Review of Darkest Hour (2017) by Adrian W — 27 Jan 2018

Excellent. The historical moment is dramatically enacted and it makes for a gripping story. Gary Oldman brings Churchill to life, warts and doubts and all, in an acting tour de force. His finest hour. Supported by a cast of fine actors who make the scenario totally believable. The waspish comments of Halifax that rhetoric was a poor defence against Hitler's tanks helped the audience and the film itself avoid the trap of facile submission to Churchill's fine words.

The overwhelming feeling that the film conveys - as did Dunkirk earlier - is that it was a very close call. Germany had conquered most of Europe and it would have been easy to surrender and thus escape the carnage which did ensue. So easy. And Western civilisation would have been destroyed. How lucky we were!