The Iron Lady

As I've mentioned in other reviews, biopics are often films you can bank on to have a high-quality caliber about them. Films such as "The Queen"," J. Edgar", "Moneyball", "The King's Speech", "The Untouchables", "Patton", "My Week with Marilyn" all come to mind. It would be difficult to mention all these incredible films without mentioning "The Iron Lady".

This tells the story of a remarkable woman, Margaret Thatcher (Meryl Streep) who bulldozed through the barriers of gender and class to be heard in a male-dominated world by becoming England's Prime Minister for an eleven and a half year stint basically in the 80's. The story concerns power and the price that is paid for power, a surprising and insightful portrait of an extraordinary and complex woman, and even when it's been years of her husband's, Denis (Jim Broadbent) death, she still hallucinates him still being there in the house which perplexes her visiting daughter, Carol (Olivia Colman).

Others to round out the cast are Alexandra Roach as young Margaret Thatcher, Harry Lloyd as young Denis Thatcher, Nicholas Farrell as Airey Neave, her campaign manager, Anthony Head as Geoffrey Howe, John Sessions as Edward Heath, Richard E. Grant as Michael Heseltine, Angus Wright as John Nott, Michael Pennington as Michael Foot, and Julian Wadham as Francis Pym.

This was exquisitely directed by fair newcomer Phyllida Lloyd ("Gloriana" (TV movie) '2000, "Mama Mia!" '08, "Macbeth" '11), and I guarantee, she will be given future work. It was equally well written by Abi Morgan ("Murder" (TV movie) '02, "Sex Traffic" (TV movie) '04, "Tsunami: The Aftermath" (TV movie)'06, "Brick Lane" '07, "Royal Wedding" (TV movie) '10, "Shame" '11) in that as the script went from past to present and back again, it was done with such fluidity that the cohesiveness of the film was right on the money.

Streep will undoubtedly be nominated for an Oscar as well will the make-up designer, Marese Langan. Whereas Langan made her look the part, clearly Streep became the part because of her consummate acting ability. You've got to see this incredible film, because whether or not one agrees with Thatcher's politics, Streep's performance is certainly worth the price of admission.

Out of 4 stars: 4                      Rated: PG-13                      105min.