Darkest Hour

“Darkest Hour” stars Gary Oldman, was written by Anthony McCarten and was directed by Joe Wright. This as most know is the story of the early days of World War II as Great Britain struggled with the results of the appeasement stratagies of Neville Chamberain, his fall from grace and the appointment of Winston Churchill as his successor who led his country and the Allies to a victory over Nazi Germany. But more than anything, it is the vehicle in which Mr. Oldman is given the opportunity of an actor’s lifetime to play Mr. Churchill so convincingly that the film becomes more like a documentary rather than a fictionalized version of what took place in Europe in the days preceding Britain’s entry into the war. I give the film 3 an1/2 stars based mostly on Mr. Oldman’s portrayal of Mr. Churchill but also because of the interesting and informative manner in which the film is presented.