Possible spoilers ahead!
“Darkest Hour” follows British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (Gary Oldman) during his early days in the position during World War II. But he wasn’t the Conservative Party’s first choice to take over for Neville Chambarlain. Party leaders had hoped to appoint Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax (Stephen Dillane) as Prime Minister, but he turned down the position.
The Conservative Party then appoints Winston Churchill, much to the dislike of Chamberlain, Halifax, and King George VI (Ben Mendelsohn). Within days, Chamberlain and Halifax plot to force his resignation if he doesn’t agree to negotiate with the Germans. Things escalate even further when the British army is days aways from being wiped out at Dunkirk.
After only a couple of weeks on the job, Churchill is taking hits from all sides. But thanks to the support of his loving wife Clementine (Kristin Scott Thomas), his family, and the help of his new personal secretary Elizabeth Layton (Lily James), Winston Churchill remains in the position of Prime Minister and begins to lead the country through the dark days of World War II.
I have to admit that I was little unsure about Gary Oldman’s portrayal of Churchill before seeing “Darkest Hour.” Not because I have anything against Oldman, but because it wasn’t that long ago that John Lightgow did such a brilliant job playing the Prime Minister in “The Crown.” But it turns out I had nothing to worry about. Gary Oldman’s Church hill is completely different from Lightgow’s version for two reasons:
1. The Winston Churchill in “Darkest Hour” is younger.
2. This Churchill is not as arrogant as the one we see in “The Crown.”
Furthermore, the “Darkest Hour” script works hard to showcase both Churchill’s challenge in winning over the people of Great Britain and his addition political adversaries. While at the same time, leaving room for some refreshing humor in the man’s personal life and relationships with those closest to him.
But a great script is only part of what makes this film work. Gary Oldman deserved the Oscar he won the other night, because this was by far his best work to date, and that’s saying something. He was Winston Churchill, and not once did I think to myself, “That’s Gary Oldman.” He was tough when he needed to be, but he was also kind when the situation called for it.
In fact, some of my favorite scenes were the ones between Churchill and personal secretary Elizabeth Layton (Lily James). In particular, the scene where he takes her to the top-secret map room to tell her exactly what’s going on. These few scenes showed that he cared for her, and that he came to trust her as well. This relationship gave Churchill heart, humor and vulnerability, making me care even more for him.
However, beyond Oldman’s transformative performance as Churchill and the relationship with his secretary, I also enjoyed seeing what went on during a key period in the Prime Minister’s tenure. Most of the time in movies and tv, we only get to see Churchill’s live during the final years of the war, or during his return to power years later. “Darkest Hour” is the first time I can remember seeing his early days as Prime Minister, and it was very informative.
The one problem I had with “Darkest Hour” was Ben Mendelsohn as King George VI. Mendelsohn is a fine actor, but if you’re going to play King George, you must showcase the man’s speech impediment. Unless I missed it, Mendelsohn doesn’t do it even once.
Now a few years ago this wouldn’t be an issue, but it’s only been a few years since “The King’s Speech” and the previously mentioned “The Crown,” both which feature King George. All I’m saying is Mendelsohn could have been more accurate in his portrayal.
Other than that, “Darkest Hour” is a well crafted, beautiful, and entertaining film that feels shorter than its two-hour run time. If you’re a fan of history, this is a film for you. Or if you’re a Gary Oldman fan, this is a film for you too. In either case, you will learn something about one of the most important men of the 20th century.
“Darkest Hour” final score: A-
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