DARKEST HOUR

Cert PG Running time 125 minutes ★★★

It took up to four hours a day to prepare actor Gary Oldman for his role as Prime Minster Winston Churchill, but you have to wonder whether this stuffy Second World War drama was worth it. Doing any kind of acting underneath the weight of his impressive prosthetic costume and make-up is an achievement in itself, and unsurprisingly it’s caught the eye of awards’ voters.

Winner of the Golden Globe for best actor and

Oscar favourite Gary Oldman anchors the film with such an immersive performance that everyone else seems vague and insubstantial.

According to the pedestrian script, Churchill’s darkest hour was spent persuading the War Cabinet to save the British Army at Dunkirk, while being steadfast in refusing Viscount Halifax’s siren call of a peace treaty with Hitler.

It’s nominated for nine Bafta awards, but there’s nothing new to be learnt, and much like Churchill himself, this film chunters along, trying “not to bugger it up”.

HEAVYWEIGHT: Gary Oldman in his role as Winston Churchill