The Darkest Hour - 6 nominations

Best Picture, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce, Anthony McCarten and Douglas Urbanski
Actor in a Leading Role - Gary Oldman
Cinematography, Bruno DelbonnelCostume Design, Jacqueline DurranMakeup and Hairstyling, Kazuhiro Tsuji, David Malinowski and Lucy SibbickProduction Design, Sarah Greenwood (Production Design); Katie Spencer (Set Decoration)

The Darkest Hour follows the remarkable true story of the transfer of power in England from Neville Chamberlain to Winston Churchill during World War 2.  We now know Churchill to be the brilliant politician who kept Britain from falling to Hitler's Germany, but at the time, it wasn't so clear a decision about whether to negotiate with Hitler (and hope that Hitler would keep to any negotiated deal... we now know that he did not), or whether to fight with a deeply diminished British army.  Coincidentally, a good portion of the film focuses on how and whether to rescue the soldiers stranded in Dunkirk, France, whose story you can see in another Oscar nominated film.

I was very surprised that Joe Wright has not received the kind of recognition that one might for the direction of this film.  The use of space, camera angles, how the camera pulls in so tightly at certain moments of the film to create breathtaking tension - the direction was brilliant.  I honestly thought the direction was so good that he might win the category, much less be nominated.  

The notable story of this film is no doubt Gary Oldman's performance.  Of course everyone in the film is good, but this is acting at its finest.  I challenge you to find a single moment of "Gary Oldman" in this film.  Yes, the makeup and the hairstyling contribute to the overall picture (and is no doubt why these fine artists who produced both are nominated), but the voice, the cadence, the gait, the demeanor were all so Winston Churchill.  There were certainly many fine performances this year, but Oldman is already the winner in my book.

There are certain films that I call "Apollo 13" films.  Those are the ones in which the history is on the books, and since the film is based on a true story, we already know the outcome.  And yet, we sit on the edges of our seats and can't miss a minute of the action.  This is an Apollo 13 kind of film.

A final important note that longtime readers of the blog will remember from prior years.  Movies that are based on real events have no obligation to the facts of history.  Movie makers have one obligation - to entertain.  (ok, we can argue that their investors would say that their obligation is to make money.)  Based on what was portrayed in this film, one conservative politician decided to tweet the ways that Churchill and President Trump are the same.  The very knowledgeable Twitterverse then embarrassed said politician publicly by pointing out that he was taking his history from this film and not from actual history (which was different than what was portrayed in this movie, presumably for dramatic value.)  My point (which has nothing to do with politics) is that if you love a movie beyond measure, let that inspire you to research the real history of the story.  Read books upon which the movie is based.  Take classes, do research.  But never assume that what you saw in the narrative is factual.  Is there a greater compliment to a film than to have you so moved that you follow up to learn more?  I think not.  And that's the truth.