Written by: Anthony McCarten
Directed by: Joe Wright
Starring: Gary Oldman, Lily James, Ben Mendelsohn, Kristin Scott Thomas, Stephen Dillane
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer
Plot
In May 1940, the fate of Western Europe depends on British Prime Minister Winston Churchill who must decide whether to negotiate with Adolf Hitler or continue the humiliating defeat for Britain.
Verdict
It's an Oscar bait movie. Gary Oldman's transformation and performance is incredible, but it overshadows everything else. I watched him for those moments where I could recognize the Gary Oldman I've seen before, and there aren't many of those moments. I couldn't tell you much else about what happened, and this is a fairy tale history movie where everything is geared for drama. This shows you how Churchill was, but it's not hard history. Oldman is a wonderful yet unfortunate distraction.
It depends.
Review
Gary Oldman is amazing. You wouldn't know it's him from looking and I spent most of my time trying to see him. He looks like Churchill with heavy use of prosthetics, from the way he moves to his mannerisms, Oldman really captured something, but it's such an outstanding likeness of a doddering old man that it detracts from everything else. This is a good looking movie, but I barely noticed as my focus was on Oldman.
The production is great. It's a well made movie, but it boils down to being a two hour showcase for Oldman while pitching a Churchill myth.
Churchill faced various hardships. While he committed his life to politics, sacrificing his family, he wasn't first in line for Prime Minister. The very first scene depicts him as a blustery old man, so short tempered he sends an assistant from the room crying. He's faced with a crisis of unimaginable proportions while those in his country attempt to oust him from the position.
It's funny, they wanted Chamberlain out because he was too weak in the war, but they want Churchill out because he refuses to negotiate peace. Churchill was right that the Germans couldn't be trusted, but England is losing the battle and it appears Churchill is ignoring that fact.
All of this culminates with his ride on the London Underground where he interacts with his constituents. This event is complete fiction. It's a nice story, but Churchill wasn't opposed to peace negations, his speeches didn't immediately endear him to all of England, and he wasn't as close to being removed as depicted. This is the myth of Churchill. Movies like this are never completely accurate. That's necessitated by the form, movies must entertain.
It's an amazing performance by Oldman that should be seen, but doesn't require a full two hours of viewing to impress.
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