It's easy to accuse this movie as just being a vehicle for Gary Oldman's portrayal of the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and you would be forgiven because it is after all a very remarkable performance. From the physical mannerisms, the way he talks, to the way he acts around people, this is foremost a character that demands your rapt attention. This is a stand-out role that should give Gary Oldman a lot of recognition for his work here. He is also most likely the real reason to check out this film.
Not to be overshadowed by Gary Oldman, another reason to see this movie is for Director Joe Wright. While the primary settings for this story are usually just rooms in buildings, Wright manages to give most every scene this energy that truly gives this movie a cinematic feel. There are some incredibly well shot sequences throughout the movie, from slow-mo panning shots, well framed scenes, to zoom effects. This movie was surprisingly a visual feast to watch.
Despite the plot that revolves around the threat of the Nazis attempt to invade the UK, the trapped British soldiers in Dunkirk, and the political factors surrounding Churchill's newly appointed position as British Prime Minister, this story is foremost about the man himself, and why he became legendary through this time of history. While the movie does portray Churchill as this old curmudgeon who has a habit of putting people on edge, it also draws on your sympathy for the situation that he is in. That's the main point of seeing this movie, is that it makes you think about Winston Churchill as a person.
I'll admit that overall, the "Darkest Hour" is just a solid film. It's not what I would consider a great film, because despite the phenomenal work of Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill, everything else is generally straight forward.
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