December 03, 2004
Oliver Stone to bring Margaret Thatcher to big screen
So now the dust is settling through the epic battles of Alexander and his band of 25 Greek merry men, what is next for Oliver Stone? Apart from Alexander on DVD of course (ahem!). The biopic of Richard Brunton, celebrating his Birthday this very day? No.
Well it looks like he's lined up to create a biopic of one of the biggest leaders of our time. Oh yes, he's done JFK and Richard Nixon, now revel in the glory that is, Margaret Thatcher!
Yes, I couldn't believe it either, and re-read the story twice and got a second confirmation before posting. IMDB state quite clearly:
The director is refusing to let the critical mauling and disastrous box office performance of his latest film Alexander - based on Macedonian warrior Alexander The Great - and is pursuing his current dream of bringing the British leader's life to the big screen. And Stone is determined to land Meryl Streep for the lead role. He says, "Margaret Thatcher is an amazing woman and a good subject for a film. I'm thinking about Meryl Streep to play the Iron Lady."
I really can't stop laughing when I read this, honestly! Please, if you are British (even better Scottish) and can see through the tears of laughter, read on:
One friends says, "Oliver is one of Baroness Thatcher's greatest fans. Alexander was slammed by critics, so maybe he think it's time to concentrate on a great woman for a film. Thatcher was one of the most powerful political figures in the world and her life has been as colorful as any superstar."
Well there's a different take on it. Mind you, there's the Brighton bombing, Poll Tax in Scotland and her many public put downs of some of the strongest male Politicians and interviewers to put in. Yet there's just nothing that leaps out and strikes me as edge of your seat movie fodder. Oh wait, there is, what am I thinking, the Falklands War and perhaps the sinking of the Belgrano? Would those be classed as moments for the movie?
Still, it's hard to believe. Thoughts everyone, UK or not?
Posted by Richard Brunton at December 3, 2004 11:42 AM
Comments
Posted by: Con at December 3, 2004 02:10 PM
Could be a great movie. I am not British, I understand what it means to British people, but no doubt the picture would be as dark, if no darker, than that of Nixon. And the key is Meryl Streep, who is wonderful in Angels in America, and who plays a mischievous, bad manipulative female role in The Manchurian Candidate.
Stone about politics again: yes!
Posted by: Peter at December 3, 2004 02:21 PM
How the frack does Oliver Stone keep getting work? He's become the Paul Thomas Anderson of historical films.
Posted by: Franklin at December 4, 2004 01:32 AM
Entirely apart from the loathing I have for That Woman, I agree that this just doesn't make sense - just what could the story be for a Thatch film? Her struggle against the odds to get into power? Um, yeah. Her noble battles against the unions and the militants? Don't really see that working. Her fall from power, betrayed by the party she led to greatness? Well, if Stone wants to cast Geoffrey Howe, Douglas Hurd and John Major as the scheming villains of his film, he can be my guest...
The trouble is, while Thatcher was a driven, monomaniacal leader, she wasn't driven by demons and dark paranoias like Nixon. She just had a very British prim certainty, and a distate for 'the other'. I don't see that making a compelling character portrait (something Stone isn't exactly an expert at in any case), any more than I can see the workings of Tory Party grandees making a compelling political thriller. Maybe he's interested in her slow slide into alcoholism. But I doubt it.
Posted by: tom at December 4, 2004 12:32 PM
What in the world would make Stone admire Thatcher? He doesn't seem the type.
Posted by: Kathy K at December 6, 2004 06:45 PM
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Posted by: buy prevacid online at December 26, 2004 09:50 PM
I thinck Thatcher was one of the great leaders of the 20th cent.and is the exact reson that stone shouldn't make a film about her. i would hate to see Thatch disgrced buy another terrible oliver movie.
Posted by: william at January 19, 2005 09:42 PM
no women can act her perfect except maggie herself
Posted by: ling at April 21, 2005 02:29 PM
I think I speak for all people deep down inside when I say that a movie about Thatcher would be must see. She is one of the most compelling heroes of our time.
Posted by: Admiral Waugh at June 19, 2005 03:30 AM
Meryl Streep would be crap playing Mrs T. The only person capable of playing Maggie, is another Maggie; Maggie Smith.
Posted by: Ben at November 12, 2005 04:10 PM
It would be interesting to see what Stones treatment of her attitude to the hunger strikers in Northern Ireland would be, considering the climate in America today, I am not even sure it would be mentioned.
Maybe Colin Farrell could play Bobby Sands...