The Lady Reviews
His story telling clings hard to sentimentality rather than historical facts, but thanks to an Oscar worthy performance by Yeoh and a stark realism...The Lady makes for a powerful, if not weighty, biopic.
Full Review | Feb 9, 2020
Surely the definitive biography of Suu Kyi has yet to be made, but even if "The Lady" requires footnotes, it's intriguing enough to inspire one to go look them up.
Full Review | Dec 20, 2018
It takes some doing to rob the biopic of Nobel prize-winning pro-democracy Burmese activist Aung San Suu Kyi of drama and tension. But, with his skewed view of history and ropey storytelling, Besson manages it.
Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Nov 6, 2018
A bland title...is not the only sign of mellowing.
Full Review | Aug 30, 2018
The story of Aung San Suu Kyi as depicted by Michelle Yeoh is incredibly powerful.
Full Review | Sep 15, 2017
Screenwriter Rebecca Frayn's full feature debut is alluring, fascinating to watch and, most importantly, makes you care about Suu Kyi.
Full Review | Sep 8, 2017
The film-makers are more deft in dramatising these little-known details that never made the headlines, and the tears of genuine sensitivity they elicit may wash away _ or cover up _ the shortcomings in bringing this real-life human struggle to the screen.
Full Review | May 9, 2016
The dramatic moments are few and far between, and the film seems like it walks in the footsteps of Richard Attenborough's Gandhi at times. Besson definitely tries to present Suu Kyi in a similarly reverent light.
Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Apr 21, 2013
Full Review | Original Score: C | Aug 26, 2012
The villains are caricatures, the emotions melodramatic, the politics black-and-white - yet French director Luc Besson moves the saga briskly, and does not back away from the violence.
Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jun 30, 2012
Biopic of Ang San Suu Kyi a notch above the rest
Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | May 24, 2012
Great person, but not a great movie
Full Review | May 24, 2012
Besson hits familiar biopic beats, but the formula could have used something a little more daring to liven things up.
Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | May 9, 2012
It doesn't rouse the spirit. It barely breathes.
Full Review | May 3, 2012
A stately, high-minded historical docudrama that's long--very long--on hagiography but extremely short on energy.
Full Review | Original Score: C | Apr 27, 2012
The Lady is a slog, a two-and-a-half hour, painted-on-wood exercise in political iconography.
Full Review | Original Score: 1/4 | Apr 27, 2012
"The Lady" is a two-hour trip into earnestness, from which audiences will want a little liberation of their own.
Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Apr 27, 2012
The Lady doesn't do justice to the amazing life and democratic crusade of Aung San Suu Kyi despite excellent performances by David Thewlis and Michelle Yeoh.
Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Apr 26, 2012
The Lady is little more than a history lesson - although a beautifully presented one - wrapped in the pink gloss of a G-rated potboiler evidenced in Suu Kyi's and Michael's storybook romance.
Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Apr 26, 2012
Well-meaning biopic will barely satisfy people's curiosity about a little-seen woman. Played up as more tragic personal sacrifice than politics, she remains a noble symbol.
Full Review | Original Score: 4/10 | Apr 23, 2012