A lot has already been said about the performance of Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady and the only thing I can add is to say it is one of the most stirring performances I have seen in a film.
It can't be easy to portray such a famous, real life, person but Streep is simply stunning as former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, dubbed the Iron Lady because of her tough approach to tackling the man's game of politics.
Given that during Thatcher's 11 years as PM I was between the ages of 4 and 15, or thereabouts, I don't have an intimate personal understanding of how the world saw her. So other than knowing who she is - first female PM, etc - I didn't have any strong feeling either way about her.
However, I am aware that she was a leader that polarised people. You either loved her or hated her.
I think this may have helped because it is one of the finest films I have seen in a number of years.
But it isn't an easy ride. Thatcher is presented at the beginning as an aging, possibly dementia-ridden, powerless woman and it is quite sad, knowing who she is, to watch her struggle.
It is as the elderly Thatcher that Streep will just knock you out. While as a younger woman it is obvious that it is Streep playing the role but there are times when you have to double take looking at the elder version. And she nails her voice.
Her story, her rise to power in the UK, is told in flashbacks. And she is always accompanied by her late husband Denis (Jim Broadbent) who she hasn't been able to let go of emotionally.
While the film wasn't perfect I think that Streep's presence and portrayal really make you see past any flaw it may have. Really, though, the only thing I felt was missing was that bit at the end of the film, when the movie is about a real person, that tells you a bit of real life context.
I know there may have been some great performances in the lead up to the Oscars but, really, if Meryl Streep doesn't win best actress then the Academy is a joke.
She embodied everything in a 'best actress' turn - she consumed the role, she commanded your attention and she made you feel something (whether positive or negative) about the character. And she was flawless.
Bravo, Meryl. A 9 out of 10.
It can't be easy to portray such a famous, real life, person but Streep is simply stunning as former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, dubbed the Iron Lady because of her tough approach to tackling the man's game of politics.
Given that during Thatcher's 11 years as PM I was between the ages of 4 and 15, or thereabouts, I don't have an intimate personal understanding of how the world saw her. So other than knowing who she is - first female PM, etc - I didn't have any strong feeling either way about her.
However, I am aware that she was a leader that polarised people. You either loved her or hated her.
I think this may have helped because it is one of the finest films I have seen in a number of years.
But it isn't an easy ride. Thatcher is presented at the beginning as an aging, possibly dementia-ridden, powerless woman and it is quite sad, knowing who she is, to watch her struggle.
It is as the elderly Thatcher that Streep will just knock you out. While as a younger woman it is obvious that it is Streep playing the role but there are times when you have to double take looking at the elder version. And she nails her voice.
Her story, her rise to power in the UK, is told in flashbacks. And she is always accompanied by her late husband Denis (Jim Broadbent) who she hasn't been able to let go of emotionally.
While the film wasn't perfect I think that Streep's presence and portrayal really make you see past any flaw it may have. Really, though, the only thing I felt was missing was that bit at the end of the film, when the movie is about a real person, that tells you a bit of real life context.
I know there may have been some great performances in the lead up to the Oscars but, really, if Meryl Streep doesn't win best actress then the Academy is a joke.
She embodied everything in a 'best actress' turn - she consumed the role, she commanded your attention and she made you feel something (whether positive or negative) about the character. And she was flawless.
Bravo, Meryl. A 9 out of 10.
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