Review of Darkest Hour (2017) by Mark W — 05 Mar 2018

An excellent, career-high performance by Gary Oldman, further punctuated and rightfully recognized by his Academy Award for Actor in a Leading Role. He truly brings Churchill to life, which is, in my opinion, the most challenging feat an actor can achieve.

The film's narrative seems very coherent to me, illustrating the pressure and lack of support Churchill faced in parliament during the first days he held office, and his stalwart tactical resourcefulness that saved the allies from total defeat at possibly the most critical juncture of the war.

The film also includes Oldman offering up stirring and passionate deliveries of some of Churchill's greatest speeches, giving due justice to his skill as an incredibly powerful orator. Heavily dramatized, Darkest Hour does brush over some specifics of the factual events and their order during the early days of the war, but this is to be expected and perfectly excusable in the overall mastery of Oldman's performance.