Review of Darkest Hour (2017) by Douglas C — 27 Dec 2017

"Darkest Hour" finds "Atonement" and "Pride and Prejudice" director Joe Wright operating at the height of his powers with a match-made-in-Heaven stirring portrayal custom built for the talents of the formative Gary Oldman.

Taking place in the early years of WWII with the Allied forces poised for defeat after an advancing Nazi Army smells victory, the movie transports the viewer using wonderful, period-rich detail and characterization to tell how the unthinkable almost happened.

The movie doesn't take itself too seriously and in such capable hands, doesn't pull any punches when it comes to the storytelling. Oldman, using extensive prosthesis, completely disappears into the Churchill role and, perhaps if not for him, the flick wouldn't be as effective as he is in more than 80% of the finished product.

Joe Wright shoots the movie with the elegance and showmanship that he's proven before with films like the Tolstoy adaptation "Anna Karenina". To call Oldman's performance as riveting would be a total understatement.

As an actor, the demands of the role include many extended monologues that Oldman absolutely nails making the viewer believe every sentiment and evocation. There are some occasional pacing issues in the film's midsection but they are relatively minor.

If you are a theater-goer that loves a crisply made period piece than this will definitely make it to the top of your end-of-the-year watch lists. If you are a viewer who remains unfamiliar with this point in history, "Darkest Hour" will prove to be an excellent primer/appetizer to finding out more about what really went down and just how close totalitarian rule would come to pass under the Nazi regime.

My Academy Awards guess will be Oldman going head-to-head with fan favorite Daniel Day-Lewis for top acting honors. To the victor goes the spoils.