The significance of the Iron Lady

Jeremy

If what I have gleaned from the trailer (and other clips) is anything to go by, then the film is dreadful.

The parliamentary scenes in particular look absurdly stilted - all the MPs sitting in neat little rows, hair combed, hands in laps, saying nothing. I mean...that's just what the Commons is like, isn't it?

Jim Broadbent bears no resemblance whatsoever to Denis Thatcher, and much the same could be said for the other players in relation to their respective roles.

The film appears to be neither well cast, well written nor well directed.

Needless to say, I shan't be spending good money on going to see it.

Bellevue

Jeremy, ooh I shall! Anything with Meryl Streep in it is worth the money. And, from the trailers I have seen, it looks to be a great film.

TrevorsDen

Its all a bit melodramatic and predictable from a film point of view. But that's film or theatre - its all melodrama when compared to real life.

The story has all the necessary hallmarks - a woman against the men in a man's world. A violent strike and a war thrown in; and a final futile (needless?) struggle which undoes her.

It might be interesting to see whose side the film takes on the strike and European front.

Biggestaspidistra

Look's great, but I'm really hoping for a film about the mad king Gordon. Now there's a tale waiting to be told.

DavidDP

"Jim Broadbent bears no resemblance whatsoever to Denis Thatcher, and much the same could be said for the other players in relation to their respective roles. "

Call me crazy, but I'd prefer to cast my film on the basis of acting, rather than resemblance.

Shaun

Thatcher, one of the three most significant Prime Ministers of the 20th century? Nah, for all her controversy (and undeniable effectiveness), she's definitely no more important than Lloyd George, Churchill or Attlee. Possibly Asquith too. Top five? Yes. Top three? No.

Paddy

There will never be another Maggie!

They stabbed her in the back and the Tory party has never recovered.

Love her or hate her....her conference speeches would make you feel good to be British.

She cared and loved her country and would do and say whatever it took.

Long live Maggie.

lescam

The idea of publicising the life of an unfortunate person descending into dementia, while that person is still alive, sickens me. Couldn't they at least had the decency to wait until after her death?

As for Meryl Streep, from the clips shown of her shrieking in the Commons, as I remember Maggie had quite a deep voice and never had the high-pitched shriek displayed by Ms Streep. The film looks awful, and I definitely won't be going. I would much rather remember Mrs. T. herself, at her best in full flood, rather than a poor imitation.

Nicholas

What I remember most about Margaret Thatcher is not her voice but the hand gesture she used to demonstrate just how "progressive" a socialist government really is. She had the measure of the lefties and the Conservatives of England are now sadly in need of someone with her balls and willingness to fight rather than appease and imitate.

Jeremy

DavidDP:

"Call me crazy, but I'd prefer to cast my film on the basis of acting, rather than resemblance."

If it was the acting they were interested in, then they should have cast Derek Jacobi as Margaret Thatcher and Mackenzie Crook as Denis.

Then, at least, the film might have been funnier.

Austin Barry

My film, "Bonkers" is the Gordon Brown biopic featuring his early life in hedonistic Provincetown, Mass. Unfortunately, the nature of the material is such that it is currently only playing in a small arthouse cinema in San Francisco's Castro district. If any UK distributor wants to option a domestic release please let me know.

Fred Taylor

I'm a great Streep fan, but I was seriously put off when they absurdly showed MT doing PMQs while wearing a HAT. Aaarrgghh.

lescam

Austin Barry
December 3rd, 2011 4:16pm

"My film, "Bonkers" is the Gordon Brown biopic featuring his early life in hedonistic Provincetown, Mass."

Now that would really be worth seeing! Also, how about "Bonkers 2; Brown Meets the Wolfman, aka Tony Blair". And "Bonkers 3; Brown Is Slaughtered By The Mighty Hand of Mrs Gillian Duffy".

In my earlier comment, I said that films should not be made about people descending into dementia. For Brown, I would make an exception, as he has always been barking.

Jeremy

@ Austin Barry:

Hang on a second...'Bonkers Balls' is the title of my own proposed film about the later life of the Shadow Chancellor in hedonistic Westminster, England...

Verity

I saw a preview snippet, and it was awful. The self-congratulatory Meryl Street ("are you appreciating what an ace actress I am?")looked, in a word, actressy.

I, too, question the taste of representing a living person on the screen ... especially one who is elderly and failing, but who did such service for her country.

I would like to read a review by Norman Tebbit.

disenfranchised

i'm no tory, and really couldn't stand the lady.
but i respected her strength, conviction, and patriotism. a proper leader. someone the other leaders respected.
qualities we don't have in cameron (clegg and miliband aren't worth mentioning).
but what a tragedy for this country that while the inept decide our fates, the adroit, like nigel farage, have to sit on the sidelines.
it's a very unfair world.....

daniel maris

Whiskey Galore for Harold Wilson? Or any of them perhaps...

Verity

From what I've read on this thread, the film is so ethnocentric (Hollywood thinks that Parliament must be like their Senate but with an English accent)that it rings flat. Thatcher in Parliament in a hat??? Couldn't someone have spent a day or two in the Visitors' Gallery taking notes on how people dress, and act, in the Commons? Couldn't they have watched "Today in Parliament"? Couldn't they have asked someone? I think her advisor John O'Sullivan is an American and could have explained it to them in terms they could understand.

Sean Haffey

Maggie: 2nd best PM of 20th Century after Winston. No-one else comes close.

Derek

Jeremy

"I shan't be spending good money on going to see it."

It will soon be available as a good quality DVD on the streets of Shanghai for about 00.80 cents US.

Malfleur

Paddy

The Conservative Party stabbed her in the back, yes; and of course they stabbed Churchill in the back before he became prime minister, but it was, fortunately, only a flesh wound.

Jeremy

@Derek:

"It will soon be available as a good quality DVD on the streets of Shanghai for about 00.80 cents US."

My friend, if they want me to see it, they will have to pay me. And I would expect to receive more than 00.80 cents US.

From what I have seen of the film, it is not so much a 'Who's Who' of British politics in the eighties, as a 'Who the hell are you supposed to be playing?'

MrLittleBigman

Well the trailer is breathtaking!!! Brought a tear to my eye! I can't wait for Jan 6th!