The Iron Lady (2011)

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.