A delicately human story about Margaret Thatcher. "The Iron Lady" is not so much about a history lesson, but the very personal side of the longest-serving prime minister of Britain. It shows Thatcher in her twilight years, in the early stages of dementia, clearly missing her dearly departed husband, Denis (Jim Broadbent). In and out of lucidity, she keeps everything at home exactly the same and continually talks to him as if he were alive. It's simultaneously sentimental and humorous. Flashes of her primetime years and younger family life unfold through flashbacks. Inspiring sound bites about having a life that matters, with principles and public service, and making a difference. The film is sharply photographed with contrasting colors and space, producing a number of memorable shots. And kudos to hair and makeup, amazingly aids Meryl Streep's ("Julie & Julia," "The Devil Wears Prada") transformation into Thatcher. The story would have worked better had it not placed much emphasis on her life after Downing Street. But Streep, a prominent presence throughout, truly carries the film. A poignantly supreme performance!
