Drags at first but it's worth it for the latter part

Rating: 7/10 (4 January 2018)

There have been so many portrayals of Winston Churchill recently it's hard to choose the best one. John Lithgow in the Crown was too tall but very convincing. Albert Finney was droll and memorable. Now Gary Oldman gives a slimmer more sprightly and bouncier stepped version of Churchill. His voice is fine but sometimes he looks to slim and young compared to what we are used to on screen.
As far as the plot this is an interesting but not perfect movie. A lot of scenes show the appeasers wearing down Churchill. FDR is portrayed negatively. It's interesting to see the planning of Dunkirk from this point of view to complement the grand war movie Dunkirk. The tube ride and final speech is moving and rousing.
Lily James is a lovely secretary and Kristen Scott Thomas is a little sweeter than the usual Clementine. The relationship with KG V is interesting.
Worth a watch even if you think you have just had it with Churchill movies.