One would assume that a biopic about one of the most prominent women that ever lived, starring this generation's most respected actress, would be an equation for first-rate entertainment. Yet, this is a misguided mess in which director Phyllida Lloyd, who previously brought us "Mamma Mia!," finds herself completely in over her head. Not even a dedicated performance from Meryl Streep can redeem the film's rushed pacing and unevenness.

One would assume that a biopic about one of the most prominent women that ever lived, starring this generation's most respected actress, would be an equation for first-rate entertainment. Yet, this is a misguided mess in which director Phyllida Lloyd, who previously brought us "Mamma Mia!," finds herself completely in over her head. Not even a dedicated performance from Meryl Streep can redeem the film's rushed pacing and unevenness.

The same problems that plagued "La Vie en Rose," starring Marion Cotillard as Edith Piaf, exist in "The Iron Lady," a biopic about Margaret Thatcher starring Meryl Streep as the former British prime minister. While both films feature strong performances from strong actresses playing strong, real-life women, the scripts are weakened by going strictly by the numbers.

Well, we have seen 10-plus assorted letters to the editor, columnist's columns and Vents all portraying the president as a victim of a horrendous insult. What a hoot?

Three students from Gilbert’s Val Vista Elementary School are perplexed.

Three students from Gilbert’s Val Vista Elementary School are perplexed.

WASHINGTON - In a quiet, yet very public, moment of tenderness, Nancy Reagan visited her husband's casket in the Capitol Rotunda one final time before the funeral cortege departed for Washington's National Cathedral.

It's tempting to think that if we just elect the right people next week, the clouds will part, the sun will break through and everything will be fine again. But it's not that simple. Whoever is president the next four years will face daunting problems. We've dug some big holes for ourselves.

This past week I have been in Europe to help commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. I went into this trip with a great deal of enthusiasm and an expectation that the heroes responsible for that momentous event be justly recognized. Sadly, I was instead reminded of how much we have willingly forgotten.

WASHINGTON - In a final hail to the chief beneath marble arches and somber skies, the nation bade a lingering goodbye to Ronald Reagan on Friday, mourners remembering his "lightness of spirit" and his stoic widow placing a tiny kiss on his casket before the westward journey to a hilltop grave.

John Blundell, the English writer and biographer of Margaret Thatcher, was asked what advice the Iron Lady would have had for today’s presidential candidates. She would have been concerned with mounting debt, he said, but her first priority would have been to avoid, at all costs, a government takeover of health care. She knew that once you have a government-run system, you can never get rid of it, no matter how ruinous it is.

John Blundell, the English writer and biographer of Margaret Thatcher, was asked what advice the Iron Lady would have had for today’s presidential candidates. She would have been concerned with mounting debt, he said, but her first priority would have been to avoid, at all costs, a government takeover of health care. She knew that once you have a government-run system, you can never get rid of it, no matter how ruinous it is.

It’s well known how I feel about Hillary. Wouldn’t ya’ know that a woman finally gets a shot at the White House and it turns out she’s a chameleon who’ll drag us further into Karl Marxist socialism.

A structural analysis of the Thunderbird Activity Center early this year left the leadership of Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale with a difficult decision: spend a great deal of money to bring the converted World War II hangar up to safety standards, or say goodbye.

"I am absolutely thrilled with (John) McCain's stand to 'clean up' education in the U.S. During his acceptance speech, I was wondering if the (Gilbert Public Schools) board and (Superintendent Dave) Allison were cringing. ... Please start here, in our district, in January, when you start your cleaning up the bureaucracy. We'll be anxiously waiting for you!"

Scottsdale is assembling a tent at WestWorld with more open space than any other in the U.S. in the hope that it will retain the nation’s largest classic car auction and lure new tenants to the city-run venue.

Scottsdale is assembling a tent at WestWorld with more open space than any other in the U.S. in the hope that it will retain the nation’s largest classic car auction and lure new tenants to the city-run venue.

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. - At a sunset hilltop ceremony, a week of public mourning for Ronald Reagan came to a close with his three surviving children poignantly remembering their father - the 40th president of the United States - as loving and dedicated.

We encourage readers to submit letters to the editor on issues of interest to East Valley residents. Submissions should be no longer than 300 words, factually accurate and original thoughts of the writer. Please be brief and include name, address, city and phone number for verification. Letters and call-in comments may be edited for clarity and length.

Recently I saw the film The Iron Lady in which (a brilliant) Meryl Streep portrays the former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The movie provided us with three magnificent portrayals of life. A simply outstanding performance by Ms. Streep, who won a Golden Globe for her performance, a portrait of vignettes that depict Ms. Thatcher’s rise to the position as Britain’s Prime Minister, a position she held from 1979 to 1990, longer than any other British PM, and last, but not least, it exposed the reality that even the Iron Lady has no immunity against such a deadly disease, from which there is no escape, and for which no cure currently exists.

WASHINGTON -The capital honored Ronald Reagan on Thursday with a procession by tens of thousands past his casket, quiet prelude to a majestic funeral shaped by his own hand. Visitors from the Reagan-era ranks of power and friendship flocked to his widow's side.

Susan Stamper Brown, guest commentary

Two women from Islamic countries, with vastly different ways of addressing women’s rights, will speak in the Valley next week.