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Rating: 4 out of 5
I’m going to say this right now. Being a leader can be a massive pain in the ass. If you ever had to lead a group of people, it can either be one of the most exciting things or a total pain in the ass. You might as well automatically know you will not be able to please everyone. SOMEBODY WILL ALWAYS NOT LIKE THE WAY YOU DO THINGS! That is a fact. How does one lead or be a leader? How about it’s my way or no way types? You got to love them because they don’t really care and press forward. How about the charismatic ones? The ones where you listen to them and go YOU RIGHT! Let’s do this and take over. Leaders come in all shapes, sizes, places, and whatnot. Also, what are the qualities of being a leader? Should they be charismatic, have a vision, willing to make sacrifices.
Recently, I watched Darkest Hour starring Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill. Before watching it, I actually had to think about all the leaders who were in World War II. I mean, you had Hitler on one side. Hitler was a complete nut, but he did inspire a nation. Now before you say I like Hitler and all that, you’re mistaken. It’s a fact that he inspired a nation. Then you had Italy who I think was Mussolini and then Japan led by a person who poked the bear. On the other side, you had three men ready to defend the world. First, you had Stalin, who had flip-flop sides. There was Franklin D Roosevelt, who was the U.S. President during the time and very late to the party of defending the world and the HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF ENGLAND!!!!!! WINSTON CHURCHILL!!
Directed by Joe Wright and written by Anthony McCarten. In May of 1940, the opposition Labour Party in Parliament demands the resignation of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain (Pickup). Chamberlain has been seen as too weak in the face of the Nazi conquest for total domination. Chamberlain tells the Conservative Party advisers that he wants Lord Halifax (Dillane) as his successor. Halifax does not feel that the time is right for him to be named Prime Minister. A disappointed Chamberlain is soon forced to choose the only man whom the opposition parties will accept: Winston Churchill (Oldman). Churchill, a grumpy, old man, tries to dismiss his new secretary Elizabeth Layton (James), for mishearing him during his mumbling speech. This earns him the intense scrutiny of his loving with Clementine (Thomas). King George VI (Mendelsohn), strongly distrusts Churchill because of his prior support of his brother, reluctantly invites him to form a government. Churchill forms a new government with many of his enemies that includes Chamberlain (as Lord President of the Council) and Halifax (as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs). With the pressure mounting against him, Churchill must decide whether to commence peace negotiations with the German dictator or to fight head-on against the seemingly unstoppable force of the Nazi regime. No matter what he chooses, he must lead his country through its toughest time and darkest hour.
The first thing that MUST be stated about this movie is the performance of Gary Oldman as Prime Minister Winston Churchill. I stand and applaud your performance as the Prime Minister. Oldman was absolutely PHENOMENAL in this role as he transformed his mind and body into the former Prime Minister. The way he smoked his cigar and peered over his glasses as he talked was simply outstanding. You can tell Oldman spent hours studying the Churchill. Even though Oldman won the Academy Award for Best Actor in this film, my all-time favorite performance from him will still be from the Professional when you said, “EVERYONE!”
Darkest Hour shows the first 100 days in office for Winston Churchill and how much of a pain it was. The funny thing is that NO ONE really wanted him to be Prime Minister. Yet, he seemed like the only choice. This is seen primarily with King George VI. Nothing like an awkward first meeting! They talked to each other across the hall from each other, and then when they had to shake hands, the king quickly wiped his hand. To make things even more awkward, as they were discussing meeting every week, Churchill said he couldn’t do one day because he had to take his nap. A man that has his priorities in order.
The film shows that Churchill was a man that fought hard with his enemies. First, he placed his rivals, Chamberlain and Halifax, in his War Cabinet. You would think that would be a stupid move, but as Churchill stated, he wanted to surround himself with people that disagreed with him for the hope of a better solution. Yet, he consistently bickered with them. You would’ve thought having people you like to stand with you. On the real, the minute you get into office and appoint the two people you rely on, they start plotting to get you kicked out. TRIFLING!!!
Also, the film showed that Churchill was a pain himself but relied on the word of people. The first meeting with his new secretary was funny as his wife had to step in. His argument during whether they should do peace talk was so strong but true. How many of us wanted to say, “Stop interrupting me while I’m interrupting you!” Classic line. The intense scene was not the speeches, but when he took the subway. Everyone looked at Churchill like he was actually the king. The scene is powerful because he was a man looking for answers. He looked for answers from the very people he was elected to protect. That should be a hint to people in Washington, D.C.
Overall, Darkest Hour is about Oldman and his incredible performance as Churchill. It is a quick history lesson on what this mighty figure in history had to go through in the time his country and the free world needed him the most. Well done, Mr. Oldman, well done!
