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Darkest Hour (2017), PG-13, ★★★


Winston Churchill has been a prominent figure in Britain but without controversy and also in global history. He did so much for his country even though in the beginning, people in the political force were criticizing him as he focused more on the enemies than declaring peace for its nation. We'll get to some of the meat in its story as the movie focuses on his rise as Prime Minister during the first stages of World War II. Joe Wright, the director, tends to parade around the sets and scenes more with his camerawork and long takes and take his eye off of the material at times. However, the movie is redeemed by a performance that seems like a powerful person giving speeches and war strategies than an actor pretending to be that powerful person. It is a good movie with a great performance.

In May 1940, Parliament has lost faith with their current prime minister Neville Chamberlain (Ronald Pickup) and already looking to find a replacement. Every member of Parliament cites him as incompetent as Chamberlain had the inability to lead a country, especially when WWII is upon them. After Secretary Lord Halifax (Stephen Dillane) denies the consideration to be Prime Minister, he recommends one other person and nobody is pleased.

Winston Churchill (Gary Oldman) receives a telegram from King George VI (Ben Mendelsohn) to be invited to Buckingham Palace. Once he arrives, George offers Churchill the position of being appointed the Prime Minister. As he begins his term, Churchill addresses the members of Parliament that he has already begun to form a coalition party and that he plans to wage war against his enemies to ensure victory. Behind the curtains, Halifax comes up with a plan to try and get Churchill out so Chamberlain's policies can be reinstated. Churchill also has to negotiate the evacuation of 300,000 troops stranded on the beaches of Dunkirk, even though he wants to keep the news secret as his main concern is to keep France safe.


This has been a strange year but good year for movies associating with Dunkirk as movie like Their Finest and Dunkirk came out during the year. I love Christopher Nolan's epic movie but I have not seen Their Finest. However, Operation Dynamo, which is civilians rescuing soldiers from Dunkirk, started with Churchill as he was confident to get 300,000 soldiers home. Like I said, sometimes the movie gets carried away with its filmmaking but not all of it is so self-indulgent as the movie is confident as Joe Wright's direction is confident to make it as historically accurate and entertaining as possible.

However, the performances are the strength of the movie. Gary Oldman gives the performance of his career as both a man of power and a human being. Even though it does not take away from his excellent performance, the movie takes a little too much time to display him as a man of power but we see little time of him as a human being. For example, we get scenes between him and his wife played by Kristen Scott Thomas that felt organic and honest and we see Churchill as more of a human being who all has feeling as nobody has confidence for him. Ben Mendelsohn is always terrific as King George VI and Lily James is fine but has not much to do here.

I have not been a big fan of Joe Wright's work as I hated Pan and even though there are a few great things from Atonement, I was not a big fan of the movie as well. I think people who enjoy WWII history will enjoy this movie as you pay attention to the details and behind the scenes of war strategies and politics going on as Churchill was Prime Minister. But, I recommend it because Gary Oldman disappears as Churchill and is up to the task of bringing back an icon. It also has some unpredictable moments in the narrative that make it more balanced rather than bland and forgettable. I liked it.

***


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