Darkest Hour

Rating: 8/10 (21 January 2018)

I watched the trailer for this movie, not recognising the leading actor playing the iconic British statesman, I was shocked when I realised who it was, you can only recognise him by the eyes and voice, and then it got attention during Awards Season, so I was highly excited to watch it, directed by Joe Wright (Pride & Prejudice, Atonement, Hanna). Basically in 1940, during World War II, Britain and France are Allies fighting against Nazi Germany, the Germans have invaded Belgium and the Netherlands, leading to the Opposition Labour Party in Parliament demanding the resignation of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain (Ronald Pickup), having lost faith in his leadership and weak protection of the peace. Chamberlain tells Conservative Party advisors that he wants Lord Halifax (Stephen Dillane) to be his successor, but Halifax is not ready to become Prime Minister, the only other man who the other parties will support is Winston Churchill (Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe winning Gary Oldman), the First Lord of the Admiralty. Elizabeth Layton (Lily James) becomes Churchill's new secretary, but on her first day upsets him, not following instructions properly, he causes her to cry and she considers quitting, but Churchill's wife Clemmie (BAFTA nominated Kristin Scott Thomas) has a word with him, telling him to be nicer to others. King George VI (Ben Mendelsohn) reluctantly invites Churchill to the palace to form a government, including Chamberlain and Halifax, but he wants his friend Halifax to be Prime Minister. Although he has been right about the danger of Hitler, Churchill has a poor reputation due to various past incidents, and Parliament dislikes the new Prime Minister's first speech promising "Blood, toil, tears and sweat". Churchill refuses to negotiate for peace, he believes that the Germans are untrustworthy, but the French Prime Minister thinks him delusional for not admitting that the Allies are losing the Battle of France. Halifax and Chamberlain agree, there is the May 1940 War Cabinet crisis, so they plan to resign from the government if Churchill refuses to negotiate peace, causing a vote of no confidence that will allow Halifax to become Prime Minister. British forces are trapped at Dunkirk and Calais, against the advice of the War Cabinet, Churchill orders Brigadier Claude Nicholson (Richard Glover) to lead a suicide attack to distract the enemy, while the soldiers at Dunkirk are evacuated in Operation Dynamo. The Little Ships of Dunkirk rescue 300,000 British soldiers, but Belgium surrenders, France will soon surrender, a German invasion of Britain seems inevitable, and U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt cannot send help. The War Cabinet support negotiating with Germany following the defeat in France; even Churchill's friend Anthony Eden (Samuel West) declines to speak up in his favour. Churchill reluctantly allows Halifax to speak to Italian Ambassador Giuseppe Bastianini, but then George VI makes an unexpected visit to Churchill, he encourages him to lead Britain and continue the war. Still uncertain of what to do, Churchill decides to use the London Underground to get to Parliament (this event is fictional), the passengers aboard are shocked to see the Prime Minister, he talks to the civilians about the war effort, they reject negotiations and want to continue to fight the Germans. Churchill now has the support of the Outer Cabinet and other members of Parliament, with the help of Layton, he prepares to address Parliament, while Halifax demands that an increasingly reluctant Chamberlain continue their plan to depose him. Churchill makes his now famous speech, proclaiming "We shall fight on the beaches" should the Germans invade, Chamberlain decides to forgo the plan and the room, including Eden and other Conservatives, applauds the Prime Minister's defiance, Churchill is satisfied and departs. Chamberlain died six months later from cancer, Halifax was sent away to become the Ambassador to the United States, Churchill continues as Prime Minister when the Allies achieve victory over Germany, but he loses the following General Election. Also starring Nicholas Jones as Sir John Simon, David Schofield as Clement Atlee, Richard Lumsden as General Ismay, Malcolm Storry as General Ironside, Hilton McRae as Arthur Greenwood and David Strathairn as President Roosevelt. The unrecognisable Oldman gives a sensational performance as the most famous historical figure (recently featured on the £5 note), Scott Thomas does well in her scenes as the politician's supportive wife, and there is splendid support from Dillane, Mendelsohn, Pickup and others. It is a mostly chatty film, there are only small battle scenes, and obviously it is full of political stuff that may be complicated, but it is all about the leading character proving himself, the special effects prosthetics to transform Oldman is amazing, and there are many memorable moments, especially the final speech, and even the pretend meet and greet with the public on the train is enthralling, it is most watchable wartime drama. It won the Oscar for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and it was nominated for Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design and Best Production Design, and it won the BAFTA for Best Make Up/Hair, and it was nominated for Best Film, Outstanding British Film of the Year, Original Music for Dario Marianelli, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design and Best Production Design. Very good!