not yet ready to lose him, to which he replies, "You're going to be fine on your own you always have been", before leaving forever.

    Having finally overcome her grief, she contentedly washes a teacup alone in her kitchen.

    Cast

    Production

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

    In preparation for her role, Streep sat through a session at the House of Commons of Parliament in January to observe British MPs in action.[10] Extensive filming took place at the neogothicManchester Town Hall.[11]

    Streep 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]

    NPR commentator Robert Seigel and Thatcher biographer John Campbell accused writer Abi Morgan and star Meryl Streep of using their influence to dictate some historical inaccuracies, such as showing no other women serving in the House of Commons during Thatcher's time,[8] hoping to present a more sympathetic image of Thatcher to the film's American audience.[8]

    Release

    Historical inaccuracies

    It is suggested in the film that Thatcher had said goodbye to her friend Airey Neave only a few moments before his assassination by the Irish National Liberation Army and had to be held back from the scene by security officers.

    In fact, she was not in Westminster at the time of his death and was informed of it while carrying out official duties elsewhere.[13]

    The film does not portray any other female Members of Parliament. In fact, during Thatcher's time in Parliament, the total number of female MPs ranged between 19 and [14] Her cabinets are depicted as all-male, but The Baroness Young was a cabinet member between and , serving as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and later Lord Privy Seal while also serving as leader of the House of Lords.

    The Labour PartyleaderMichael Foot is depicted as criticising the decision to send a task force to the Falkland Islands, and Thatcher is shown admonishing him in the wake of Britain's victory over Argentina. In fact, Foot supported the decision to send a task force, something for which Thatcher expressed her appreciation.[15] John Campbell noted that her decisions in office became an inspiration for the Labour Party's pro-middle ground policies enacted when Tony Blair served as Prime Minister.[8]

    Campbell also noted that while Thatcher thought a patronising male environment dominated the House of Commons,[8] which the film showed as eliciting the upper-middle-class image she affected early in her political career,[8] the real political environment did not demand this image, and Thatcher did in fact proclaim her ordinary upbringing by a grocer in a small Lincolnshire town when she was running for leader of the Conservative Party.[8]

    Critical reception

    The Iron Lady received mixed reviews from critics, although there was strong praise for Streep's performance.

    On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 52% and an average score of /10, based on reviews. The site's consensus reads: "Meryl Streep's performance as The Iron Lady is reliably perfect, but it's mired in bland, self-important storytelling."[16] At Metacritic, the film has a score of 54 out of , based on 41 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[17] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.[18]

    Her children, Mark and Carol, have criticised the film's depiction of Thatcher and reportedly said before the completion of the film that "it sounds like some left-wing fantasy."[19] Stuart Jeffries of the British newspaper The Guardian was cautiously optimistic about a non-British actor playing Thatcher.[9] Karen Sue Smith of America wrote that "by combining the Baroness's real roles of wife, mother and leader, the film's portrait of her does what many purported 'lives of great men' fail to do – namely, show the person in context, in the quotidian."[20]

    The Daily Telegraph reported in January that "it is impossible not to be disturbed by [Streep's] 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."[21]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: "Few people were neutral in their feelings about her, except the makers of this picture."[22]Mark Kermode gave the film a negative review.[23]

    Despite the film's mixed reviews, Streep's title role performance garnered critical acclaim.

    Kevin Maher of The Times said: "Streep has found the woman within the caricature."[24] David Gritten in The Daily Telegraph commented: "Awards should be coming Streep's way; yet her brilliance rather overshadows the film itself."[25] Xan Brooks of The Guardian said Streep's performance "is astonishing and all but flawless".[26]Richard Corliss of Time named Streep's performance one of the Top 10 Movie Performances of [27]

    Streep's portrayal ultimately won her the Academy Award for Best Actress (her 17th nomination and third award overall), as well as several other awards, including the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama.[28][29] The film also won the Academy Award for Best Makeup.

    Reactions from British politicians

    In an interview with the BBC, then Prime Minister David Cameron described Streep's performance as "great" and "fantastic" but opined that the filmmakers should have waited before making the movie and focused more on Thatcher's time in office rather than her personal life and struggles with dementia.[30][31][32] Former Conservative Party chairman Norman Fowler was more critical of the film and stated "She [Thatcher] was never, in my experience, the half-hysterical, over-emotional, over-acting woman portrayed by Meryl Streep."[30] Thatcher's Home secretary Douglas Hurd described the dementia storyline as "ghoulish" in an interview with the Evening Standard.[30]

    Thatcher stated before her death on 8 April that she did not watch films or programmes about herself.[33]

    Box office

    The film grossed $30&#;million in the North American market, and $85&#;million in other markets, for a worldwide gross of $&#;million.[4]

    Soundtrack

    Main article: The Iron Lady (soundtrack)

    The trailer for the film features Madness's ska/pop song "Our House".[35] The teaser trailer features Clint Mansell's theme tune for the science-fiction film Moon.[35]

    Not included on the soundtrack album or listings, although credited among the eight songs at the end of the film, is "I'm in Love with Margaret Thatcher" by Burnley punk band Notsensibles, which was re-released as a single due to the publicity.

    The song appears seventy-five minutes into the film as part of the Falklands War victory celebrations.

    Accolades

    Home media

    The Iron Lady was released on DVD in the United States and the United Kingdom on 30 April The special features in the DVD include Making The Iron Lady, Bonus Featurettes, Recreating the Young Margaret Thatcher, Battle in the House of Commons, Costume Design: Pearls and Power Suits, Denis: The Man Behind the Woman.[40]

    See also

    Notes

    1. ^She refers anachronistically to the European Community (as it was then called) as the "European Union", its new name under the Maastricht Treaty, which became widely used by the end of the s.

      See History of the European Union.

    References

    1. ^"Thomas Newman to Score 'The Iron Lady'". Film Music Reporter. 23 September Retrieved 25 September
    2. ^"The Iron Lady (12A)".

      Margaret thatcher biography 2013 oscar After completing her training, Thatcher qualified as a barrister, a type of lawyer, in To have given women and girls around the world reason to supplant fantasies of being princesses with a different dream: the real-life option of leading their nation; this was groundbreaking and admirable. Best Makeup. London Critics Circle Film Awards.

      British Board of Film Classification. 16 November Retrieved 12 April

    3. ^"The Iron Lady () - Financial Information". The Numbers.
    4. ^ ab"The Iron Lady ()". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 16 September
    5. ^Hoyle, Ben (21 March ).

      "Iron Lady Set to Follow the Queen on Screen". The Times. Archived from the original on 25 March Retrieved 25 January

    6. ^Peck, Tom (2 July ). "Meryl Streep Takes on Her Toughest Role: The Iron Lady".

      Margaret thatcher biography first: Box Office Mojo. She and her husband welcomed twins Carol and Mark the next year. External links [ edit ]. Retrieved 17 May

      The Independent. Archived from the original on 18 June Retrieved 25 January

    7. ^"The Iron Lady ()". IMDb. 19 October Retrieved 25 January
    8. ^ abcdefg"How Accurate Is 'The Iron Lady'?".

      . NPR. Retrieved 9 September

    9. ^ abJefferies, Stuart (9 February ). "Meryl Streep Playing Margaret Thatcher – What's Not to Like?".

      Margaret thatcher chemist The Iron Lady is a biographical drama film based on the life and career of Margaret Thatcher , a British politician who was the longest-serving Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of the 20th century and the first woman to hold the office. One of her staunchest allies was U. Chicago Film Critics Association Awards. Later, she worked as a research chemist in Dartford.

      The Guardian. Retrieved 9 February

    10. ^"Meryl Streep Attends Parliament for Thatcher Research". The Independent. 20 January Archived from the original on 18 June Retrieved 26 October
    11. ^"Meryl Streep movie Iron Lady to be screened in Manchester town hall".

      men. 9 December Retrieved 17 May

    12. ^"Image of Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher Unveiled". BBC News. 8 February Retrieved 8 February
    13. ^"'The Iron Lady': What Meryl Streep and Co. Got Wrong About Margaret Thatcher".

      Margaret thatcher wikipedia The film does not portray any other female Members of Parliament. The Daily Telegraph. Margaret's health began to decline in the early s. See History of the European Union.

      Yahoo!. 8 April Retrieved 9 September

    14. ^"Women MPs and parliamentary candidates since – UK Political Info". . Retrieved 9 September
    15. ^Moore, Charles. Margaret Thatcher, The Authorized Biography, Volume One: Not for Turning. (Allen Lane, ), pp. and
    16. ^"The Iron Lady".

      Margaret thatcher children Inside Movies blog of Entertainment Weekly. Also shown, slightly out of chronological sequence, is her decision to retake the Falkland Islands following the invasion by Argentina in , the sinking of the ARA General Belgrano and Britain's subsequent victory, her friendship with U. When the Labour Party assumed control of the government, she became a member of what is called the Shadow Cabinet, a group of political leaders who would hold Cabinet-level posts if their party was in power. Washington D.

      Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved 17 May

    17. ^"The Iron Lady Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 8 March
    18. ^Weinstein, Joshua (15 January ). "Indie Box Office: 'The Iron Lady' Seizes $M". Reuters. Retrieved 21 January
    19. ^Walker, Tim (17 July ). "Margaret Thatcher's Family Are 'Appalled' at Meryl Streep Film".

      The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 19 July Retrieved 25 January

    20. ^Karen Sue, Smith (20 February ). "A Grocer's Daughter". America. Retrieved 11 February
    21. ^"The Iron Lady and Margaret Thatcher's Dementia: Why This Despicable Film Makes Voyeurs of Us All'". The Daily Telegraph.

    22. Why did margaret thatcher resign
    23. Margaret thatcher legacy
    24. Margaret thatcher sister
    25. Margaret thatcher son
    26. Margaret thatcher net worth

      27. 14 January Retrieved 19 January

    27. ^Ebert, Roger (11 January ). "Meryl Streep upstages Lady Thatcher". . Retrieved 13 March
    28. ^"The Iron Lady reviewed by Mark Kermode". YouTube. 10 January Archived from the original on 11 January Retrieved 10 January
    29. ^"Meryl Streep Film The Iron Lady Wows British Critics".

      BBC News. Retrieved 16 November

    30. ^"The Iron Lady: Review". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 November
    31. ^"The Iron Lady: First Screening". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 November
    32. ^Corliss, Richard (7 December ). "The Top 10 Everything of – Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady".

      Time. Archived from the original on 7 January Retrieved 13 December

    33. ^"Meryl Streep Explains Globes Cursing". Access Hollywood. 16 January Retrieved 21 January
    34. ^Karger, Dave (12 February ). "BAFTA Winners Announced". Inside Movies (blog of Entertainment Weekly).

      Retrieved 11 April

    35. ^ abc""The Iron Lady" criticized by British leaders". CBS News. 6 January
    36. ^"David Cameron: 'I wish 'The Iron Lady' hadn't been made yet'". NME. 7 January
    37. ^"British Prime Minister David Cameron criticizes 'Iron Lady'".

      6 January

    38. ^"The Iron Lady: Baroness Thatcher will not see film of her life". 15 November Retrieved 17 May &#; via
    39. ^"Iron Lady, The- Soundtrack details". . Retrieved 9 September
    40. ^ ab"The Iron Lady Movie Trailer".

      29 June Archived from the original on 17 October Retrieved 9 September

    41. ^"Oscar winners – The Full List". The Guardian. 27 February Retrieved 27 March
    42. ^"Nominees and Winners for the 84th Academy Awards". Academy Awards of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscars).

      Retrieved 27 March

    43. ^"Bafta Film Awards Nominations". BBC News. 27 March Retrieved 17 January
    44. ^Pond, Steve (12 February ). "'The Artist' Dominates at BAFTA Awards". Reuters. Retrieved 27 March
    45. ^"Iron Lady DVD Movie". .

      Retrieved 9 September

    External links