The Churchill Era of 1940s

Rating: 8/10 (22 January 2018)

At a time when Germany invaded Belgium and France, Neville Chamberlain's softcore thrusts to deter Hitler's insanity and over 400,000 English soldiers trapped at Durkirk; Churchill in his newly appointed avatar of the Prime Minister shines through his hot-temper and confused guffaws.

Gary Oldman's character detested by fellow parliamentarians is the desired choice of the titular Prime Minister during the month of May's darkest hours. Though thought to be the scapegoat on the onset of forceful resignation of Chamberlain, Oldman shows signs of being able and yet an ordinary human being with his trademark glass of whiskey for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Saved from being muddled by the English outcry and King's evident hatred for him, it is Clementine who stands by him like a rock as the dotting wife and the first lady to the iron headed Prime Minister.

Scenes of important military decisions being stagecrafted by him in the bathroom, expected English sarcasms thrown during conversations with his young and desperate-to-prove herself typewriter and Oprahesque Radio speeches make the film a true winner.

Hits: Anthony McCarten's (The Theory of Everything fame) writing and King Geroge VI admission of being scared by Churchill.

Misses: Pregnant pauses by Lily James whose efforts flat-lines after repeated expressions.