Taut, intelligent drama that doesn't get recognition so much these days

Rating: 9/10 (4 March 2018)

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning
In May 1940, Hitler has invaded Checkozlovakia and most of the eastern bloc, while Allied troops are at his mercy in France. Current Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain (Ronald Pickup) has suffered a vote of no confidence due to his appeasement stance, and so the current government look for someone to take his place. Cue the eccentric, highly strung Winston Churchill (Gary Oldman), whose approach to governance is as unconventional as his lifestyle, sending the establishment into a flurry. As France and other European nations seek to surrender, Churchill flies in the face of popular opinion and vows to fight them till the end.
In British folklore, it's hard to imagine a figure more revered for courage and 'bulldog spirit' than Winston Churchill, and yet there's been hardly any attempts to create a dramatization of his life, and how he sculpted his place in history. With Darkest Hour, director Joe Wright has attempted to do this, taking an all star cast and placing the burden on their shoulders to do justice to the great man and his exploits. And the result is a film that even the most drama dodging film goer would struggle to move away from, a testament in itself to the grand job he's done.
It may be depicting one of the most dramatic moments in the history of the world, yet despite this, the film itself is pretty much an endless barrage of talking, with hardly any action at all. And so, Wright has an extra hard job of making it enthralling and taut, and it's a credit to him that the writing, dialogue and delivery do keep you on the edge of your seat as they do. Despite a marvellous supporting cast, including Kristen Scott Thomas and Ben Mendolsohn as the King, it is of course lead star Gary Oldman who makes it as exciting as it is. He injects his portrayal of Churchill with that wild, crazy energy you remember from earlier performances in grittier films, such as Leon and The Firm.
For the most part, it stays on track and plays out in a realistic, true to life manner, with the possible exception of Winston taking a detour and going on a train (when the standard 'diversity' moment is shoved in our faces.) But whether it's exploding in theatrics or staying grounded in reality, it's still brilliant, seat edge filmmaking of the type you don't get so much of these days. ****