The Iron Lady (2011)

Margaret Thatcher was the first woman elected Prime Minister of Great Britain. She implemented numerous radical though effective changes to the social systems of Great Britain, she went to war over the Falkland Islands and survived an assassination attempt by the radical IRA. Who better to bring this powerful, charismatic woman to the big screen than the iconic and much acclaimed Meryl Streep?

The Iron Lady tells many of Margaret Thatcher's stories; the narrative jumps in time from her youth to her rise to power right up to her Alzheimer's-riddled old age. Through the jumpy timeline, The Iron Lady takes audiences back to young Margaret's terrifying experiences in bombing raids during the Second World War and then to her idolization of her father's work as a local politician. From there, Margaret wins a seat in local office, falls in love with and marries her husband Denis and starts a family. Her election to Prime Minister is also chronicled, along with an assassination attempt on her life and her ultimate fall from grace. The story of Thatcher's political life is intercut with glimpses into her later years as the aging former woman of power struggles with Alzheimer's disease.

Sure, there is a full cast to be seen in The Iron Lady, but one stands far above the rest. Streep, the 17-time Academy Award nominee and two-time winner, carries this film on her esteemed shoulders. Not only does Streep accurately portray the younger, more aggressive Thatcher, but she also does a complete turn-around to give viewers a look at the ill yet charmingly funny older Mrs. Thatcher.

The amazing thing about this role is, as it is with each of Streep's other roles, that she is barely recognizable thanks to her complete submersion into her character. Nothing short of spectacular, Streep is the highlight of The Iron Lady.

Complementing Streep's adult Margaret Thatcher is Welsh actress Alexandra Roach, who will likely be unknown to audiences this side of the Atlantic. Roach holds her own alongside Streep and plays the youthful Margaret as a stubborn, determined girl with glimpses of the power that is yet to come.

Acting side by side with Streep is Jim Broadbent as Thatcher's husband Denis. Broadbent, who the younger crowd will instantly recognize as Professor Slughorn from the Harry Potter films, is as entertaining as ever, giving the audience many of the film's laughs.

Admittedly, The Iron Lady is aimed at an older crowd, one that would have been involved in the world when Thatcher was still holding office. Yet the story, the acting and the film itself transcend the generations and make this powerful tale not only accessible but also interesting to the young adults of today's society. An important story indeed, The Iron Lady allows for a look into the life of one of the world's most powerful women in recent history.

No matter your age, political views or general ignorance of the British political system, The Iron Lady is more than worth your time.

Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5 stars