British director Joe Wright, who specializes in over-praised prestige items, stays true to form in this unconvincing Winston Churchill bio-pic covering the political backstory of events just covered ‘at the front’ in Christopher Nolan’s sharp-eyed & thrillingly detailed DUNKIRK/’17. The argument, simply put, is that Churchill, grudgingly installed as new Prime Minister, finds he’s so overwhelmed by the Nazi surge on the Continent, and the possible annihilation of British forces stuck across The Channel in France, that he briefly considers entering into peace talks with Hitler, brokered by Mussolini. But, bucked up by ‘the people’s’ gung-ho spirit after taking a one-stop ride on the Underground, becomes his indomitable self once more, and leads thru the power of speech. This may all be 100% accurate, though a reading of his highly readable, memorandum-filled memoir THE GATHERING STORM suggests otherwise, but it feels awfully contrived. Especially when Wright tosses in overhead God POV pull-back shots for empty uplift at key moments. (With demerit points for bad CGI.) Gary Oldman’s award-winning Winston is no more (and perhaps a bit less) ‘spot on’ than the many Churchills seen since Albert Finney (with Vanessa Redgrave as wife Clemmie) started the current waxworks parade in THE GATHERING STORM/’02. At times, Oldman might be actor Toby Jones; or rather, actor Toby Jones as Winston. Leaving Ben Mendelsohn’s King George as the film’s best perf.
READ ALL ABOUT IT/WATCH THIS, NOT THAT: As mentioned above, THE GATHERING STORM (book & HBO movie), with DUNKIRK as chaser.
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