Seeing Darkest Hour Was an Excellent Movie Going Experience

Rating: 9/10 (10 December 2017)

I don't think it should win BEST PICTURE (I do think this movie is better than Lincoln) I can see it winning an Acting Oscar.
I liked the CINEMATOGRAPHY.
The COSTUME DESIGN seems to have been good.
I'm not sure it should win BEST DIRECTING.
FILM EDITING? I'm not sure if one can judge only by looking at the film.
MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING - maybe an Oscar nomination MUSIC - No PRODUCTION DESIGN - Yes, I can see an award for this.
Sound Editing - No Sound Mixing - No Visual Effects - nomination at most, not a win Writing - Not a winner (I'd be surprised) = = = * Contains Spoilers * Obviously, the subject matter is meaningful. The movie had a strong impact on me. It pulled on my heart strings in a strong way.
For some reason, the halls of power in London were so affecting for me. Following the Prime Minister into the underground rooms of war planning made me feel I was seeing something very up close--in a way, I felt the way Churchill's typist felt--exposed to unbelievable access to where power was in operation.
Yes, we get this with Spielberg's Lincoln but for some reason, I cannot quite identify, this had a higher "You are there" score. Was it the sympathy for war efforts without computers, without Information Technology? I was so afraid for the soldiers and the people of the island. Hitler was really! scary. The movie helped the audience feel the fear of a more advanced military. I wanted to cry for the soldiers lost at Calais.
I was torn by "Call FDR" vs. the tragic disappointing help the US could provide at that time.
Was it unbelievable that France was getting defeated by Germany--was it right to sympathize with Churchill that the German advance against French military defenses was unbelievable and that it put France up against the wall? It pulled on the heart strings when the king, although friend to Churchill's antagonist, reversed and became Chruchill's friend.
Oh, I really wanted the film to keep going. I wanted these players to keep telling the story.