Insightful and engrossing political biopic.

Rating: 8/10 (14 January 2018)

With over 60 depictions in film, television and theatre, Winston Churchill is a historical figure not short on visual portrayals. Only last year John Lithgow won an Emmy for his turn as the former British PM in Netflix series The Crown, whilst the well-received film Churchill explored the few days leading up to the invasion at Normandy. So can Joe Wright's political period piece offer something fresh on Churchill in what is fast becoming a sub-genre all unto itself? Short answer: yes. Wright combines a tight script, gorgeous cinematography and high calibre cast to deliver a gripping wartime drama. This snapshot of history homes in on the famed leader's first few weeks in the job: it's nine months into WWII, Germany is succeeding in their Western Europe takeover, and his ousted predecessor Neville Chamberlain (Ronald Pickup) is conspiring against him. What's more, 300,000 soldiers are stuck at Dunkirk with days to live, King George VI (Ben Mendelsohn) doesn't approve of his methods, and the Americans won't come to the party. All this with the threat of bombing on home soil looming in the near future. You would be forgiven in thinking this must be a 3-hour-plus movie considering the dense, multi-pronged plot, but screenwriter Anthony McCarten smartly recreates key exchanges / moments (excluding a clunky phone call with Franklin Roosevelt) in order to extrapolate greater themes and build the gloomy mood. Behind the camera, and ably assisted by director of photography Bruno Delbonnel, Wright bolsters the storytelling through select sequences in which he unleashes his visual flair. A recurring bird's-eye-view motif superbly encapsulates the total carnage caused by aerial bombings, whilst the West Wing-esque single-take camerawork in the Brit's underground bunker injects a spark into the constant walking-and-talking. Playing the man himself, Gary Oldman imbues his Churchill with equal parts stubbornness and fierce intelligence; his pride often getting in the way, yet his determination to do what he feels right in the face of extraordinary odds ultimately shining through. Having already won the Golden Globe and BAFTA for Best Actor, Oldman's formidable performance-even under heavy prosthetics and make-up-will likely earn him his long overdue Oscar. With such a commanding central turn it's easy to overlook the support cast, but special mention should be given to both Mendelsohn and Lily James; the former showing a side to his talent rarely seen as the quietly instrumental King George, the latter providing an emotionally crucial perspective on events (as both young and female) as Churchill's trusted secretary Elizabeth Layton. Anchored by Oldman's riveting on-screen work, Darkest Hour is an insightful and engrossing political biopic that warrants a big screen viewing.