Sadly, this iron lady has an unattractive patina of rust. No matter your political allegiances, you would have to agree, former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of the United Kingdom has an important place in history. If this movie is supposed to honor her legacy, I am afraid it failed. This film was a series of flashbacks seen through the eyes of an elderly Mrs. Thatcher and from what I perceived, as she was going to the doorstep of dementia. We all know Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada, Doubt) is the queen of accents and she looks the part here of Margaret. But do we really need the camera to anchor itself on her face, so we can watch Meryl go thru a checklist of every emotion? As her husband Denis Thatcher, I have always enjoyed Jim Broadbent (Another Year, Vanity Fair) in past roles, but in this movie he comes across as a court jester to his wife. I do not know, maybe in real life that was his role. For me, this movie was more like the cliff notes for an incredible woman’s life. I cringe to think of the real Margaret Thatcher sitting in horror, as she watches this lackluster series of vignettes, that is supposed to be a video history of her life.

2 stars