Meryl Streep gives a quite astonishing impersonation of Margaret Thatcher in this even-handed biopic about Britain's longest-serving Prime Minister of the 20th Century. Abi Morgan's well-constructed screenplay takes Thatcher from an eager 20-something in post-war Britain, played by Alexandra Roach, when the grocer's daughter first entered politics through her controversial career - using plenty of newsreel footage - to her lonely old age in which she's haunted by her late husband Denis, Jim Broadbent.

The interesting thing about Phyllida Lloyd's film is that Thatcher is neither idolised nor demonised; both her admirers and her opponents should be satisfied by this portrait of a powerful and determined woman.


At The Movies (ABC)
Copyright 2011 Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Those seeking to have their views of Thatcher either bolstered or offended will be disappointed. Instead, it dives into the tired mind of an elderly woman, often beautifully, telling a far more personal story. It's politically light. But it stands alone as a well-crafted film built on an outstanding Streep performance.

The performances of Streep and Broadbent are as masterful as expected. They are a joy to watch together. And the dynamic, in which Denis' ghost triggers a series of flashbacks, cleverly allows us to study the character without questioning her actions in any substantial way.

It's all heavily simplified and made accessible to an international audience. Essentially we get a look at her famously bullish approach to the 80s recession and the strikes. Then, The Falklands happens - she's equally strong-minded - and the good times roll after that. You'd be forgiven for not quite remembering it that way.

Whatever your outlook on Thatcher, you can't deny that there was and is enormous strength in the former British PM's character. And that strength is absolutely the centre of this remarkable powerhouse Meryl Streep performance.

For all that strength, however, she's portrayed as dependent on Denis. He's also there towards the end of her premiership, where the iron grip is seen to slip and her famed lack of sleep appears to affect her.

Allow us to make space for Alexandra Roach, who is outstanding in the role of the young Margaret Roberts, who first campaigns. With a reptilian Richard E Grant as Michael Heseltine, an impressive Harry Lloyd as young Dennis and Olivia Colman doing an effortless job of Carol Thatcher, it's a supporting cast that more than holds its own in the shadow of Streep.

Gets behind the iron but never questions it.


MSN MOVIES
Copyright MSN MOVES