May 1940. With the Nazis beating the British Army back to
the French shores and invasion imminent, Neville Chamberlain resigns as Prime
Minister over calls for his ouster and accusations of appeasing Hitler. In his
place steps the unlikely, unpopular in his own party, larger than life Winston
Churchill (Gary Oldman) who must not only lead an improbable evacuation at
Dunkirk but convince the nation that the favored capitulation to Germany is the
absolute wrong move. Darkest Hours loses steam and much of its impressively
sustained intensity towards the finale (including an ill-advised scene of
Churchill riding the Underground and gaining affirmation from the people before
his big “On the Beaches” speech) but is extremely well crafted throughout by
Joe Wright and Oldman, under half a ton of makeup, creates a full-bodied
character and brings a full life force to the prime minister. The supporting
class is excellent including Ben Mendelsohn as a disbelieving King George VI,
Stephen Dillane as his cunning rival Viscount Halifax, and Kristin Scott Thomas
as his loyal, secondary wife.
*** 1/2 out of ****
