Review of Darkest Hour (2017) by B T — 03 Jan 2018

Darkest Hour is very much a companion piece to Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk. I would love to see someone cut these two films together, and make a five hour epic about Dunkirk. I wouldn't watch it, but someone would.

Darkest Hour is a fascinating look at the behind the scenes of the evacuation of Dunkirk, and the hostile war rooms led by Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Narrative-wise this was hit or miss for me.

The first act of watching Winston Churchill get elected as Prime Minister drags heavily. That first act, and other portions of this story can be dull as hell. But once he's in office and the Dunkirk conflict comes to fruition is when Darkest Hour gets great.

We get so many great scenes of dialogue and tension in these war rooms, where Churchill is tested whether to surrender to Hitler to save the Dunkirk boys, or to resist and fight to the end. Gary Oldman is phenomenal and gives one of the years best performances of the year as Churchill.

Lily James is surprisingly one of the best parts of the movie. The dialogue, the performances, the fucking scene transitions are fantastic.....BUT the single best thing about watching The Darkest Hour is Bruno Delbonnel's cinematography.

He was the cinematographer for Llewyn Davis, Amélie, and his work here is some of the best cinematography i've ever seen in a film....ever. I know everyone wants Deakins to finally win his Oscar for Blade Runner, but I will say he has some tough competition now.

Joe Wright proves he's a masterful director here. The film isnt all great. Again, at times it was so boring I ran up the stairs of the auditorium, took my clothes off and rolled down them. Thankfully didnt break a bone.

I think in Canada you get free health insurance...but im not in canada. I'm in Publix and Publix chicken is pretty good, but the best goddamn chicken in the country is Chick Fil A, baby!