Year: 2017
Director: Joe Wright
Starring: Gary Oldman, Lily James, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ben Mendelsohn, and Stephen Dillane
Tagline: Never, never, never surrender
Synopsis: Winston Churchill's tumultuous first weeks as prime minister during WWII.
Tagline: Never, never, never surrender
Synopsis: Winston Churchill's tumultuous first weeks as prime minister during WWII.
Review
If you haven't heard of Joe Wright's Darkest Hour, that's unfortunate. The film is brilliant and already getting awards buzz.
The story follows the first few weeks of Winston Churchill's first term as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Neville Chamberlain has resigned after a vote of no confidence. Hitler's armies are steadily taking over all of Europe. British and French troops are retreating to Dunkirk. Some parties in the government believe a treaty with Germany is Britain's only hope of survival. Into this scene strides fiery and tenacious Winston Churchill: the right man, in the right place, at the right time.
The story primarily rests on Winston Churchill, portrayed by (a completely unrecognizable) Gary Oldman. I will be stunned if Oldman is not nominated for Best Actor. He fully embodies the role. His intellect, charisma, temerity, vulnerability, and wit carry the film from start to finish. For a film entitled Darkest Hour, there is a surprising amount of humor, much of which emanates from Churchill's keen wit.
As some of the characters freely admit, Churchill is a somewhat fearsome, offputting individual. His wife regrets that others don't see him as she does or love him as she does. This is where Lily James' character, Elizabeth Layton, comes in. Elizabeth was one of Churchill's personal secretaries. In the film, she not only serves to typewrite his speeches, she serves to be his link to the common people. She provides his first glimpse at the strength and resolve of the British people. She also provides a way for us as the audience to approach the seemingly unapproachable Churchill.
It's always interesting to watch a story like this from the safe side of history. We know the outcome. That the film remains engaging and gripping is a tribute to the filmmakers and actors.
I'll admit, there were times when I wanted to take Neville Chamberlain and Lord Halifax (both proponents for negotiations) by the lapels and shout at them that a treaty with Hitler and Nazi Germany would be ludicrous, dangerous, and ultimately disastrous. They had no idea what Hitler and the Nazis were truly up to. And they didn't know. But we know from this side of history. WWII was not a repeat of WWI. Our modern perspective can make some characters' reasoning appear baffling.
Although the events of Darkest Hour took place almost 80 years ago, the story is ever relevant. It is a story about leadership, true leadership. It is a story about standing up for what is right, rather than what is easy. It is a story about raising a light in the darkness. And it is inspiring.
One random note: director Joe Wright clearly loves the visual nature of typewriters. There were many extreme closeups for dramatic emphasis. Typewriters and Winston Churchill were both about words and the placement thereof. It works well. (It's a bit sad how visually boring modern technology is by comparison.)
The film is rated PG-13 for thematic material and some swearing. It also shouldn't come as much of a surprise that Churchill spends large portions of the film smoking and/or drinking.
Darkest Hour is a really good film that turns into a great film by the third act. It deserves the awards buzz it is getting. And it deserves a view. It also pairs nicely with another of my favorite films from this year: Dunkirk. (Operation Dynamo -- the code name for the evacuation of Dunkirk -- was a crucial part of Churchill's first few weeks in office and helped him gain the approval he needed.) If you enjoy WWII dramas or good dramas in general, don't miss Darkest Hour.
*** Spoiler Section ***
There are two scenes in the film which turned it from being a really good film I was glad I was watching into a great film I look forward to owning and watching again.
The first scene may very well have happened. It starts with Churchill -- who battled with depression -- being comforted and encouraged by his wife. She then lets in a visitor: none other than King George VI. What follows is a terrific, honest exchange.
The second scene probably didn't occur in reality. But it works brilliantly in the film. On his way to meet with the War Cabinet, Churchill goes rogue, leaves his chauffeured car, and takes the Underground instead. What follows is a humorous but stirring scene between Churchill and common Londoners, all of whom are ready to fight on and never surrender. Fictitious it may be, but it is great nonetheless. It's the kind of scene we wish had really happened.
The story follows the first few weeks of Winston Churchill's first term as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Neville Chamberlain has resigned after a vote of no confidence. Hitler's armies are steadily taking over all of Europe. British and French troops are retreating to Dunkirk. Some parties in the government believe a treaty with Germany is Britain's only hope of survival. Into this scene strides fiery and tenacious Winston Churchill: the right man, in the right place, at the right time.
The story primarily rests on Winston Churchill, portrayed by (a completely unrecognizable) Gary Oldman. I will be stunned if Oldman is not nominated for Best Actor. He fully embodies the role. His intellect, charisma, temerity, vulnerability, and wit carry the film from start to finish. For a film entitled Darkest Hour, there is a surprising amount of humor, much of which emanates from Churchill's keen wit.
As some of the characters freely admit, Churchill is a somewhat fearsome, offputting individual. His wife regrets that others don't see him as she does or love him as she does. This is where Lily James' character, Elizabeth Layton, comes in. Elizabeth was one of Churchill's personal secretaries. In the film, she not only serves to typewrite his speeches, she serves to be his link to the common people. She provides his first glimpse at the strength and resolve of the British people. She also provides a way for us as the audience to approach the seemingly unapproachable Churchill.
It's always interesting to watch a story like this from the safe side of history. We know the outcome. That the film remains engaging and gripping is a tribute to the filmmakers and actors.
I'll admit, there were times when I wanted to take Neville Chamberlain and Lord Halifax (both proponents for negotiations) by the lapels and shout at them that a treaty with Hitler and Nazi Germany would be ludicrous, dangerous, and ultimately disastrous. They had no idea what Hitler and the Nazis were truly up to. And they didn't know. But we know from this side of history. WWII was not a repeat of WWI. Our modern perspective can make some characters' reasoning appear baffling.
Although the events of Darkest Hour took place almost 80 years ago, the story is ever relevant. It is a story about leadership, true leadership. It is a story about standing up for what is right, rather than what is easy. It is a story about raising a light in the darkness. And it is inspiring.
One random note: director Joe Wright clearly loves the visual nature of typewriters. There were many extreme closeups for dramatic emphasis. Typewriters and Winston Churchill were both about words and the placement thereof. It works well. (It's a bit sad how visually boring modern technology is by comparison.)
The film is rated PG-13 for thematic material and some swearing. It also shouldn't come as much of a surprise that Churchill spends large portions of the film smoking and/or drinking.
Darkest Hour is a really good film that turns into a great film by the third act. It deserves the awards buzz it is getting. And it deserves a view. It also pairs nicely with another of my favorite films from this year: Dunkirk. (Operation Dynamo -- the code name for the evacuation of Dunkirk -- was a crucial part of Churchill's first few weeks in office and helped him gain the approval he needed.) If you enjoy WWII dramas or good dramas in general, don't miss Darkest Hour.
*** Spoiler Section ***
There are two scenes in the film which turned it from being a really good film I was glad I was watching into a great film I look forward to owning and watching again.
The first scene may very well have happened. It starts with Churchill -- who battled with depression -- being comforted and encouraged by his wife. She then lets in a visitor: none other than King George VI. What follows is a terrific, honest exchange.
The second scene probably didn't occur in reality. But it works brilliantly in the film. On his way to meet with the War Cabinet, Churchill goes rogue, leaves his chauffeured car, and takes the Underground instead. What follows is a humorous but stirring scene between Churchill and common Londoners, all of whom are ready to fight on and never surrender. Fictitious it may be, but it is great nonetheless. It's the kind of scene we wish had really happened.
Quotable Quotes
- "How do you drink during the day?" "Practice." -- King George VI and Winston Churchill
- "Will you stop interrupting me when I'm interrupting you!" -- Winston Churchill to Lord Halifax
- "What just happened?" "He mobilized the English language and sent it off to war." -- Parliamentarian and Lord Halifax
- "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender!" -- Winston Churchill
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