Ah, that magnificent chameleon, Meryl Streep! Many have complained that the movie concentrates too much on Margaret Thatcher's dementia and not enough on her power, but no one complained about Streep's Golden Globe-winning performance as the Prime Minister in mid-life and old age. And I predict a makeup Oscar nomination tomorrow for the flawless aging, the wigs, and the dental prostheses, complemented by Streep's (last in these pages in It's Complicated) flawless body language. The superb Jim Broadbent (Another Year) plays Denis Thatcher, and Alexandra Roach and Harry Lloyd are wonderful as the couple in younger days.The thought crossed my mind that it would have been nice for one of Streep's own daughters to play her as a younger woman, but Roach gets it just right (plus her teeth match) and Lloyd (the handsome great-great-great-grandson of Charles Dickens) is delightful as the captivated young Denis (here's a photo of them from the movie and an interview with Lloyd).
This is the third feature for former theatre director Phyllida Lloyd (her first was the treacly Mamma Mia!). Not to be confused with Emma Thompson's mother Phyllida Law, Lloyd has gotten it right with this one, helped by a screenplay by Abi Morgan (I liked the TV series she's written that I've seen--Tsunami: The Aftermath (2006) and The Hour (2011)--we tried to see Shame on Saturday but technical problems kept us away).
Tracks from the lovely soundtrack by the prolific Thomas Newman can be found on youtube. Of the four movies I have seen but not summarized, this is the one most likely to be honored at tomorrow morning's Oscar nomination announcements.
Was that Meryl Street? I thought it was Margaret T. herself. No wonder she & the makeup artists got the Oscar. It was all particularly poignant for me as remember when MT was first nominated, lived under her all her administration, and saw England throw off the shackles of oppressive Socialism (no pizza, 3 months to get a telephone, Arthur Scargill ruled with his miners strikes, etc.) I thought the casting & re-enactments of events were excellent. Wish, too, that her past life was depicted more and less of the declining years. I especially loved how they showed what a special romance she & Denis shared. And how Mark, the awful selfish son who was a constant embarrassment, was never there. Submitted by Rosalind Mercier, since I can't get it to take my name otherwise!
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