Thank you for doing this - and crystallising so well what is wrong with the movie.
I lived through the Thatcher era - as an adult - and hardly recognised that jumbled montage of disparate images which constituted the film's attempt to show her premiership.
Also, if someone watched this movie in an attempt to learn how the British political system works, they would vastly underestimate the role of HM Opposition. Foot was recognisably there because they fixed the wig; but no sign of an identifiable Kinnock - so the fact that Maggie saw off several Opposition Leaders didn't come over at all.
Meryl Streep was, of course, quite brilliant; but mainly - as you say - by portraying someone slowly sinking into dementia. You are also quite right to point at Jim Broadbent as the underrated lynch-pin of the film.
Foot was recognisably there because they fixed the wig; but no sign of an identifiable Kinnock - so the fact that Maggie saw off several Opposition Leaders didn't come over at all.
Well, Foot more or less saw himself off, and technically it was John Major who saw off Neil. But yes. I think this is part and parcel of the movie's disinterest in Thatcherism- there was a huge moral and economic argument being had in Britain in the 80s, and with respect to everything except the NHS, Maggie won it. I hate that she won it, and I think it's half the reason Britain is in the mess it's in is now- NuLab governed irresponsibly precisely because she'd turned everyone into neoliberals- but winning it was her greatest accomplishment, and the writers either didn't notice, or didn't care. And since they didn't care about representing her side of the argument they didn't care about representing the opposing side, either
( ... )
OK, so I'm catching up on your LJ posts and this line: Labour's whole world orbited around her bright, deadly sun....gah. Yes, it's true but it's also so perfectly expressed. It just makes me want to write a slew of fic around it.
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I lived through the Thatcher era - as an adult - and hardly recognised that jumbled montage of disparate images which constituted the film's attempt to show her premiership.
Also, if someone watched this movie in an attempt to learn how the British political system works, they would vastly underestimate the role of HM Opposition. Foot was recognisably there because they fixed the wig; but no sign of an identifiable Kinnock - so the fact that Maggie saw off several Opposition Leaders didn't come over at all.
Meryl Streep was, of course, quite brilliant; but mainly - as you say - by portraying someone slowly sinking into dementia. You are also quite right to point at Jim Broadbent as the underrated lynch-pin of the film.
Thanks again.
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Well, Foot more or less saw himself off, and technically it was John Major who saw off Neil. But yes. I think this is part and parcel of the movie's disinterest in Thatcherism- there was a huge moral and economic argument being had in Britain in the 80s, and with respect to everything except the NHS, Maggie won it. I hate that she won it, and I think it's half the reason Britain is in the mess it's in is now- NuLab governed irresponsibly precisely because she'd turned everyone into neoliberals- but winning it was her greatest accomplishment, and the writers either didn't notice, or didn't care. And since they didn't care about representing her side of the argument they didn't care about representing the opposing side, either ( ... )
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