Movie Trailers Now Out for 'The Iron Lady,' 'The Undefeated'

Two movie trailers have been released for films that depict the lives of two prominent female politicians. One is of an upcoming fictional biopic of Margaret Thatcher starring Meryl Streep. The other is for "The Undefeated" about Sarah Palin.

The Thatcher trailer, from the movie "The Iron Lady," depicts two British political consultants who are attempting to remake the image of Thatcher, presumably still in the opposition before her ascent to Number 10 Downing Street, according to Coming Soon. They think she should dress a little better, getting rid of the hat and the pearls she wears. Then the camera focuses on Streep as Thatcher, who whimsically says that she will lose the hat but the pearls are "absolutely nonnegotiable." The consultants also think the future Iron Lady's voice is too high and lacks authority.

The trailer is an obvious attempt to encapsulate Thatcher's character, showing her willing to compromise on some points but standing fast on others. The bit about her voice is meant to be funny, considering the authority with which she spoke in Parliament and at cabinet meetings.

The biopic is suspected by some to be a hit job, based on rumors of some of the unflattering scenes and the involvement of Streep, an ultra liberal who is hardly a fan of Thatcher and her policies.

That problem will certainly not be apparent for "The Undefeated," which is meant to be an argument in favor of Palin's being elected president. The tagline of the movie is "Daughter, Wife, Mother, Warrior." The trailer consists of stock images from Palin's life as well as testimonials from friends and allies in Alaska, including a woman who started as one of her enemies but was won over.

Palin often compares herself to Thatcher and the comparison is not frivolous. Like Thatcher, Palin prides herself on being a politician motivated by principle, unwilling to bend or compromise for expediency's sake. Though her tag name is "Mama Grizzly", perhaps based on the concept of a Native American animal totem, she certainly also thinks of herself as an Iron Lady.

Like Thatcher, who was the daughter of a grocer, Palin was born of middle-class parents, in her case a science teacher. The two women were informed by their middle/working-class roots and hold the aristocracies of their respective countries in a certain disdain.

"The Iron Lady" may enhance Thatcher's image. It cannot tarnish it if it tries. She is too great a figure for that. But will "The Undefeated" propel Palin into the White House? It seems to be the plan, and like all things Palin it is very dangerous indeed to dismiss it out of hand.

Sources: The Undefeated Teaser Trailer, Vimeo

The Iron Lady Teaser Trailer, Coming Soon

New Thatcher Biopic, Starring Meryl Streep, to Trash the Iron Lady, Mark R. Whittington, Associated Content, July 19, 2010