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Business & Tech

Movie Review: 'The Iron Lady' Could Be Oscar Gold for Streep

We have an Oscar alert! Meryl Streep portrays one of the most influential figures of the 20th century and nails it.

There is no question that Meryl Streep is the best actress of her generation and she raises the bar once again as she transforms herself into former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady."

Most of the film portrays Thatcher as she is now - an elderly woman looking back on her life. Confused, sometimes delusional, she carries on conversations with her deceased husband Denis, played by Jim Broadbent. Alexandra Roach does a fine job portraying Thatcher as a young woman, but it is Streep's powerful performance that warrants Oscar consideration.

There are some great scenes exploring some of the pivotal moments in Thatcher's controversial 11-year term in the 1980s. The film disappoints, however, when it circles back to a frail old lady at home leaving you wanting more from a historical perspective. Fortunately, Streep is so fantastic that you may just overlook the film's shortcomings in light of her spectacular performance.

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It is amazing what really good prosthetics can do in the hands of a world-class pro like Streep. The filmmakers though seem hesitant to explore Thatcher's less favorable moments in depth. The story of such a giant figure of 20th century politics should have been more engrossing, so the flick-o-meter gives "The Iron Lady" four out of five. Streep is so good you get the feeling she could have been cast in the lead role of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" and pulled it off.

The filmmakers, in my opinion, dropped the ball because they didn't really focus on the key decade of her life, deciding instead to be less interesting by having Thatcher as an elderly woman wandering about the house telling her dead husband to wear a scarf because there is a chill in the air.

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The film is not playing in or near Montclair yet, but will be soon.

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