1. The Iron Lady
Phyllida Lloyd was always on a hiding to nothing when it came to The Iron Lady. The ethics of making a biographical film about somebody who wasn't (at that point) dead aside, Lloyd's subject was perhaps uniquely difficult to portray on film, such was Margaret Thatcher's divisive nature. Simply put, there was always going to be one crowd who hated this film, and another who would absolutely love it and invite their friends to go watch it again. Yet somehow, Lloyd defied expectation and disappointed everyone, which is weird when you look at the pre-release coverage. As it stood, everyone knew the portrayal would involve a dementia-addled Thatcher, and despite criticisms of insensitivity, many people didn't mind. I'm not talking about the people and lord knows, there's quite a few who wanted to see her suffering up there on the big screen, I just mean it in filmic terms. Dementia can prove quite a decent plot-driver especially when all the action is taking place retrospectively and it appeared from trailers and stills that though they were using a questionable methods, they were still revisiting the flashpoints of Thatcher's tenure with a reverent tone. And you know what? That's fine. Though the film would've p*ssed off more than a few people, it would've been a piece of bold film-making that would've definitely found an audience among the woman's many legions of admirers. Yet this wasn't what happened. Oh sure, there were still elements of praise in the film, but the whole biography aspect often took a backseat to present-day Thatcher struggling with dementia and estranging her children. I guess one could argue they were attempting to humanise her and make the film more accessible, but by that point the pre-release buzz (and the fact she is Thatcher) had done more than enough to keep her vociferous opponents away. Conversely, those who went in expecting a greatest hits of Britain's first female Prime Minister were left cold by the sight of one of the country's leading political figures pottering round her house and being accosted by Jim Broadbent in fancy dress. It wasn't what they were expecting, that's for sure. So that's what I think. Know of any more? Feel free to comment!