The lead actor has been hailed for their outstanding performance in the film (Image: Focus Features)
A gripping war period drama is being hailed a ‘must-watch’ by fans and critics alike and it stars an incredibly talented actor who even bagged an Oscar for his performance in the film.
Directed by Joe Wright with a screenplay written by Anthony McCarten, this 2017 war drama follows the life of Winston Churchill at the time he served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the Second World War and the May 1940 war cabinet crisis.
The film’s title, Darkest Hour, is how that period in the early days of the war was described, with the British army trapped at Dunkirk, France starting to fall, and overwhelming odds stacked against Britain and the Allied Forces. Churchill himself had referred to that time as the ‘Darkest Hour’ in public statements.
The movie’s official plot states: “The fate of Western Europe hangs on Winston Churchill in the early days of World War II. The newly appointed British prime minister must decide whether to negotiate with Hitler or fight on against incredible odds. During the next four weeks in 1940, Churchill cements his legacy as his courageous decisions and leadership help change the course of world history.”
Starring Gary Oldman in the titular role of Winston Churchill, the actor was completely unrecognisable as the UK PM, with it taking him upwards of three hours every day to complete his physical transformation with the help of makeup and fragile prosthetics.
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Kristin Scott Thomas and Gary Oldman star in the film (Image: Focus Features/Dumfries And Galloway Standard)
Speaking to ABC News, Oldman said of his dramatically changed appearance in the film: “It took three hours, 15 minutes and then getting into the costume and everything, it was just under four hours, 48 days consecutively.
“And then I would be dressed as Winston by the time the director arrived and the other actors for rehearsal. So it was very odd. They did not see me as Gary for three months for the entire shooting because I was always in my makeup.”
In fact, getting out of character at the end of the day was just as hard. The actor explained to the media outlet how it was a “very slow process” where a solution would be used to melt away appearance, meaning he was having roughly 18-hour work days.
Oldman shared that he was actually worried he “would not have the stamina” to get him through the shoot, however he managed to power through and “loved every minute of it”.
Grossing $150 million at the global box office against a production budget of $30 million, Darkest Hour was a blockbuster hit through and through.
Oldman was joined by Kristin Scott Thomas, Lily James, Stephen Dillane, Ronald Pickup, and Ben Mendelsohn who rounded off a stellar supporting cast.
Aside from being a commercial success, Darkest Hour was a critical darling too, having been nominated for six Academy Awards including for Best Picture, Best Cinematography, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and Best Actor — which Oldman actually won, alongside the Oscar for makeup and hairstyling.
Gary Oldman was absolutely unrecognisable in the film (Image: Focus Features)
With an 84% critics’ approval rating on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, Darkest Hour was highly lauded by reviewers, with one writing: “As a portrait of leadership at its most brilliant, thoughtful and morally courageous, “Darkest Hour” is the movie we need right now.”
As expected, the praise for Oldman’s performance in Darkest Hour ran abound, with one critic saying: “Oldman brings a wicked wit and compassionate heart to the role, one for which he seems almost superhumanly suited for – and that’s really saying something, consider how many great actors have played Churchill.”
Another impressed reviewer said of the actor: “It’s an amazing performance: the only star turn I’ve seen in which a famous actor visible in nearly every scene would be unrecognisable if we didn’t know his name already.”
While a fourth critic simply commented: “Darkest Hour is a one man show for Oldman. And what a show it is.”
Audience reviews followed in the same vein, with one fan writing: “A deeply gripping and entertaining vignette of leadership from one of history’s greatest. Superbly well cast and designed. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. Highly recommended.”
The war period drama was a commercial and critical success (Image: Focus Features)
Another audience member said of the film: “One of those films that gives you goosebumps as Churchill bumbles his way into history (again). Oldman is superb as Churchill and the filing is so atmospheric you almost feel as if you’re in the House of Commons or his house with him. Kirsten Scott-Thomas and Lily James along with Ronald Pickup are perfect in their roles. If you’ve ever been in the War Rooms in London you can sense the claustrophobic hive of activity that unbelievably held the British war effort together. A film that I could watch more than once.”
A third fan said: “Gary Oldman was indeed phenomenal on this one. And even without Gary’s performance, this would still be a worthy watch.”
Darkest Hour is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
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