Apr. 25, 2012

     I watched “The Iron Lady” last night and was mildly disappointed.  Nothing against Ms. Streep of course, she was, as always, brilliant.  Though at one time, while she was sitting alone on the House of Commons bench, I expected to see her head twisted around backwards.  Right actress, wrong movie!  It’s just that it seemed a bit disjointed.  I’m not a big fan of the flashback, especially when over used.  The descent into madness over the death of her husband could have been written about anyone and didn’t seem to fit with my own memories of the PM.  I would like to have seen more of her earlier carrier, her battles against the gender ceiling.  Also more historical background; what was going on in England and the world at the time.  Maybe that’s just my own interest in history coming out, but a lot of the current viewers weren’t around then and may not understand some of the things mentioned.  Those events mentioned were muddied by the constant returns to her wandering around in her house, slowly getting around to getting rid of her husband’s things and finally letting go of him. 

     Over all it was a good movie, brilliantly acted, but still not what I’d hoped for.  Maybe I was looking for a biography, not a great woman’s descent into madness over a great loss and her eventual recovery at the end.