Stellar Gary Oldman, With Little Else

Rating: 6/10 (23 December 2017)

As so many have mentioned, this film is a one-man show supported and driven by the brilliance of Gary Oldman. His top-notch performance is worthy of the the Golden Globe for which he's nominated, and makes this film worthy of viewing. Complete with Churchill's rolling Rs, top hat, cigar, witty, biting and complex delivery, Oldman's performance is impeccable.
The rest of the film takes away from Oldman's brilliance. This is a historic, biographical drama which means it must be factually accurate if it is to be taken seriously. The climatic or "turning point" scene when Churchill realizes Britain cannot negotiate the peace brokered by Halifax and Chamberlain but instead must continue to fight, is carried out with complete disregard for actual events and ventures into the realm of absurdity. "Hollywood liberties" are OK in some cases, but not in this one.
The absolute ridiculousness of this scene pulls the rug out from what was a solid first half of the film, and the ending takes on an aire of what we've seen so many times before, a hero defying all odds to triumph in absolute victory.
Considering Oldman's performance, this film had so much more potential than what it delivered on. Arguments between Churchill, Halifax, and Chamberlain are present, but few and far in-between. Halifax's disapproving expression does not change once during such scenes, and I'm almost positive the director found the right Stephen Dillane face, and told him to hold it for the entire duration of filming.
Argumentative dialogue during a time of war is not likely to end in a witty joke, as it so often does in this film, and I would like to have seen more intense discussion about Britain and the Western World's future i.e. what is to be gained through war or peace, and what is to be lost. The pressures on Churchill were enormous, and the film presents his situation as if brokering peace and engaging in war would both have been acceptable outcomes. I understand this is not a war film, but flashbacks to what's happening on the battlefield as Parliament quarrels amongst themselves wold also have added evoked more emotion in the audience.
All things considered, go watch this movie for Gary OIdman, but keep your expectations low.