Streep. The Lady Turns Blue
A new photo of Jim Broadbent and Meryl Streep as Mr & Mrs Margaret Thatcher from The Iron Lady [via The Daily Mail]
This is apparently a recreation of her "The lady is not for turning" speech when she was at war with the unions. As much as I hated Mamma Mia! from her Iron Lady director and as much as I am largely suspect about this movie and whether it will lionize (perhaps accidentally?) an über conservative doing the kind of thing everyone is correctly pissed at the Wisconsin Governor for doing, I'll have to admit I'm getting more curious about the movie.
If only because it's so hard to read this far out. Did I underestimate it in my Oscar predictions?
Reader Comments (15)
I love Meryl and I have to admit I want to see this film purely for her performance. Nothing else about it screams "hit!" to me. Just sayin.
He looks like Anthony Hopkins there!
A very interesting picture and article by Baz Bamigboye, unlike many of the comments in the Daily Mail about "The Iron Lady," seems informative and fair. As for Lloyd's direction, I do not think anybody could have made something great out of Mamma Mia, and it has been noted she has a very good reputaion in serious theater.
I don't think you've underestimated this project. Phyllida Lloyd doesn't seem a likely candidate to break Streep of the scenery-chewing habit that has pervaded her recent work. She needs a director who's willing to challenge her choices, someone who won't let her rest on her laurels...Lars von Trier, perhaps?
Meryl Streep's directors don't matter in the end. One of the ways she's able to become Meryl Streep is for directors to just point the camera and shoot.
Her 3rd Oscar will be ugly -- be prepared for it not the match the quality of Choice, Kramer, Silkwood, Ironweed -- and accept that she's in the phase of her career she's getting it because of dues paid.
I saw Adapation again -- I don't know what I make of her performance in it -- she doesn't sell me wholly on the sexually loose, pot smoking hippy aspects of her character -- I'm sure she had fun doing it but it didn't feel natural -- many names could've played the part better -- I just think the idea of Streep doing those things was too much to pass up.
Looks much better than the other ones I've seen but I still have no faith in Phyllida.
If she manages to copy the Frost/Nixon type of movie, we can all feel satisfied.
Lars is waaaaay overrated ( IMO )
Meh, if she's not gonna care about the quality of the movie itself, why should I? I love me some Streep but choosing directors is simply not her forte nowadays. And I doubt this movie will prove otherwise.
That said, I would like to see her work with Mike Nicholas again.
Meryl will be so convincing as Maggie she'll remind all viewers how evil the conservatives really are, and the liberals will sweep in (I hope). BTW, this is a wonderful pairing, Streep and Broadbent.
Streep will be nominated - the only nomination the film will receive. She won't win...
Me thinks you underestimate this film. Meryl will certainly be nominated and well as Abi Morgan's screenplay. I think the film and director will surprise and give us a terrific picture.
Meryl has a chance of winning Best Actress; A real good chance...
Meryl is in need of a new agent. An agent that gives her quality work. Streep should work with Daldry again. Or Tarantino, Aronofsky, Thomas Alfredsson, Wong Kar Wai, Malick, Ullmann...etc
/3rtfu11: I agree 90% though I thought Streep was very good in Adaptation. But I could totally see Catherine Keener, Mary-Louise Parker, Parker Posey, Tilda Swinton, Patricia Clarkson ,Kristin Scott Thomas in that role as well
It seems that when you are the greatest actress on the planet, Meryl, you should expect constant criticism. Oh, Meryl should work with better directors, but then when she does (Spike Jonze in Adaptation in a brilliant performance), then it's Meryl was just okay in that film and countless other actresses could have done it better.
Meryl just can't win. Oh wait, she has already won 2 Oscars and I see another one just around the corner. If I were Meryl, I'd say just go F yourself...
I'm so not feeling this movie. The whole thing screams Elizabeth: The Golden Age to me.
Just give Meryl her 3rd Oscar and all the rhetoric will go away. The Meryl haters can even shout from the rooftops and you'll hear no opposition. Just give her the F'in 3rd Oscar...