Review: Darkest Hour

Image courtesy of Focus Features.

Similar to Ava DuVernay's terrific "Selma," Joe Wright's entertaining and rousing "Darkest Hour" ditches the Great Man Biopic approach to historical drama, opting instead for telling a true story of a momentous period in history during which a specific historic figure made decisions that altered history. In other words, Winston Churchill is the lead character in "Darkest Hour," but this isn't a straightforward biopic that tells its subject's story from early age to career peaks and death.

As the film opens, British Parliament is calling upon Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain (Ronald Pickup) to step down after its members have lost faith in his ability to lead as Adolph Hitler and the Nazi Party ravage their way across the European continent, causing nation after nation to fall to the Reich. Churchill, played brilliantly by Gary Oldman, ends up being his replacement, although much to the consternation of many of England's leaders, King George VI (Ben Mendelsohn) included.

Chamberlain and Viscount Halifax (Stephen Dillane) want Churchill to broker a peace treaty with Germany through Italy to prevent what they see as unnecessary English bloodshed as Hitler romps across Europe. Churchill, accused of warmongering by some members of Parliament, declares that he intends to do no such thing, setting him up to butt heads with Halifax and Chamberlain and, occasionally, the king.

Since this is a warts-and-all bio film, Churchill is first introduced as a bit of a crank, shouting at the young typist (Lily James) whom he has just recently hired. The only person who is able to talk sense to him is his wife (Kristin Scott Thomas), who has good reason to worry that others won't respect and appreciate him as she does.

Once in power, Churchill attempts to hold steadfast in his promise to fight Hitler, but not without Halifax and Chamberlain attempting to exert pressure to make him relent. A pivotal scene during which Churchill rides the underground train in London and solicits the opinions of the working class people onboard threatens to become too Hollywoodish, but ends on a note that is stirringly effective.

It helps greatly that Oldman disappears so completely in the role enough to sell it. Not only is the actor weighted down with makeup that nearly renders him unrecognizable, but Oldman also nails the prime minister's vocal tics and accent. It's one of the best performances of the year and one that is sure to draw some awards attention, for those who care about such things.

Every year around this time, studios with their eyes on Oscars release movies about British royalty or leaders that occasionally are great ("The Queen"), often enough good and, at other times, stuffy. "Darkest Hour" is more tense and has higher stakes than your typical film about British monarchs or prime ministers. It's primarily set during a period of days when Churchill must decide whether to capitulate to Hitler or take up the fight.

Near the film's end, the prime minister gives his famed "We Shall Fight on the Beaches" speech and, at that point, it's a cathartic and rousing - especially considering the dark forces currently at play in our world and the fact that Nazism is not a distant specter of the past - moment in an overall very good film.