Darkest Hour
4/5
Directed by: Joe Wright
Rated: PG-13
Britain, May 1940, the stiff upper lipped speakers of Parliament stand in furious indignation. Prime minister Neville Chamberlain has resigned, and who should King George VI appoint, but the brazen pigheaded Winston Churchill. Though he was chosen, no one wanted him. His cabinet members conspired against him. He was adamant for waging war against Germany, instead of going into peace accords with Hitler. Europe was on the brink of collapse, and Churchill seemed to be rushing towards it. Though to the British all possibility for hope and peace seemed dark, to Churchill it was only as dark as the ink from his typewriter, crafting speeches calling Britain to arms. When an empire wanted to run, Churchill said, "We shall never surrender!"
Before mentioning this film's superb direction, innovative scene design and purposeful screenplay, first must come recognition for Gary Oldman's towering performance as Prime Minister Winston Churchill. When Churchill is on screen, all eyes and ears are on him. Audiences wait on baited breath to hear his words of wisdom, absolute nonsense, rapidly composed writings, perpetuous mumblings, simple praise, pointed remarks, accreditation for his allies, bitter contempt for his enemies, quiet thoughts on truth and fiery words urging a fight for survival whatever the cost. One does not know what Churchill will say next, but one knows they cannot wait to hear him say it.
What would the man who wrote more words than both Shakespeare and Dickens be, if he had no words to say? Screenwriter Anthony McCarten's script highlights Churchill's first month as Prime Minister with a focus on his rhetoric. According to an article from historyvhollywood.com, the film's grasp and handling of this historical story is devotedly accurate. The film excellently illustrates the daily and incomparable challenges of being Prime Minister of Great Britain. Though director Wright admitted certain scenes in the film were fabricated, "Wright says that he made sure to be most factual when it came to the characters themselves, who could not defend themselves against historical inaccuracies." Though the film aims for accuracy, the dialogue in the script's second act is somewhat indefinite. Even though the script can at times mumble the same way Churchill did, Darkest Hour's opening and climax grabs audiences and maintains their attention.
Although the majority of audience members will expect this film to feature a great lead performance and a well done screenplay, most will be surprised to discover that this film also has excellent direction. Director Wright researched what each of the locations in his film looked like in real life. He was meticulous and he made sure every detail of his sets, whether visible or off-screen, was as exact as possible. These rooms also feel lifelike, because they are lit with authentic lighting, whether it be a natural white from an overcast sky, a harsh yellow from an electric lamp or a dark red from a warning light. The film not only creates this vibrant atmosphere, but it also lets viewers explore it. The camera moves freely through environments, and offers unnatural yet captivating perspectives on familiar scenes. No corridor is left uninspected. No wall can block the audience's view. No close up is too close. No amount of distance can remove audience's eyes from the screen. As Darkest Hour is an astounding visual experience with memorable performances and a historically genuine script, this political thriller is a cut above the rest.
Verdict: Darkest Hour is a cinematic depiction of Winston Churchill's first month as Prime Minister, and though it's script can mumble, its visual design makes this film one worth experiencing.
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