Darkest Hour #FilmReview #BriFri
Welcome to British Isles Friday! British Isles Friday is a weekly event for sharing all things British and Irish — reviews, photos, opinions, trip reports, guides, links, resources, personal stories, interviews, and research posts. Join us each Friday to link your British and Irish themed content and to see what others have to share. The link list is at the bottom of this post. Pour a cup of tea or lift a pint and join our link party!
Last week, I recapped the books and movies that I missed reviewing while I was engaged in April’s A to Z Challenge. Tina agreed with me that one of those films, Murder on the Orient Express, was unremarkable. Becky reviewed three books, a golden-age British mystery (A Wreath for Rivera by Ngaio Marsh), a children’s book about the history of children’s books (Balderdash! by Michelle Markel), and a history of the Plantagenets (The Magnificent Century by Thomas B. Costain). Gaele reviewed two books about relationships and vacations (or holidays, as the Brits call them) — You Me Everything by Catherine Isaac and My Big Greek Summer by Sue Roberts. Sim shared the trailer for the upcoming movie adaption of Neil Gaiman’s short story, How to Talk to Girls at Parties. Colette shared reflections on stories in British media. Vicki reviewed two audiobooks, both novels about journeys, one in England (The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce) and one in Ireland (The Tour: A Trip Through Ireland by Jean Grainger)
In May and June 1940, the British made the important decision to fight World War II, rather than let the advances of Hitler in Europe stand unopposed
Darkest Hour won two Academy Awards — best actor for Gary Oldman’s portrayal of Winston Churchill and best hair and makeup. Both, of course, are best when they disappear entirely from the minds of the audience. After only a few minutes, we were immersed in the world of Winston Churchill at the beginning of World War II, not caring a bit about who the actors were or how they wore their hair.
All the action in the film takes plus in about a month of history. It’s the moment when the British must choose whether to fight on after the fall of France or negotiate with the Germans and hope for a future where the British are independent on their side of the English Channel while Europe is under control of the Nazis.
Darkest Hour is an excellent companion film to the other two films of 2017 (Dunkirk and Their Finest Hour) that featured Dunkirk. I mentioned at the end of my post about those two films that Rick and I were split on our opinions. I predicted, correctly, that we would both like Darkest Hour. Dunkirk was an battle movie. Their Finest Hour was a home front story. Darkest Hour is a political film.
Speaking of politics, I enjoyed the Historical Inaccuracies section of the Wikipedia article on Darkest Hour. The film shows the splits and arguments within the Conservative Party in the spring of 1940. Historians point out that Churchill’s actions weren’t possible without the support of the Labour Party. Now that I know about that, I have to admit, I’m curious about that part of the history, too.
Have you seen Darkest Hour? What did you think?
I hoping to watch Darkest Hour sometime soon. Glad you hear you enjoyed it!
I liked it. I think my favorite part was when he took the underground for the first time and talked to the people.
I think that in terms of the history in the film – it should (and will) be a bit fluid simply for dramatic effect – but the real ‘kickstart’ for Churchill’s power came from Chamberlin and his mis-handling – combined with a very real threat to the country and life as people knew it – both strong motivators to step behind someone, who, while flawed, had a solid belief in the rightness of the defeat of Germany and the threats to the country – using all possible means. It’s hard to think in those terms of limited (and controlled) information etc of the 40’s and think of ‘how’ those decisions would be received today with our 24 hour news, internet and advances. We’ve decided (although it’s killing me) to wait on seeing them both until after we receive the Wilderness Years with Robert Hardy as Churchill – that decade of 1929 – 1939 – I remember it as being a wonderful piece – a uni professor suggested it as background in a poly sci class on depression / WWII era changes.
I enjoyed how Dunkirk and Darkest Hours worked together. Like you, I preferred it to Dunkirk, which I also liked but not quite as much as my husband did. I haven’t gotten around to Their FInest yet, I’m sure I’ll love it.
Gary Oldman totally became Churchill. I think he did deserve the Academy Award for his performance! I had to watch Dunkirk after seeing Darkest Hour and glad I did it in that order because my WWII English history is not good.
Good to know about this. I will visit again soon.
Pingback:The Royal Wedding Edition of #BriFri – Joy's Book Blog