Oldman is Oscar worthy

Rating: 8/10 (26 December 2017)

DARKEST HOUR (2017) ***1/2 Gary Oldman, Lily James, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ben Mendelsohn, Ronald Pickup, Stephen Dillane. Superb biopic with Oldman in an Oscar worthy turn as Winston Churchill who is summoned to be the new Prime Minister in the midst of WWII facing the impossible odds in restoring the republic's faith and determination for victory at all costs. Oldman truly 'becomes' the jowly, formidable iconic man under layers of incredible make-up by Lucy Sibbick and David Malinowski (also Academy Award worthy) transformed and transfixing. Director Joe Wright does a yeoman's like job helming the production with aplomb and a literate script by Anthony McCarten makes for a sturdy snapshot of history.