The Iron Lady Blu-ray delivers stunningly beautiful video and superb audio in this fan-pleasing Blu-ray release
Biopic starring Meryl Streep in an Oscar-winning performance as former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Thatcher's life and political career are portrayed in flashback from the perspective of her later years as she struggles with Alzheimer's disease and grieves for her recently-deceased husband, Dennis (Jim Broadbent). The film traces her life from her childhood years in the family grocer's shop through to her graduation from Oxford, her early working life and her decision to enter politics. Her eleven-year stint in office is marked not only by her strictly conservative and hard-nosed leadership style, which earn her the nickname 'The Iron Lady', but also by spending cuts, strikes, the introduction of an unpopular poll tax and the Falklands War.
The Iron Lady flip-flops between a senile and hallucinatory elder Lady Thatcher (Meryl Streep) and a quick, confident young woman and Prime
Minster of years prior and hailing from a world that's socially and technologically different but politically familiar. Despite an uneven narrative, the
picture largely gels and flows effortlessly, easily switching between timeframes but favoring the tale of the elder Thatcher as she reflects on her past
and
combats her state in the present, the film usually glossing over her accomplishments in Conservative politics in rapid-fire succession. But its technical
construction is not at question. The Iron Lady is at best a
decent,
though not powerful, biopic of arguably the most powerful female world leader of the 20th century. The subject deserves a fuller, more thorough, and
thoughtful picture, not a mere scattershot glimpse into an important and engaging life. Still, the picture is well-made and often compelling because of
its subject and quick
pace and despite its short attention span. The performances are excellent and the direction steady. It's a fine and polished film, stylistically, but it falls
somewhat
short, contextually.
In charge.
Margaret Thatcher lives a simple life, eating eggs and bread, buying milk from a small grocer. She slips in and out of the store unnoticed by either
the clerk
or her fellow customers. She comes home to armed guards and the spirit of her long-deceased husband Denis (Jim Broadbent). Her living daughter
Carol (Olivia Colman) urges her to seek help. Thatcher denies her hallucinations, evident though they may be to those closest to her. With a deadly
bombing the
news of the day, Thatcher recalls life during the Blitz, her acceptance to Oxford, marriage to Denis, and initial drive towards politics, a world
dominated by
men with little tolerance for her and her meager background, despite an Oxford education and obvious intelligence. She further recalls her
steadfastness in political life, holding true to her pro-business, pro-self sufficinecy Conservative values. She looks back on her first Parliamentary
victory in 1959 and rise through the ranks of the Conservative party and on through her ascendancy to the position of Prime Minister where she
faced social, economic, and diplomatic pressures, including a conflict in the Falkland Islands and IRA terrorist attacks.
As the film opens, one cannot help but marvel at a depiction of a society where an elder icon goes unrecognized by the world around her as she
herself
struggles to understand the world in which she goes unrecognized. That's the film in a nutshell, really, the effort to depict Thatcher as someone
who
was -- and remains -- somehow detached from her world, both socially and politically, whether fitting in as a woman in a male-dominated political
arena, forging her
own path as Prime Minister, or surviving as an elderly woman largely removed from the political spotlight while struggling with the ill effects of old
age. And those are the motions through which
the film's bulk maneuvers. It barely paints the picture of a young Margaret surviving the Nazi Blitz and only scratches the surface of her early
decision to
enter and subsequent foray into politics. The picture spends more substantive flashback time on the gender conflict than it does policy, at least in
her early days.
Streep's steadfastness in portraying the character holding her ground during a tense exchange in Parliament where she's criticized as much for her
"shrill voice" as she is her politics does paint her in a more flattering, sturdy light, reflecting the character's "never be anything but yourself" mantra.
Streep largely handles the role with class and precision, though she sometimes seems to simply regurgitate her Julia Child accent, even as she's otherwise hidden behind superb makeup and
wardrobe. It's a quality performance in which the legendary actress
melts into the part, but as far as the year's finest performances and greatest physical and emotional transformations go, Rooney Mara's proves the better.
The Iron Lady dazzles with its many period recreations. Whether modern day London, the nation as it was during Thatcher's reign as Prime
Minister,
the years prior as a member of Parliament, or her early years during and immediately following World War II, the picture paints a visually compelling
and
seemingly accurate physical picture of the nation. Costumes and set design are faultless, and even the integration and occasional merging of make
believe and real life footage flows largely without hitch. Director Phyllida Lloyd (Mamma Mia!) manages to maintain flow even through a split narrative
and questionable thematic angle,
a difficult task, particularly considering that the picture has placed its priorities backwards, telling the story of a disturbed elderly woman with only a
casual look back at her policies that helped put an end to the Cold War, amongst other accomplishments, which are given at best cursory mention or
attention in
the film. Thatcher's political career merely serves as a template for the display of the disturbed elder Thatcher, a curious choice for a character of
such prominence. There seems to be no point to the movie, then, other than to perhaps put into question her politics against an undercurrent of
absentmindedness. The film's narrative falls absolutely flat, with no depth and no compelling characters, even as its subject is one of the most
compelling of the century.
The Iron Lady's 1080p high definition transfer is the embodiment of Blu-ray perfection. Though the image favors colors that are naturally cold
and slightly muted, it still presents bright blue dresses, red lipstick, and other assorted hues strongly, particularly contrasted against the slightly gray
backdrop. Flesh tones reflect that slightly harsh and cold appearance but black levels remain true and deep, but never to the detriment of surrounding
details. General object detail is wonderful. Skin and clothing textures are remarkably natural, while surrounding object detail impresses in every scene.
The image enjoys unbeatable clarity and accuracy, a solid sense of depth, and natural sharpness. Light grain provides a positively handsome film-like
texture. The image suffers from no apparent bouts of edge enhancement, banding, or blockiness. Though some viewers may wish for more color
brilliance, there's no denying this is a natural, source-accurate, and pristine Blu-ray transfer from Anchor Bay. The result is one of the best cinematic
presentations on the market today.
The Iron Lady's splendid DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack succeeds no matter the moment, environment, or sonic style. The track delivers
fine, natural ambience in the early modern day scenes, whether in the form of background music inside a grocery store or vehicles zipping past outside of
it. The surround channels are used naturally but not aggressively. A cacophony of whirring appliances and blaring radios as heard in chapter nine
naturally surrounds the listener in the brief moment of sonic confusion, and beachside ambience plays evenly in chapter five. Music plays smoothly and
efficiently, with good spacing and natural clarity, whether quieter notes or the heavier elements heard, for instance, during Thatcher's first session in
Parliament. The track delivers a good, positive low end when bombs fall during the World War II segment or during a terrorist attack later in the film.
Dialogue is firm and clear, focused straight up the middle. This is a quality soundtrack from Anchor Bay.
The Iron Lady contains six supplemental features. DVD and digital copy discs are also included.
Making The Iron Lady (SD, 12:20): Cast and crew discuss the character, the history, the work and camaraderie of the entire
cast, the importance of the young Margaret and young Denis, the mother-daughter relationship, and Streep's performance.
Recreating the Young Margaret Thatcher (SD, 2:44): A piece the regurgitates some of the same material from the above supplement as
it focuses in on the part and performance of Alexandra Roach.
Denis: The Man Behind the Woman (SD, 2:33): A short look at the work of Actor Jim Broadbent and the part he plays.
Battle in the House of Commons (SD, 2:28): This extra briefly examines shooting the Parliament scenes, again regurgitating a little bit
from the Making Of supplement.
Costume Design: Pearls and Power Suits (SD, 2:43): Costume Designer Consolata Boyle discusses the film's wardrobe and its evolution
through the course of the movie.
History Goes to the Cinema: Featuring My Weeks with Marilyn, W.E., Coriolanus, The Iron Lady, and The Artist (SD, 18:04): A look at these movies and the real life
history behind them.
Margret Thatcher's family is said to be disappointed with the Prime Minsiter's portrayal in The Iron Lady. Whatever their own reasons may be,
it's
clear even to an outsider that the film fails to prioritize its narrative, telling a story of an aged, senile, and hallucinatory Thatcher and only glossing over
her political career and accomplishments. The story as-is would have been better served with a more generic character as the lead rather than
masquerade
as a Biopic. It's a shame, because the movie is technically well made and the framework is in place for a compelling story, but for whatever reason the
entire thing falls flat as it focuses on a battle with old age with a few snapshots of one of the most important historical figures of the 20th century
thrown in for, well, not for good measure, that's for sure. Cinema needs a more thorough telling of Thatcher's tale; The Iron Lady is at best a
tease. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of The Iron Lady features stunning video, first-rate lossless audio, and a few standard definition extras.
Worth a rental.
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Blu-ray.com and the Weinstein Company are offering three Blu-ray.com members the opportunity to win a copy of director Phyllida Lloyd's Margaret Thatcher biopic, The Iron Lady, starring Best Actress winner Meryl Streep. The film arrives on April 10th.
In April, Anchor Bay Home Entertainment will bring The Iron Lady to Blu-ray. The film showcases acclaimed actress Meryl Streep (Adaptation), who gives an Academy Award-nominated performance as former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Directed by Phyllida ...
