Churchill’s darkest hour is Gary Oldman’s finest. Gripping, touching, amusing and enlightening, his performance is the prime reason this film must be seen — but not the only one.
Thankfully, Darkest Hour largely steers clear of jingoism. This isn’t an uncritical celebration of British bulldog spirit but a nuanced portrait of Churchill at a key point early in the war.
Oldman is sheer joy in a role which transcends an otherwise uneven affair.
The film errs on the side of sentimental and is occasionally a little too flippant for its own good but generally this is a rousing, immensely entertaining crowd--pleaser with a thoroughly mesmerising performance from Oldman in one of the finest hours of his career.
Despite Gary Oldman’s Oscar-baiting performance as Churchill, an underpowered script filled with wafer-thin characterisations undermines his good work.
Handsomely mounted but somewhat disingenuous.
An Oscar-aimed turn from Gary Oldman anchors this WW2 portrait of Churchill at his most beleaguered. Just mind the gap.
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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