Is there anything that Meryl Streep can't do. Encompassing the body, soul and mind of every character she plays, the two-time Academy Award winning actress strikes gold again, this time in the form of Margaret Thatcher in Phyllida Lloyd's The Iron Lady.
Told through a montage of present day and flashback footage, Streep encompasses the role of the first and only female Prime Minister of The United Kingdom. Her performance is both passionate and precise. But the true beauty is Streep's perfect mixture of control and vulnerability as she brings one of the most influential women of the 20th century to the big screen.
A strong supporting cast that includes Jim Broadbent, Harry Lloyd and Anthony Head make the film a full course success; however, by the end there is no denying that Streep is once again best in show! Her ability to play the same character at different points in her life is truly remarkable, especially one that has been exposed as vastly as Thatcher.
At the end of the day I'm not entirely sure how great the actual film is. I enjoyed the deep and intimate portrait we get of our leading subject; however, the film doesn't go much further than Streep. While I'm not historically versed in our central character, Streep's portrayal is visually authentic. Her performance is so good that it often distracts from other aspects of the film. Great for Meryl, not so great for The Iron Lady.
