'Darkest Hour' Review

Nominated For: Best Picture, Best Actor; Gary Oldman, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and Best Production Design.

Won: Best Actor; Gary Oldman and Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

Darkest Hour informs audiences of the appointment of Winston Churchill to the office of British Prime Minister in the early days of World War II. The film then details the struggles he faced in his early days of office as Churchill must decide to negotiate a peace treaty with Nazi Germany or rally the British to fight for their freedom and liberty.

Some of you may or not remember that there was another World War II film released this year that depicted the mass evacuation of 338,000 troops from the beaches of Dunkirk, that being Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk of course. Well, Darkest Hour essentially is the administrative account behind those events. If you're looking to catch up on the year's awards contenders, I'd highly recommend watching the two together as a Dunkirk Double Feature in the order of Darkest Hour to first get the administrative context and then Dunkirk to see the events unfold, because I'm sure both films will bring in a substantial number of significant nominations based on the pedigree and craftsmanship. 

Joe Wright oversees the biographical picture with Anthony McCarten penning the screenplay, and each does a fine job in their respective roles of director and writer. The film is also stimulated by Bruno Delbonnel's captivating cinematography and a spellbinding score from Dario Marianelli that help Darkest Hour to stand out from the crowd of historical dramas. Unlike most bio-pics, Wright and McCarten don't simply define Churchill by his life story though. Instead, they let Churchill's character shine through Oldman's exceptional performance and the decision-making behind the evacuation of Dunkirk. One scene aboard a subway really speaks volume to the kind of man Churchill was, and you'll know exactly what I'm talking about once you see it... Although not entirely accurate, Wright's gone on record to say there's no evidence to suggest something like that didn't happen considering Churchill would often disappear and was known to speak with the common people to hear their opinion on matters. However, the film never overtly glorifies Churchill. Wright and McCarten always show him for who he really is, even if that means starting the film with Churchill absent from Parliament and instead lounging about at home eating breakfast in his bathrobe...

Darkest Hour depicts Churchill in the most humane light possible, as it's shown that a great deal of pressure surrounded him on a daily basis due to being in such a high position of authority. You never get the sense Wright is toying with the audience to trick them into thinking he's one of Great Britain's most courageous Prime Ministers purely on account of his success. Wright ensures audiences feel the massive weight on his shoulders. There's a scene of him having to administrate from the loo for goodness sake! Wright makes it known that Churchill wasn't dubbed the "British Bulldog" for his ferocity alone. Wright reveals that Churchill is a revered historical figure because of his courageous strength and resolve in leading a nation amidst unsurpassable adversity. 

To me, some of the best acting performances are those where an actor completely disappears into the role, and Gary Oldman does just that with his take on Winston Churchill. Oldman's almost entirely unrecognizable due to the superb seamless hair and makeup work, and on top of that, he captures the quirks and mannerisms of Churchill so well that you genuinely feel like you're watching Winston Churchill onscreen. Oldman's had a distinguished career, so I wouldn't go as far to saying this is his best performance per say, but it definitely ranks high among his best work. At this point in time, Oldman seems to be the frontrunner for that coveted Best Actor Oscar, and it would certainly be a well deserved win if he winds up with one more opportunity to hold up the trademark "V" for victory come March.

Oldman's also backed by some solid supporting actors including Lily James, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ben Mendelsohn, Ronald Pickup, and Stephen Dillane in the respective roles of the steadfast secretary Elizabeth Layton, loving wife Clemmie, the regal King George VI, nervous Neville Chamberlain, and intense adversary Lord Viscount Halifax.

Whether you're a history buff or cinephile wondering if The Darkest Hour represents Churchill's finest hours, there's no need to fret, because The Darkest Hour is victorious in its efforts to pay respects to Winston Churchill while telling an inspirational and exciting account of what transpired behind the scenes of the massive evacuation at Dunkirk.

Film Assessment: B+