The Iron Lady ...A Political Treasure for Meryl

Meryl Streep delivers another outstanding performance in her Biopic account of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's political highlights. Her realism is unmatched, and once again sets herself apart from her colleagues in nailing this role to a "tea".

The Iron Lady...Streep Rules for her Depiction

The Iron Lady...Outstanding Leading Lady, but Rather Drab Drama
Starring Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent, Richard E. Grant, Alexandra Roach, and Susan Brown.

Director: Phyllida Lloyd

Written by: Abi Morgan

Genre: Biopic/Drama

Released: December, 2011

Synopsis:  A biographical British film about the former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.  She is superbly portrayed primarily by Meryl Streep in her political leadership years, and by Alexandra Roach in her formative years highlighting Thatcher's impressive lifetime achievements, contrasted with her present day struggles with dementia.

The Iron Lady takes place over three days in the current life of Margaret Thatcher, (Meryl Streep) including candid political accomplishments and family flashbacks in addition to present, quite persistent hallucinations of her deceased husband. Her rise to power is displayed against her meagre presence and impact today, yet her stark, firm personality remains intact. Her stubbornness, intuition and drive are explored to the fullest, immersed within an imagined series of conversations between an octogenarian Thatcher and her dead husband, Denis (Jim Broadbent).  

The story begins with an account of Margaret's younger years,  (Alexandra Roach) working in her family grocery store , while  both striving towards acceptance into a university program and  exerting an unwavering determination to break into the male-dominated Tory political party. Her mother is barely impressed when she learns of her acceptance into a renowned university wheres her father is greatly pleased and happy for her.  

The audience yearns for more detail surrounding her personal life such as her courting years with Denis, and any details of motherhood scenarios that would have been stiffly molded into her life following her marriage. Rather, the film adheres to an examination of her political career, detailing significant events, such as the war in the Falklands.  Also  a flaw because it is not included, is any interaction with the Queen. Becoming an ear-stretching fly on the wall of Thatcher/Monarchy encounters certainly would have added an intriguing spark to the story, which unfortunately was left extinguished.  There are numerous parliamentary scenes which become tedious displaying her challenges, and lengthy verbal confrontations surrounding British issues.  

The Director, (Lloyd) and Writer, (Morgan) rely on the ghost of Denis, who appears regularly, conversing, consoling, and maintaining a comfort to her, as she recounts her career high points. His tenderness is heartwarming, and a cozy contrast to her chilly ways.

What saves the film is Streep's uncanny metamorphosis, and undeniably accurate personification of Thatcher. From her physical stature, the convincing accent, the helmet stiff hair-sprayed do, the stoic expressions, and even her gingerly limp as a near 90-year old, her performance is superb.

Streep as always is deserving of her recognition by the Academy as a nominee for the upcoming Academy awards ceremony in February 2012. She recently earned the Golden Globe Best Actress Award (Drama Motion Picture) in January 2012 for her aspiring portrayal in The Iron Lady.

Meryl Streep's daughters:  Mamie, Grace and Louisa Gummer attend Meryl Streep’s New York premiere of Margaret Thatcher Biopic “The Iron Lady”

Clooney Cinch's Oscar nod with Descendants

George Clooney delivers a moving performance in his portrayal of a real estate lawyer, father and husband whose life becomes a mix-master of tragedy, infidelity, and rusty fatherhood. The movie's overall mood is sombre, however humour, and compassion rise to the occasion to present a film of surprise,  tenderness, and resolve.

The Decendants...Clooney's Hawaiian Hit

                                             

The Descendants

Starring: George Clooney, Shaileen Woodley, and Amara Miller

Directed by: Alexander Payne

Written by: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash

Released: December 2011

Genre: Drama

Synopsis:

Set in Hawaii, a naive husband and father of two girls struggles with his unraveling life which is confronted with family tragedy, and a difficult legacy land-deal decision.  Hawaiian land baron, and lawyer, Matt King takes his daughters on a trip from Oahu to Kauai to face the young real estate broker, who was having an affair with his wife Elizabeth before her misfortune.

 Trailer

The Descendants follows the heart wrenching journey of Matt Kings's (George Clooney's ) last visits to his wife, Elizabeth King (Patricia Hastie) who is on life support following a boating accident.   When he learns of her certain death, his life falls into a tailspin. While barely coping  with parental duties for his two daughters, he is saddled with also having to decide the fate of  a multi-acre family land inheritance decision which threatens to commercialize pristine land in Kauai. He is pressured by family to proceed with the sale of the land rather than keep it, as millions of dollars of profit are at stake for family members. Matt, gains our support early via his charm, humour, awkward fatherly advice sessions, and spiraling emotional turmoil. He ponders his predicaments with a tender honesty, particularly interacting with eldest daughter Alex, (Shaileene Woodley).

As a teenager grappling with her shaded past, Alex boasts a turbulent attitude, and jaded, unresolved issues surrounding her mother's situation. The story takes a dramatic turn when she  reveals to her Dad, that Mom, Elizabeth, had been having an affair prior to her accident.  Matt is shocked, and sprints to a family friends' house, where he is determined to coax the identity of his wife's love interest.  

Alex's goofy boyfriend, Sid, (Robert Forster), often by her side, seems to maintain a calmness for her,  and  offers a sense of peace, and comic relief for her.   Younger sister Scottie, (Amanda Miller) is blunt, whimsical but certainly not naive.

The story highlights heavy, dramatic situations,  and if not for the comical injections welcomed at the appropriate segments, the entire film would leave the audience feeling unbearably sad.  Overall it is not a happy film, rather it is a journey of self-realization, and family discovery.  The  superb portrayals of a frustrated seventeen year old, and worn out lawyer Dad who have both lost their way, are no doubt compelling, each well-deserving of Oscar consideration. The film's director and writer, Alexander Payne shines at delivering the story of the daunting task of a husband's quest to locate and confront his wife's "other man."  Matt and Alex endure a difficult, yet real Father-Daughter progression while striving to cope with an impossible situation of events, and discover what they mean to each other along the way.