Filed under: Published film reviews | Tags: Bill Nighy, coal miners, Dominic West, George Mackay, Imelda Staunton, Margaret Thatcher, Paddy Considine, strikes, unions, Wales
Realizing that they share a common enemy in Margaret Thatcher, the police, and the conservative press, London-based gays and lesbians give support to striking coal miners in 1984 Wales.
PRIDE is exactly the kind of film British filmmakers do best: a focused local story based on hard facts and blended with sentimental fiction. It’s poignant and humorous at the same time. Add a stellar ensemble cast and a nostalgic soundtrack, and you’ve got yourself a film worth loving. I found myself literally sitting on the edge of my seat, my spine tingling in response to this film’s charm. I laughed. I cried. And in lieu of my inability to join their ranks and raise a fist in solidarity, I clapped with joy (and relief) that such artful and engaging films are being made.
Filed under: Published film reviews | Tags: Abi Morgan, Denis Thatcher, Jim Broadbent, Margaret Thatcher, Meryl Streep, Phyllida Lloyd
Margaret Thatcher (Meryl Streep), now in her 80’s, is cleaning out her husband Denis’ closet (Jim Broadbent) and thereby putting his ‘ghost’ to rest. While doing so, and with the onset of dementia, she is confronted by memories of her extraordinary and controversial career.
The (side) love story between Maggie and her husband (as a ghost and as her foil) is interesting, humourous, and often touching. One can also almost relate to Maggie’s growing fear about her dementia. However, this film plays like homage to a woman who was divisive and ideologically driven and, as presented here, was this way with some justification. Sure, capitalism in theory is compelling, but once you factor in human nature, it’s incredibly flawed. Sure, she was a grocers daughter and so compared to the upper classes she was working class, but she wasn’t to the great majority. Sure, she went to university on a scholarship, but it was to Oxford. Sure, she was a pioneer by the fact of her being the only woman in Parliament at that time, but this was also a marketing tool for her.
Ultimately, Great Britain is still reeling from her actions – the miners, the unions, the Falklands, and the Poll Tax to name a few things – and, combined with “Reaganomics” in the U.S., her reign is arguably to blame for much of the disparity of wealth today. However, Meryl Streep in the title role is absolutely fantastic, and it’s because of her that one should see this film.
Victoria Jelinek 