The Iron Lady

Name: The Iron Lady
Genre: Biography, Drama
Released: December 30, 2011
Duration: 105 min
Rating: 54

2011

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 41 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 207 Ratings

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6.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 207 Ratings

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THE IRON LADY

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Movie Details & Credits

Weinstein Company, The | Release Date: December 30, 2011

Summary: The Iron Lady is a surprising and intimate portrait of Margaret Thatcher, the first and only female Prime Minister of The United Kingdom. One of the 20th century’s most famous and influential women, Thatcher came from nowhere to smash through barriers of gender and class to be heard in a male dominated world. (The Weinstein Company)

Director: Phyllida Lloyd

Genre(s): Biography, Drama

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 105 min

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Awards & Rankings

66	#66 Most Discussed Movie of 2011

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Charlotte Observer - Roger Moore

Jan 12, 2012

Lloyd finesses a deft script of brisk, quick strokes by Abi Morgan ("Brick Lane," "Shame") into a terrific entertainment. Read full review

Philadelphia Inquirer - Steven Rea

Jan 12, 2012

Yea or nay, love or hate, the portrait that Streep delivers in Phyllida Lloyd's impressionistic biopic is astonishing. Read full review

New York Magazine (Vulture) - David Edelstein

Dec 29, 2011

Shallow but satisfying, largely because of Meryl Streep and her big fake English teeth and gift for using mimicry as a means of achieving empathy. Read full review

Tampa Bay Times - Steve Persall

Jan 11, 2012

There's no disputing Streep's brilliance, which this time feels more calculated than usual, in a movie demanding only an impersonation. Read full review

Austin Chronicle - Kimberley Jones

Jan 11, 2012

If I may presume: Thatcher probably would have preferred more action, less talk. Read full review

Boxoffice Magazine - Kate Erbland

Dec 26, 2011

Where the actress succeeds, all but disappearing into the role of Thatcher, the rest of the film is a bizarre amalgamation of archival footage, half-baked montages, hallucinations that push the bounds of poetic license straight into the gray area of bad taste, and plain old tedium. Read full review

Slate - Dana Stevens

Dec 29, 2011

The Iron Lady is, to put it kindly, a shambles. Read full review

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User Reviews

eastplanoman

Dec 30, 2011

I wish the critics would restrict their comments to the movie and not Margret Thacher. We should be rating the move not her politics! Grade the movie and it's actors not the politics of the time.Please restrict your opinions to the movies not the politics of the time. It really makes youI wish the critics would restrict their comments to the movie and not Margret Thacher. We should be rating the move not her politics! Grade the movie and it's actors not the politics of the time.Please restrict your opinions to the movies not the politics of the time. It really makes you look stupid..… Expand

4 of 8 users found this helpful44

outsidein

Jan 23, 2012

The Madwoman of No.10 A character portrait more than a biopic, The Iron Lady dramatises Margaret Thatcher's middle aged madness through the perspective of her demented madness of old age. Many have asked if this film should have been made while she is alive - but the key source of insight isThe Madwoman of No.10 A character portrait more than a biopic, The Iron Lady dramatises Margaret Thatcher's middle aged madness through the perspective of her demented madness of old age. Many have asked if this film should have been made while she is alive - but the key source of insight is Carol Thatcher's account of her mother's dementia - so if her daughter can comment in public, so may the film makers. Meryl Streep's portrayal is uncanny, and especially effective in old age - the Thatcher we don't know. She and Dennis, the wonderful Jim Broadbent, are the only fleshed out characters in the piece. The rest are props to tell the story. And what a story it is - a story of grandiose self importance that always carried more than a shred of madness. The women involved - Streep, Lloyd (director) and Morgan (writer) create a classic 'women's picture' - one woman's struggle - to live up to the ideals instilled on young Margaret Roberts by her doting dad. Of course, everyone pales into insignificance for young Margaret by comparison (except the supportive Dennis). All men are bastards. In this world, there are no other women, except maids. Thatcher can say and do what she pleases, because she is so much smarter and better than anyone else. There is no collaboration with this psychotic woman, there is only her inevitable descent into madness as the Poll Tax is proposed, the final straw in her destruction of consensus Britain. Like Reagan, she is co-creator of the 2007 financial collapse - due to greed, the de-regulation of the financial markets, and the self -righteousness of the frankly bonkers economics of it all. So don't despair that the history is not quite accurate, or it doesn't really 'do justice' to her 'reign'. That's not the point. While the film tries hard to get the audience on 'her side' by implying her greatness and difference in almost every scene, all it does is demonstrate that Thatcher was always a madwoman on a mission - and now, we can say 'Mission Accomplished.' Right up there with The Black Swan - last year's portrait of a madwoman - Streep will walk down the red carpet with her Oscar in a few months.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

asthobaskoro

Feb 11, 2012

Ah! Don't expect much from this movie! Meryl Streep's performance as Thatcher is distracted by movie quality. But don't worry, it's not just Streep's performance, it's the story about Thatcher and her controversial and strong leadership. But Thatcher deserves better biopic.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Parera_Starr11

Apr 24, 2012

The only reason to watch the "The Iron Lady" is for Meryl Streep' incredible performance She single handedly elevates the material and makes this film go from a sub-par film to a pleasant one.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

amheretojudge

May 8, 2018

and i think i am fine..

The Iron Lady The format of the feature is dull, familiar and predictable with a weak structure that collapses before it even emerges in front of the audience and unfortunately that window is quite narrow. The little aspects of it are appreciative like costumeand i think i am fine..

The Iron Lady

The format of the feature is dull, familiar and predictable with a weak structure that collapses before it even emerges in front of the audience and unfortunately that window is quite narrow. The little aspects of it are appreciative like costume design, make-up and fine editing. Abi Morgan's screenplay has an excellent build up from character's perspective which never makes it anywhere and instead floats somewhere between space. Phyllida Lloyd is the real gem whose brilliant execution helps the audience feel connected somewhat. Meryl Streep has been a tremendous actress in her career where she has redefined herself over and over again, but if there is any performance she should be remembered for, it's for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher. The Iron Lady is a swing and a miss that that may be greater on technical aspects but definitely not on offering concrete material.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MajorBob

Jan 21, 2012

If Meryl doesn't win the Oscar for this performance you will hear me screaming all the way from Clermont, Florida to Mulica Hill, New Jersey. Viola Davis and Michelle Williams shouldn't even be allowed to attend the ceremony and you can put weirdo Tilda Swinton on ice too.

Unfortunately,If Meryl doesn't win the Oscar for this performance you will hear me screaming all the way from Clermont, Florida to Mulica Hill, New Jersey. Viola Davis and Michelle Williams shouldn't even be allowed to attend the ceremony and you can put weirdo Tilda Swinton on ice too.

Unfortunately, Ms. Steep's incredible performance is marred by a script that is flat out awful with some shoddy direction by the same woman who ruined Mama Mia.

In this film, the life of Margaret Thatcher is told through flash backs from the elderly former Prime Minister's dementia altered mind. We find her holding numerous conversations with her deceased husband as she finally gets around to disposing of his clothes and other belongings. This plot device doesn't work despite the fact that the lead actress is turning in the finest performances of her career.

The supporting cast is fine particularly Alexandra Roach who plays the young Margaret Thatcher from a teenager up until about age 30. Jim Broadbent also does a great job in recreating Denis Thatcher, the Prime Minister's husband. The makers of this film should have been satisfied with a traditional biographical film of a historical figure. Instead we get a surreal mishmash that is enjoyable only because of an Oscar winning performance.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Golder

Jan 15, 2012

Just sucks... What? I need 150 characters? I felt that writing "Just Sucks" would be more than enough but obviously I must say more. It REALLY does just sucks.

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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