Meryl Streep is astounding in this role. This is not only a piece of superb technical mimicry but she goes beyond mere impersonation to fully take on the character of Thatcher, right to the ends of the blow-dried bouffant. As a Thatcher in power, the voice (and not an easy one to get right) was pitch-perfect. This performance will deservedly reap all the gongs this awards season.
However, this is where my enjoyment ends. My main problem is that I do not understand the intent of this film. It is impossible to make a biopic about a politician as controversial and divisive of opinion and not to include a political slant. This film seemed to attempt just that. The setting of a large proportion of the film in the present day was an interesting but poor decision. For me, the portrayal of MT as a senile old woman (which is all speculation) bored and frustrated me. Much more interesting to me was the stuff we know...her time in power, the influence of this time on the people of the UK and the international stage, the betrayal by her inner circle and her downfall was where the drama was at. However, this was glossed over in a few minutes (aided by the appalling use of a newsreel style montage) in favour of watching a doddery old woman put clothes into bin bags. If this film had picked a specific time in her premiership and stuck with that, it may have fared better.
Meryl saves this film.
Score: 4.5/10
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