The Iron Lady

Couldn't agree more; saw it last week, and oh, the memories! But yes, Meryl Streep was amazing.

Interesting to read what you've said, susiecb. My partner [who comes from a mining area] was loath to see the film, and by yesterday I had decided it was best avoided. I had hoped it would show both sides of the Thatcher years, but I understand the miners strike was touched on very briefly? I hated the woman more than anyone at the time, and my feelings haven't changed. She now gets several millions each year as a sort of retirement gift [thanks to John Major who also gets a fair bit] and she made a packet as a consultant to Philip Morris in his attempt to resist the ban on smoking adverts, and helped create new markets in Eastern Eurpoe and third World countries. No decent person would take money for that imo [spoken as an ex smoker as well]. I still wish Barbara Castle had been our first lady PM; she was wonderfully portrayed in Made in Dagenham! This isn't just me saying this from a biased Labour Party perspective either, because a biopic of Blair would have me throwing eggs at the screen!

Yes, what an opportunity missed - Barbara Castle would have made an excellent opposition leader and PM.

Dare not go. How could I stop myself making comments in loud wisper? Or doing deep sighs. Or shouting out "Maggie, Maggie, Maggie; Out, out out!!"

Maybe I should go...............

Went to see this yesterday, not quite knowing what to expect. Thought that Meryl Streep gave the most wonderful performance as a sad old dear at the mercy of her memories which are all getting a bit muddled. The best screen acting I think I have ever seen and certainly deserves an Oscar, as does Jim Broadbent.

The archive footage brought back a lot of what we went through then, and made me feel profoundly grateful for what we have now. OH had a bit of a moment, because he was in the thick of the war in 82 and suddenly saw archive footage of a moment he was intimately involved with. He hadn't expected it to be quite so raw and bring long buried and difficult emotions to the surface. But he still says he was glad we went.

Thought I wouldn't recommend that my parents (late 80s) see it, as I think the portrait of the decline into very old age was gloomy and very sad. But also thought that perhaps if I was widowed it would be quite comforting to have such a vivid hallucination around to keep me company. Perhaps not remembering someone has died is a bit of a blessing.

In a column in the DT yesterday Max Pemberton made some (I think) valid comments about the timing of the film and attitudes to dementia. Earlier in the week David Cameron made similar remarks with regard to the timing on the "Today" programme on Radio 4.

I have never been a fan of Mrs Thatcher, but I do agree with the comments made by both the above (do seek out the Max Pemberton article f you can, he is a doctor and I think his views are worth reading).

However from all th reviews I've read and feedback from those who have seen the film it would seem that Meryl Streeps performance is outstanding.

I had great difficulty finding Max Pemberton's article (as always, the DT seems not to want anyone to actually read things) so for anyone else who would like to read it, here is a link.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/margaret-thatcher/9013910/The-Iron-Lady-and-Margaret-Thatchers-dementia-Why-this-despicable-film-makes-voyeurs-of-us-all.html

His beef is not with the portrayal of Mrs T in her prime, or with the politics, but with the voyeurism of the depiction of Alzheimers while she is still alive.

Sorry, forgot to blue it. www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/margaret-thatcher/9013910/The-Iron-Lady-and-Margaret-Thatchers-dementia-Why-this-despicable-film-makes-voyeurs-of-us-all.html

could not have scipted any better myself .

Seems very unkind to portray someone who is declining in her later years , as a daft old bat . Couuld it not have waited ????

I don't get utd's point

And it's over a year old.