Darkest Hour Movie Review

The new historical drama Darkest Hour is a gripping portrayal of Winston Churchill's heroic efforts in leading the United Kingdom during one of its darkest hours. Directed by Joe Wright, and starring Gary Oldman as Churchill, the film offers a riveting take on the Prime Minister's struggles to rally his nation against the Nazi threat during World War II. With stunning cinematography, beautiful set designs, and an all-star cast, Darkest Hour is sure to leave viewers with a powerful impression of one of history's most dramatic episodes.

Darkest Hour

is a 2017 British war drama film directed by Joe Wright and written by Anthony McCarten. The film stars Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill and follows the events of his early days as Prime Minister during World War II.

It is a profound and insightful look into the courage and determination of Churchill to lead Britain in the face of great odds.

The movie

follows Churchill as he takes on the role of Prime Minister during the difficult days of 1940 when Britain was facing imminent invasion from Nazi Germany. With his unwavering determination and courage, Churchill rallies the people of Britain to fight back against Hitler's forces.

The movie

is also a personal story, examining Churchill's struggles with depression and his relationship with his wife Clementine.

The movie features a stellar cast, with Gary Oldman delivering an Oscar-winning performance as Churchill. His portrayal captures Churchill's ambition, strength of will, and courage to do what is right. Other notable performances include Lily James as Clementine Churchill, Ben Mendelsohn as King George VI, Stephen Dillane as Viscount Halifax, and Kristin Scott Thomas as Clementine's confidante.

Darkest Hour

is a powerful exploration of courage in the face of overwhelming odds.

The movie examines the strength of character that can be found in even the darkest hour. It also shows how great leaders can make a difference in times of crisis. The themes of courage, determination, and perseverance are explored throughout the movie and provide an inspiring message for viewers.

The film

received widespread critical acclaim.

It won two Oscars for Best Actor (Gary Oldman) and Best Makeup and Hairstyling and was nominated for four more Academy Awards including Best Picture. The film has also been praised for its cinematography and production design.

Overall, Darkest Hour

is an inspiring tale of courage in the face of adversity. Its powerful story and stellar performances have earned it numerous accolades and awards.

Plot

Darkest Hour follows the story of Winston Churchill as he takes on the role of Prime Minister during World War II.

The film follows Churchill as he navigates the politics of the time, facing opposition from both within his own party and from other countries. The film examines Churchill's courage and determination to lead Britain in the face of great odds. As the film progresses, Churchill must make difficult decisions in order to ensure the survival of his country. The movie also looks at the personal life of Churchill, showing his close relationship with his wife Clementine, and their relationship with their children. It also highlights his tendency to be stubborn and determined in his quest for victory. Darkest Hour also focuses on the events leading up to the Battle of Britain, as well as the aftermath, and examines how Churchill's leadership was integral in ensuring Britain's victory.

It also touches on Churchill's relationships with other world leaders, such as Franklin Roosevelt, and how these relationships impacted events.

Themes

Darkest Hour is a film that explores themes of courage and determination in the face of great odds. At the heart of the movie is Winston Churchill, a man who showed tremendous courage and strength in leading Britain during World War II. Through the film, viewers are able to explore the courage and determination Churchill had to summon in order to lead Britain in a time of great turmoil. Themes of courage and determination are explored throughout the movie.

Churchill is presented as a man of conviction, with a strong will to do what he believes is right for Britain. He is willing to take risks and make difficult decisions, often against popular opinion. The film also shows Churchill's ability to inspire and rally those around him to fight against the odds. The themes of courage and determination are also explored through other characters in the movie.

There are numerous examples of characters acting with courage and determination, such as Churchill's wife Clementine or King George VI. These characters show that even in the darkest hour, there is hope for those willing to stand up and fight. Darkest Hour is a powerful and inspirational film that explores themes of courage and determination.

Cast

The cast of Darkest Hour is led by British actor Gary Oldman in the role of Winston Churchill.

Oldman underwent a remarkable transformation to become Churchill, with the help of prosthetics, makeup, and extensive voice coaching. His performance is one of the highlights of the movie and he has since gone on to receive multiple awards for his portrayal of the wartime Prime Minister. The other major players in the cast include Kristin Scott Thomas as Clementine Churchill, Ben Mendelsohn as King George VI, Stephen Dillane as Viscount Halifax, and Lily James as Elizabeth Layton. The film also features a host of British character actors such as Ronald Pickup, Richard Lumsden, and Nicholas Jones.

All of the performances are strong and effective, helping to bring the story to life.

Critical Reception

Darkest Hour received widespread critical acclaim, with many praising Gary Oldman's performance as Winston Churchill. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Gary Oldman, and Best Cinematography. It won two awards, Best Actor and Best Makeup and Hairstyling. The film was praised for its cinematography, direction, performances, and story. The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw gave the film four stars out of five and wrote that the film was “a powerful, intelligent and thoroughly entertaining biopic of Winston Churchill during his first weeks as British prime minister”.

Variety's Owen Gleiberman called it “a highly charged portrait of Churchill in action”.The New York Times' Manohla Dargis wrote that the film was “a stirringly affecting portrait of a man, a nation and a time”. Los Angeles Times' Kenneth Turan praised the film's “accurate historical details” and said that it “has a spirit of truth that is remarkably moving”.Darkest Hour has an approval rating of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 247 reviews, with an average rating of 7.7/10. The site's critical consensus reads: “Darkest Hour offers audiences a stirring look at Winston Churchill's early days as Britain's Prime Minister — and Gary Oldman's performance as the iconic leader is nothing short of triumphant.”Darkest Hour is an inspiring and powerful movie that captures the courage of Winston Churchill and Britain during WWII. The stellar performances of Gary Oldman and the rest of the cast, the well-crafted plot, and the thoughtful themes make it a truly captivating experience. It has been widely acclaimed and has earned numerous awards and accolades.

Darkest Hour is a must-watch for anyone interested in learning more about Churchill or WWII history.