Thursday, January 25, 2018

DARKEST HOUR (2017): Glimpse of Winston Churchill



Time Magazine may have been mistaken in choosing Albert Einstein to be Man of the Century in 1999.  Einstein was probably the 20th Century’s most important scientist and one of its greatest thinkers.  The implications of his specific and general relativity theories will probably always be with mankind.  But it was in large part because of the actions of Winston Churchill that Hitler did not possess nuclear weapon that Einstein’s theories made possible.  I therefore think Churchill would have made a better choice.

Churchill was the man primarily responsible for England not surrendering to Hitler.  It was Churchill who met with Roosevelt and Stalin in Tehran, Yalta and Potsdam in deciding the fate of Europe.  Most importantly, it was Churchill who led Britain during the allied victory during World War II.

In the film Darkest Hour, Gary Oldman remarkably brings to the screen the personality of Churchill.  The film focuses on a very short period following May of 1940 after Neville Chamberlain (Ronald Pickup) resigned his position as prime minister.  This was also a time when the Nazis were occupying Belgium and just about to invade France.  Choosing Churchill as Chamberlain’s replacement was not a popular choice.  However, Lord Halifax (Stephen Dillane), Chamberlain’s first choice as a replacement, declined to take the role by saying it was not yet his time.  Fortunately, for Europe, it never did become Halifax’s time.  In fact, Even King George VI (Ben Mendelsohn) at first had doubts about his new prime minister. 

Churchill seemed to have no popular support anywhere as Prime Minister save with the people of England.  During the film, Churchill made a trek onto a London train where he listens to the voices of the public tell him that they want no concessions made with Hitler.  As an aside, this never actually happened.  However, some reviewers do note that Churchill did frequently take side trips to speak to the public without letting aides know where he was going.

There were others who believed in Churchill as well.  His wife Clemmie (Kristin Scott Thomas) never doubted her husband’s talents.  And the secretary who was to type all of his speeches, Elizabeth Latyon (Lily James), also was in awe of Churchill’s great ability to communicate with the public. 

Darkest Hour shows Churchill to be a genuine eccentric.  He drank and smoked cigars, and could at times be extremely tempestuous.  His speeches to the public did not receive favorable reviews from England’s legislative establishment.   The establishment wished to see a more conciliatory approach towards Hitler out of fear that the Luftwaffe would eventually destroy London if war continued.  Churchill, on the other hand, wished to make no concessions with Germany. 

While always putting up a courageous front, the film shows Churchill tortured with doubts.  Churchill understood more than anyone what was at stake.  He was also a man haunted by memories of Gallipoli, a campaign he led during World War I, where over 30,000 British soldiers died.  The outcome of that battle led to continued distrust of Churchill by the British Parliament. 

In the eyes of the Parliament, Churchill eventually redeems himself due to his guidance during the rescue of 300,000 soldiers in Dunkirk.  He also impresses the assembly at the film’s conclusion when giving his rousing speech while stating that Britain would “never surrender.”

As the film clearly shows, Churchill was a populist.  By listening to the public instead of the advice of professional advisors, he likely saved England.  On the other hand, his aggressive rhetoric could also have led to its destruction.  Though always a controversial figure, it was Churchill who foresaw the impossibility of negotiating with Hitler. 

The merits of Darkest Hour almost entirely revolve around Oldman’s portrayal of Churchill.  This was effective if unusual casting.  Oldman’s role depicts both the good and the bad regarding the former British Prime Minister during this 125-minute film.  And because of good storytelling, we get to know what was on the mind of the British people at the time of the Blitzkrieg.

In watching Darkest Hour, we almost forget that there was anyone else in the movie besides Oldman.  And from what little we actually see of the London streets, we almost also forget that the public was scared to venture out due to possible air raids and bombing.  It nevertheless is worth watching for Oldman’s portrayal alone.

Directed by Joe Wright, Darkest Hour will receive a great deal of Oscar discussion.  It received nominations for best picture, and Gary Oldman received a nomination for best actor.  My guess is that Oldman will win, but a film of lesser quality will become best picture.

January 25, 2018

© Robert S. Miller 2018

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