Darkest Hour

I cannot remember the last time I was in a movie and I said, gee I wish this movie would keep going because it's just so damn good. I don't really have to say anything more about Oldman beyond what's already been said, that was brilliant Academy Award work. Despite being a literalist on history and not enjoying Hollywood embellishments/contrivances that didn't really happen, I will repeat something I said on another movie (Patton): I am okay where a fictional event is one that could have happened (or maybe happened out of time sequence) where it is used more to show the persona of the character than to establish an historical fact. Notwithstanding this, the subway scene may have been a little much. Strong cast throughout, including the portrayers of King George VI, Chamberlain, Halifax and Churchill's lovely secretary (James). A must see for WW II buffs and appreciators of good cinema everywhere.

Very good film with nice production design , notable performances and historical events about Man who took the power of leadership to unite the Nation . Dealing with Winston Churchill : Gary Oldman , First Lord of Admiralty, and his process to be appointed as Prime Minister , in fact he wasn't their first choice, but he became their last hope . As he must decide whether to negociante with Adolph Hitler , or fight on knowing that it could mean the end of the British Empire. While the powerful Wehrmacht is destroying the European armies and rampaging across the continent to Dunkirk, and an impeding encroachment over England by Nazis is nearly . As Chamberlain : Ronald Pickup renounces his charge , and after the resignation is named a successor , Winston Churchill . As Churchill carries out Dynamo Operation to save the British army and French soldiers from Dunkirk siege and he will fight the Nazi enemy at whatever cost. Never , never surrender¡ Never give up. Never give in!

This is an exciting film based on facts with biographic elements about the turbulent life of the great Prime Minister Winston Churchill , a man who took a stand that changed history , as he has to explore a negotiated peace treaty with Nazi Germany or going on the war, while his own Conservative Party is plotting against him . There are several historical happenings well developed and well paced , but especiallty focusing on May 1940 when Neville Chamberlain is forced to resign due to the opposition Labour Party that accused being too weak in face the Nazi enemy , in fact he signed the useless Covenant of Munich in 1938 , then Churchill is appointed P.M. , along the way he manages to convince the different parlamentary forces , as well as he prepares Dynamo operation to rescue the European armies in Dunkirk .

The cast is frankly excellent as Gary Oldman giving an awesome acting who won deservedly Academy Award , Stephen Dillane as the coward Halifax , Ronald Pickup as the failed negotiator Chamberlain , Ben Mendelshon as the skeptical King George VI , Dame Kristin Scott Thomas as his beloved wife and Lily James as his personal secretary, and other secondaries in brief appearances as Samuel West , David Schofield , David Bamber , Nicholas Jones , and David Strathairn diving voice to President Franklyn D Roosevelt . The motion picture was competently made by Joe Wright . This professional filmmaker Joe Wright has directed good films such as : Pan, Anna Karenina, Hanna , The Soloist , Atonement and Pride and prejudice, among others. Rating 7.5/10 . Better than average.

As a film this is quite good; it's not dull, the performances are good, the production design is excellent, the script is a professional piece of work and even Oldman's make-up is not too distracting.

However, something is not right. If most people get their history from movies, this is concerning. It's obvious that actual events occurred with real people and what they did and said but in a movie this gets pasteurized into what smart people believe will be more thrilling, more sympathetic, more emotional. That process necessarily alters things into something that is even anachronistically rendered and therefore not in the record.

This defect occurs frequently in this movie , so it's not history but myth making. A good example is Churchill's dive into the Underground to meet the common person to steel his resolve. Now Churchill had a mixed view of the average voter, and he was a patrician, but even that aside, he did not need to take a Tube train survey to gauge opinion.

This scene is poached from Shakespeare's Henry V where the king goes among his soldiers the night before battle to hear them and take courage from their strength. Steal from the best is a good policy, but it's not history. It's Shakespearean history and that trades effect for accuracy too.

The audience is given this scene to present Churchill as an instrument of democracy; he's acting for what the people want, therefore he's doing the right thing. It's called pandering.

Well, it is just a movie.

Although its been shown to have been largely fictionalized, the gist of the story is accurate. Oldman gives an incredible performance, and not as some old bellowing windbag either. After seeing this, one might recommend reading churchill's own 6 volume set on the subject, but to save time, the first volume, The Gathering Storm, may provide one with some historical pretext for this monumental event in western history-Churchill standing up to a madman, and this saving not just britain, but all good men everywhere. Oldman, you da man!

Not many films nowadays touches people deep inside their hearts.

This one did. At least mine. I am not often generous with grading movies, but I proudly give this a 8/10.

And no Im not an englishman, im Swedish!

Gary Oldman is SUPERIOR in his acting. He is simply flawless in his acting. He even twitches his eyes from time to time making him look tired and old in his very eyes.

I dont know what else to say than bravo, and on to Victory!