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Darkest Hour...
Oddly enough, this film was not at some of the bigger (and more popular) venues near Chez Sarge, we (The Missus Herself and I) had to go to a smaller theater to watch. Ten screens, with about 50 seats each. Almost like watching on a big TV, not a place to watch something like Star Wars.
Other than the completely annoying idiot who felt the need to explain things in his outdoor voice to his female companion about every 15 minutes, it was okay as theaters go, nothing special. Let's just say if you have occasion to visit Aquidneck Island at some point, avoid the cinema in Middletown.
I became someone adept at ignoring the loud jackass, probably because The Missus Herself suggested that confronting the chap would just spoil the movie. Sigh.
Anyhoo.
The movie itself was brilliant. Gary Oldman was brilliant. Kristin Scott Thomas (who played Churchill's wife, Clementine) was brilliant. I thought the entire cast was excellent.
The score, brilliant. This movie took me back to those days in May of 1940 when the civilized world was in danger of going under to an evil almost impossible to believe.
Churchill, at the beginning, stood alone. Even his own party mistrusted him, he became Prime Minister only because he was acceptable to both the Conservative (Churchill's party) and Labour Parties.
People were playing politics even as France was succumbing to Nazi aggression. Churchill saw the light.
He led, others followed.
Go see it.
Okay, since the Sarge Movie Critic agency holds a 100% approval rating (nowhere to go but down), I think I will.
ReplyDeleteWell worth the time I thought. Mr. Oldman brings Sir Winston to life!
DeleteWas planning on going but the Sarge Movie Critic agency cements it. Did enjoy Dunkirk although shooting down an enemy while in infinite glide mode was pure Hollywood.
ReplyDeleteHollywood has to tinker, it's what they do.
DeleteBut this one is excellent.
Churchill is one of the most fascinating historical figures in modern history. He undoubtedly did more to save Western Civilization from tyranny than any other of his era. His only major failure was his effort to preserve and protect the British Empire. I am always reminded of his speech on 13 May 1940 as the Nazi army was driving the BEF off the continent in the Battle of France and Winston Churchill stood before the House when all appeared lost and said "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat," Was Churchill the Man of the Century? I have always thought so.
ReplyDeleteI shudder to think where we would be if not for Churchill. Definitely the man of the century in my book.
DeleteThanks for the post and movie recommendation.
ReplyDeletePaul L. Quandt
✌
DeleteI'll try and keep it down to whispers next time.
ReplyDeleteHahaha!
DeleteI had read that there were is a period of five days that there was tremendous pressure on Churchill to seek peace negotiations with Hitler as France succumbed.
ReplyDeleteHad he done so, Hitler would have insisted on re-installing Edward as king. Edward was a Nazi sympathizer. Hard to envision Europe today and the West had this occurred.
Since 1930 ChurchIll by warning the world of Hitler was isolated and ridiculed.
But he never gave up.
I suspect that by living through those “wilderness years“, it strengthen him.
I would not disagree.
DeleteHe DID like his scotch and champagne, though. Probably too much.
ReplyDeleteAnd he still lived to be 90 years old! (Not to mention the cigar smoking!)
Deleteanyone who carried a C96 Broomhandle Mauser in Africa had to be a tough bugger, even if a gentleman as well when that was appropriate! and yes, without his steadfastness, WWII might have turned out differently. Just also glad Uncle Adolf and Uncle Hermann were as daft as they were to stop bombing the RAF and start bombing London ... as well as other strategic mistakes they made (see Operation Barbarossa, e.g.)
ReplyDeleteHe was something, had quite a lot of "adventures" of a military nature as a young man.
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