Darkest Hour

2017·125 minPG-13·English

Rate

7.47584%3.6/5

Rent & Buy

Rent $3.99

In May 1940, the fate of World War II hangs on Winston Churchill, who must decide whether to negotiate with Adolf Hitler or fight on knowing that it could mean the end of the British Empire.

What critics thought

Nearly everyone agrees that Gary Oldman's transformation into Churchill is the film's reason for being, but critics split sharply over whether Joe Wright's direction matches it — admirers found the film a lively and handsomely crafted historical drama, while detractors saw a prestige-picture obligation that dresses up a thin, dumbed-down script in impressive makeup and period trappings.

“those fearing that Darkest Hour is nothing but a dull tableau of blowhard stuffed shirts will be relieved to know that they're in for a lively, provocative historical drama that runs on its own nonstop creative fire”
Peter Travers·Rolling Stone
“Unfolding with the clockwork precision of a Broadway play... it's a deliciously unsubtle testament to the power of words and their infinite capacity to inspire”
David Ehrlich·IndieWire
“Wright's forceful direction depicts not so much a hero as a principled man snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. Certain engineered Hollywood moments dilute the overall impact, including a twee meet and greet on a Tube train, but Oldman is never less than sensational.”
Damon Wise·Radio Times
“an acting exercise weighed down by costumes, make-up, and over-lighting”
Brian Tallerico·RogerEbert.com
“a bad film. It's not terrible, it's just, well, not good. It's the kind of film you'd watch on Netflix if it was raining, or on an iPad if it was the only film on the iPad, or on TV if you'd lost the remote. There are many reasons for this, but the main one is director Joe Wright, who never met a script he didn't dumb-down.”
Stuart McGurk·GQ

Accolades

Genres

Biography, Drama, History

Cast & Crew

Joe WrightDirector

Gary OldmanWinston Churchill

Stephen DillaneViscount Halifax

Lily JamesElizabeth Layton

Ronald PickupNeville Chamberlain

Ben MendelsohnKing George VI

Kristin Scott ThomasClemmie

Nicholas JonesSir John Simon

Samuel WestSir Anthony Eden

David SchofieldClement Atlee

Richard LumsdenGeneral Ismay

Malcolm StorryGeneral Ironside

Hilton McRaeArthur Greenwood

Dario MarianelliComposer

Anthony McCartenWriter

Bruno DelbonnelCinematography

From the studio

Focus Features

Darkest Hour

2017·125 min·PG-13·English

Rate

7.47584%3.6/5

In May 1940, the fate of World War II hangs on Winston Churchill, who must decide whether to negotiate with Adolf Hitler or fight on knowing that it could mean the end of the British Empire.

What critics thought

“those fearing that Darkest Hour is nothing but a dull tableau of blowhard stuffed shirts will be relieved to know that they're in for a lively, provocative historical drama that runs on its own nonstop creative fire”
Peter Travers·Rolling Stone
“Unfolding with the clockwork precision of a Broadway play... it's a deliciously unsubtle testament to the power of words and their infinite capacity to inspire”
David Ehrlich·IndieWire
“Wright's forceful direction depicts not so much a hero as a principled man snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. Certain engineered Hollywood moments dilute the overall impact, including a twee meet and greet on a Tube train, but Oldman is never less than sensational.”
Damon Wise·Radio Times
“an acting exercise weighed down by costumes, make-up, and over-lighting”
Brian Tallerico·RogerEbert.com
“a bad film. It's not terrible, it's just, well, not good. It's the kind of film you'd watch on Netflix if it was raining, or on an iPad if it was the only film on the iPad, or on TV if you'd lost the remote. There are many reasons for this, but the main one is director Joe Wright, who never met a script he didn't dumb-down.”
Stuart McGurk·GQ