Churchill
Directon: Jonathan Teplitzky
Screenplay: Alex von Tunzelmann
Cast: Brian Cox, Miranda Richardson, James Purefoy, John Slattery, Julian Wadham
Length: 98 minutes
Rating: PG
In the 21st century, we appear to be in a new golden age of Winston Churchill as the subject of cultural depictions. Most notable are Albert Finney in ‘The Gathering Storm’ (2002), Brendan Gleeson in ‘Into The Storm’ (2009), Michael Gambon in ‘Churchill’s Secret’ (2016) and John Lithgow in ‘The Crown’ (2016). Before Gary Oldman plays the former Prime Minister in ‘Darkest Hour’ later this year, Brian Cox becomes the latest actor to bring one of the most influential people in British history to life.
In June 1944, Operation Overlord saw the Allied Forces invade Normandy, France in what would be a decisive victory against Nazi Germany, turning the tide of the Second World War against them and forcing them to retreat across Western Europe. ‘Churchill’ is the biographical drama that follows the titular character in the days leading up to this massive military deployment, a game changer that would either see those Allies Forces claim glorious victory or hand the Third Reich unconquerable domination.
We all know the eventual outcome, of course, but at the time the result was far from certain with the largest doubting of the plan cast by none other than the great war leader himself. Haunted by his failure as one of the commanders of the disastrous Gallipoli Campaign during World War One, for which he accepted most blame for the defeat after eight months of fighting, Churchill (Cox) upholds major concerns about the effectiveness of this new campaign to end a war which had now grinded on for over four years.
He attempts to overrule the leaders involved in the engineering of the campaign, President Dwight D. Eisenhower (Slattery) and Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery (Wadham), in a desperate effort to change these plans which he views as suicidal. In this historical war film, the only battles on screen are the furious verbal altercations between the leaders while being set in the relative peace of the British countryside.
We are presented with two polarizing illustrations of Winston Churchill. One is the iconic brash bulldog, with huge cigar and surrounding smoke clouds most associated with the leader whom we recognise very well. Another is mentally scarred and irrationally vulgar, frequently overruled and consistently undermined, altogether a rather isolated and vulnerable old man at war with himself. A liability more than an asset.
One of the greatest assets of ‘Churchill’ is the intimate and statuesque central portrayal by Brian Cox who spits and rattles his way through arresting monologues. His version of the ‘We will never surrender’ speech via live radio broadcast to the entire country is utterly exceptional. Wonderful supporting performances by Miranda Richardson as a tired but faithful Clementine Churchill and James Purefoy as a flawed but trusting King George VI are complimented by the spirited, swirling score by Lorne Balfe from the misty, secluded stately homes to the windswept, deserted muddy beaches.
V is for Victory.
‘Churchill’ is in cinemas now.
Details of VUE cinemas here.
6/10
In Scotland I attended Dunfermline High School from 2010 to 2016 and Edinburgh Napier University from 2016 to 2020, emerging with two Advanced Higher and five Higher qualifications from the former and graduating with an undergraduate bachelor of arts honours degree in journalism from the latter. After two years away from further education due to the coronavirus pandemic, I'm going to be studying the MFA Photography course at York St John University in England from 2022 to 2024. I've achieved The Duke of Edinburgh’s (Bronze) Award and received grade five level certification for electronic keyboard from Trinity College London. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, writing, watching television series, listening to music and going to the cinema as well as catching up with friends, travelling by railway and hostelling overnight and overindulging in food and drinks in a pub or restaurant then having to go to the gym to burn it all off again.
By studying journalism and photography, my aim of practicing photojournalism professionally will hopefully be once step closer. Both are partial artforms requiring the rest of the work to be undertaken by the audience, the specialism of photojournalism, however, providing each of its two parts with greater context. Exploring photographic techniques (aerial, timelapse, editing) through a variety of journalistic styles (features, poetry, songwriting) will allow me to develop my portfolio, hone my camera skillset and narrow my focus further in anticipation of working life. Without a global pandemic to deal with this time. Fingers crossed.
