THIS is the Dunkirk movie everybody should see. At the Q&A Gary Oldman (who should not just be nominated for an Oscar but win it!) was asked why this film is becoming more popular each week. He said “Well, it is about a racist despot who everybody was trying to appease and the man whose conscience wouldn’t allow him anything but to fight”. His performance goes beyond the grouchy wise old man we are used to, (based on many interviews Oldman saw) to a more vulnerable man with humor and a twinkle in his eye. Timely as hell now. It is also a piece of history seldom told. With no other country backing him, including the US, Churchill should have capitulated and saved countless British citizens lives but it is the bravery of him and the incredible British people that bought time so WE could take a crack at fighting a maniac who too many people wanted to make give in to. I haven’t seen such a heroic and positive film in a very long time.
Special mention to composer Dario Marianelli, who not only has created so many competent scores ( in a sea of incompetence) but with pieces like ATONEMENT, V FOR VENDETTA, BOXTROLLS and KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS has reached brilliance time after time. This one creates real suspence. I was at the edge of my seat. See it!
I've learned two things from last year's movies about Churchill that I didn't know before--assuming that the films are accurate in their particulars:
1. From CHURCHILL - that Churchill was opposed to the Normandy landings. 2. From DARKEST HOUR - that from the moment Churchill became prime minister, members of his own party were trying to oust him.
I preferred DARKEST HOUR over CHURCHILL, but that may be because the former presents him in a more positive light.
I'm a little hot and cold of Dario Marianelli, but he really has the ability to write these big powerful themes that pack a hell of a punch. As I said, the main one that dominates the end of the movie is so effective it kind of takes my breath away. Several cues in V FOR VENDETTA do the same time, which is a strange thing to say as that movie is not nearly as good as this one is.
I've learned two things from last year's movies about Churchill that I didn't know before--assuming that the films are accurate in their particulars:
1. From CHURCHILL - that Churchill was opposed to the Normandy landings.
I only became aware of that a couple years ago when I read Oliver Stone & Peter Kuznick's book, "The Untold History of the US" in which they go into some detail about it.
I'd like to see "Darkest Hour" as well, most reviews I've read have been very positive.
I've learned two things from last year's movies about Churchill that I didn't know before--assuming that the films are accurate in their particulars:
1. From CHURCHILL - that Churchill was opposed to the Normandy landings.
I only became aware of that a couple years ago when I read Oliver Stone & Peter Kuznick's book, "The Untold History of the US" in which they go into some detail about it.
I'd like to see "Darkest Hour" as well, most reviews I've read have been very positive.
I am going to do a director Joe Wright weekend, with Darkest Hour, and then back to his terrific Atonement.
I missed out on the press screening of this today, which annoys me. But I'll see it in regular theatres. Looking forward to hearing the score (with some anxiety, because it's been a while since I was blown away by a Marianelli score).
This reminds me somewhat of Horner keyboard underlined scores, in a good way. It might be best not to spoil the film experience listening to it beforehand
I missed out on the press screening of this today, which annoys me. But I'll see it in regular theatres. Looking forward to hearing the score (with some anxiety, because it's been a while since I was blown away by a Marianelli score).
This is not a "blow away" score. It gets an E for being a dramatically effective score from me which DUNKIRK did not. In the old days it was the minimum requirement for a score. Today it is quite an achievement.
As I said before I believe our tastes are very wide apart so I wouldn't be surprised to hear it annoys you with too many Desplatish ostinatoes.
Well, I absolutely adore Marianelli's scores for JANE EYRE and SALMON FISHING IN YEMEN, but that is quite a few years ago. Since then, I haven't really heard anything from him that I've liked. From your description, this doesn't sound like the one to "turn the tide" either.
