Film Review: The Human Being Behind the Greatness in ‘Churchill’

Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 2, 2017 - 6:40pm

CHICAGO – Winston Churchill, except to hardcore history buffs, is fast fading from the cultural radar. Often called the Greatest Briton Ever, the lion who led his people for so many years became a bit toothless during the greatest World War II battle ever conceived, D-Day the Sixth of June. That moment in his life, and the lives of those around him, is the subject of the magnificent new film, “Churchill.”

Rating: 5.0/5.0

In the past of film history – closer to when Winston Churchill absolutely mattered to his generation – this movie might have been a major event, because of its grand psychological profile of the Prime Minister. The director Jonathan Teplitzky (of the underrated WWII film “The Railway Man”) takes the highly intelligent and thrilling script by Alex von Tunzelmann and creates a historical masterwork, even though the chains of “period movie” and “World War II” shackles the impression of rendering such subject matter today. There is not one battle sequence or piece of archival footage, it is all delivered from a cast that are all at the peak of their talent, topped off by an otherworldly performance by Scottish actor Brian Cox as the title character. “Churchill” is a must see for those hardcore history buffs, but also it’s a must see for lovers of great movies.

It is 96 hours before the largest modern battle ever conceived, D-Day the Sixth of June, 1944, and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (Cox) is preparing to go over the plans with the generals. He is meeting with Allied Commander Dwight David Eisenhower (John Slattery), British Field Marshall Bernard “Monty” Montgomery (Julian Waldham), and other strategists of D-Day.

As the situation is laid out for him, Churchill grows angry. He wants the attack to be split up more, as not to concentrate the anticipated slaughter of soldiers. Even with his cache – he also serves as the Minister of Defence – the new war leaders are not listening, and even pushing back. It will take his wife Clementine (Miranda Richardson) and other unlikely sources, such as the King George VI (James Purefoy), to steer the old lion towards what is necessary to end the war.

”Churchill” opens nationwide on June 2nd. See local listings for theaters and show times. Featuring Brian Cox, Miranda Richardson, John Slattery, James Pureroy and Julian Wadham. Written by Alex von Tunzelmann. Directed by Jonathan Teplitzky. Rated “PG”