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The Iron Lady

By Bob on April 26, 2012 2:37 AM

It's easy to see why Meryl Streep was awarded an Oscar for her performance in The Iron Lady. She's absolutely dead-on brilliant in her portrayal of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and the story is ripped-from-the-headlines real.

Streep's Thatcher is a surprisingly intimate portrait of one of the most revered women of the 20th century. It's a warts-and-all image that isn't told in chronological order, instead it cuts between the past and present day to juxtapose the "then" with the "now".

 

We're introduced to young Margaret as a teenager working in the family grocery store. When she's not sweeping, she's swept up in her father's other career as mayor of their little English village. We learn early on that her conservative political views and likely, her world view, is shaped by her upbringing in the middle class British household.

 

She's accepted to Oxford - meets the love of her life, Denis (Jim Broadbent plays the older version of Denis in an Oscar-worthy performance), and returns home to run for a seat in Parliament. Her political career doesn't follow a 90-degree trajectory, but she handles wins and losses with the same resolute determination that would serve her well in later years at No. 10 Downing Street.

 

 

Director Phyllida Lloyd (Mama Mia!) tells the story of the complicated lady through historical flashbacks and her interaction with the deceased Denis. It's a little bit creepy and sometimes confusing method of storytelling. The cinematic device does keep the story moving along, but at times it's hard to tell if Thatcher is talking to "ghost" Denis, or we're watching a flashback from her career.

 

In many ways, The Iron Lady is a love story. It's about one woman's love of politics, her husband and her country. As the title suggests, she remains aloof throughout her political and personal life and in the end she's left with only vague memories of her victories and defeats. A life this dedicated, this single-minded, isn't fertile ground for friendship and it proves to be her ultimate undoing.  

 

The Iron Lady paints a portrait of one of the most engaging and enigmatic leaders of the modern era. It will leave you with admiration for her determination and sadness for her sacrifice. 

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Diabetes-Friendly Chicken Burrito Bowl

ChickenBurritoBowlEverydayDiabetes 600.jpg

By Laura Cipullo and Lisa Mikus, authors of Everyday Diabetes Meals
Image credit: Colin Erricson

Prepare your own Mexican quick fix with this Chipotle-inspired bowl. Carbs are moderated by filling the bowl with beans, extra veggies and chicken. No need for rice, since the beans count as carbs.

Tips:

If you love tomatoes, increase the quantity to 1/2 cup, but note that the carbohydrates will also increase.

If preparing this recipe for one person, cut all of the ingredients in half. Or simply prepare the full recipe up to the end of step 2 and store leftover chicken and vegetable-bean mixture in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave on High for 1 to 2 minutes, or until heated through, and continue with step 3.

Health Bite: The iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc in black beans help to keep bones strong and healthy.

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Windy City

It's been almost 18 years since Alison Krauss gave us a solo album, but the wait is over with Windy City. The release (her fifth solo studio album) features ten covers of classic songs (and some bonus tracks) she picked with producer Buddy Cannon.

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