BBC One viewers can watch the critically acclaimed British war drama Darkest Hour tonight at 8pm, a film that has been praised as a 'masterpiece' and 'one of the greatest war films of all time' by audiences.
Directed by Joe Wright with a screenplay by Anthony McCarten, the 2017 film chronicles Winston Churchill's tenure as Prime Minister during the Second World War and the May 1940 war cabinet crisis. The 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."
Gary Oldman's Transformation
Gary Oldman's portrayal of Churchill has generated the most buzz, with the actor rendered virtually unrecognisable through extensive makeup and prosthetics. In an interview with ABC News, Oldman revealed: "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."
Oldman is joined by Kristin Scott Thomas, Lily James, Stephen Dillane, Ronald Pickup, and Ben Mendelsohn in supporting roles.
Critical and Audience Praise
Critics have heaped praise on the film, with one writing: "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." Another reviewer said: "From the 4-star lead performance from Oldman to the expert direction from Joe Wright, Darkest Hour is a rousing success."
One critic noted: "It's [Gary] Oldman and his masterpiece of a performance that takes the movie to a whole new level." Another added: "It may be history, but Darkest Hour doesn't feel like homework. It's vibrant, thrilling, and intriguing all at once."
Audience reviews on Rotten Tomatoes include: "Brilliant! Gary Oldman like you have never seen him before, absolutely stunning in his portrayal of Winston Churchill. Very intelligently written and brought to screen. Fantastic cinematography creates the perfect ambiance. Technically superb movie with all the basic elements of top class production. Whole cast excels in character. Tense, gripping, suspense filled and gritty. Highly entertaining and captivating."
A tongue-in-cheek IMDB review reads: "I heard that Gary Oldman was playing Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour but where was he? I could only see Churchill. Kudos to the makeup artists for giving a replica of Churchill. Oldman truly got into the shoes of Churchill. Direction by Joe Wright is terrific. On the whole, Darkest Hour is a powerful historical drama."
One viewer wrote: "It gets better each time I view it. Will go down as one of the greatest war films of all time." Another said: "Academy Award worthy! Someday, there might be a better movie made about Winston Churchill. But, for now, this is the finest effort to date! It is outstanding."
A devoted fan added: "Emotional exciting movie from the start to finish Gary Oldman's performance was phenomenal. Makes you proud to be British. Would definitely recommend! 10/10."
Darkest Hour airs on BBC One tonight at 8pm and is also available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
