Ina S (InaHH)

I do not get Baseball, and somehow I think only Americans do. But I do love Football (or Soccer if you are indeed American), and really this film could be about any sport in which big money battles with love of the game. The true story of Billy Beane is told quietly and through an amazing cast, which even includes Brad Pitt. Yes, that Brad Pitt I like to ridicule so much for his one-expression-only-acting. As Billy Beane he actually is a great fit, he convincingly plays a man driven by passion but ultimately always lacking the last bit of ambition needed for a truly successful sportsman. The film might not be as overtly emotional as many other sports films, but that is actually a good thing - it skips the over-the-top drama in favour for a more realistic and all the more interesting take. Actually, my favourite Best Picture contender in the Oscar run so far.

Read through some reviews and was surprised by the very lukewarm reception of this. It is not a standard biopic, but rather a fascinating film about ageing, ambition, ideals, loneliness and, most of all, love. Meryl Streep does a tremendous job of portraying Thatcher's authority and sheer presence at the height of her life and her fight against loneliness and mental deterioration in her old age. I was relieved that this wasn't a straight-up biopic recounting the history of Britain's first and only female Prime Minister - considering her politics that would have been a hard pill to swallow for my leftie heart. Instead, the film concentrates on her very firm ideals and her incredible strength and stamina at various stages in her life. From showing a young, idealistic Margaret who responds to a marriage proposal by giving a passionate speech about what she doesn't want her life to be like, to portraying an old woman fighting the onset of mental illness with equally impressive strength and determination, this is an acute psychological analysis. And so much more interesting than a chronological recounting of Thatcher's life. The best moments of the film are those that show the relationship between Thatcher and her husband, with all its snark and love. Jim Broadbent manages to shine opposite Meryl Streep, which is no small feat. An Oscar for Meryl Streep should really only be a formality.