A cheerfully grim retelling of one of Britain’s darkest moments in history – led by Gary Oldman in possibly the strongest performance of his career – Darkest Hour is an offbeat look at World War 2 through the eyes of controversial British prime minister, Winston Churchill.While there has been no shortage of films centred around one of history’s greatest conflicts, WWII, there are few quite like this one. A precarious balance between cheeky British humour and the morbid reality of Adolf Hitler’s encroach on Britain, Darkest Hour presents itself as a war film that is equal parts charming and tense. With Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk giving a different perspective of this story earlier this year, Darkest Hour takes us into the war room during these turbulent times, giving us a more one-sided view of these historical events.
Featuring a truly transformative performance from Oldman, the film also features an impressive supporting cast: including Australian legend Ben Mendelsohn as King George VI, as well as Kristin Scott Thomas as Churchill’s wife Clementine and Lily James as his secretary Elizabeth Layton.
Set entirely within the month of May 1940, the film presents a condensed look at the early days of WWII, as we witness the election of Churchill, the struggles he faces in both popularity and leadership and the gradual support he received in a brutal time of war. While the film does have a large comedic side, with Churchill being renowned as an eccentric character, the gravity of war is still felt between his comedic cracks; presenting a balance between fun and drama that isn’t often present in war films.
While director Joe Wright’s recent film Pan wasn’t as successful, his past works such as Pride and Prejudice and Atonement fit closer to the style of Darkest Hour, with a clear appreciation of British cinema and art history evident throughout. From the film’s opening shot depicting the British parliament in a state of frenzy as it moves from a birds-eye-view, we can see the distinct stylistic decisions in terms of colour and framing that Wright maintains throughout his portrayal.
Despite Wright’s evident directorial style, this is no doubt a Gary Oldman film, and rightfully so. Delivering what could well be the most impressive performance of his career – a career that includes roles as historical figures Sid Vicious, Ludwig van Beethoven and Lee Harvey Oswald –Oldman does nothing short of stealing the show. Considering Darkest Hour is one of two Winston Churchill films to come out of 2017, the other being Churchill starring Brian Cox as the titular character, Old man’s performance is so uncanny that it is sure to be a staple of how the former British prime minister will be remembered for years to come.
While the film’s compact storytelling is no doubt one of its strengths, focusing only on Churchill’s statement and rise to prominence, the large focus on Oldman’s portrayal is evident in the monologue-heavy film. Though this limited time period strays away from the typical route of an autobiography following an entire life, the film could be seen by many as an ‘Oscar-bait’ performance for Oldman, with the 2018 Academy Awards around the corner. That being said, this in no way takes away from the investment into both the character and the story, providing a thrilling and engaging retelling of historic events.
A defined mix of both historical war drama and British humour, Darkest Hour takes your average war film outside of the box in the portrayal of a great man in a nations darkest times.
