Oldman's performance carries this historical drama

Rating: Null/10 (1 December 2017)

Gary Oldman IS Winston Churchill. That seems to have been the selling point for DARKEST HOUR since it went into production. Premiering at Telluride, the word was that this could finally be the one that brings Oldman an Oscar. That is to be seen.
It's not all Oldman, of course. Director Joe Wrigth seems to have an affinity for period pictures, so one would think that this WWII drama would fit well. Unfortunately, it's a bit of an unsteady ride - much like Churchill's term as Prime Minister. Beginning just before Churchill's rise to power, DARKEST HOUR trains its focus on how he manages a thicket of opposition - from ousted P.M. Neville Chamberlain (Ronald Pickup), from much of his own party (chiefly Viscount Halifax; Stephen Dillane) to even King George VI (Ben Mendelsohn) while trying to stave off what seems like the imminent Nazi conquest of England.
Anthony McCarten's screenplay certainly stacks the deck in making it appear as though it was Churchill versus everybody else (and fudges other significant facts). Everybody else but his loyal, but strong wife (Kristin Scott Thomas) and his loyal secretary (Hannah Steele). Fortunately, Oldman is up to the task of carrying the burden. It's a big blustery scene-chewing performance just set on a tee for awards consideration. Oldman mostly carries it off under all the makeup, even, if some of the supposedly 'amusing' backstage scenes come off as a drunken Alfred Hitchcock performing on Monty Python. When he's allowed to play it straight, he dominates the screen.
Unfortunately, Director Wright seemed to have a bit different idea of doing a historical drama. Instead of remaining largely invisible in his direction, we get swirling stylistic 'touches' that detract, more than engage. Sometimes it seems as if Wright instructed Cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel to make his camera into a giant wind-up toy and let it roam free. Dario Marinelli's score is perfunctory.
DARKEST HOUR is modestly effective for Oldman's performance. It's a rousing old fashioned tale, even if it isn't perfectly told.