I have nothing but admiration for Gary Oldman's masterful performance as Winston Churchill in 2017's Darkest Hour. He was unrecognizable through the prosthetics, and completely disappears into the character, as he conveys force in Joe Wright's staged intense discourses, and showcases warmth in episodes where Churchill is humanized. It is then unfortunate, that Wright's screenplay bogs down the stellar acting prowess, through out of place, artificial moments that screams Hollywood drama. For instance, Churchill's focus group discussion during his commute was an off-putting embellishment, that disengages its audience from its supposed climactic final act. Also, Lily James' character and her scenes seemed cinematic add ons for the sake of unneeded weepy drama.
Overall, Darkest Hour is survived by Gary Oldman's Oscar winning performance; a feat that brings the character that is Winston Churchill to life, even when Wright's narrative crashes down. If only his camerawork and script shared the same level of flair, this picture could've transcended being good enough.
Overall, Darkest Hour is survived by Gary Oldman's Oscar winning performance; a feat that brings the character that is Winston Churchill to life, even when Wright's narrative crashes down. If only his camerawork and script shared the same level of flair, this picture could've transcended being good enough.