Lazy, tired bio-pic fails to ignite - but does offer an interesting perspective on Churchill’s mindset at the end of WWII.
A ticking-clock thriller following Winston Churchill in the 96 hours before D-Day.
Brian Cox looks, sounds and moves exactly like Churchill and that’s a huge part of selling this film. Seeing as he often talks in monologues, which seem better suited to a TV show his performance is paramount to the film’s success. While he is good, he isn’t captivating and doesn’t hold the viewers’ interest, particularly in his longer scenes. Miranda Richardson is excellent, but has so few scenes she doesn’t deserve second credit! John Slattery is good, but Ella Purnell is the scene-stealer of the piece.
The script feels better suited to a TV mini-series and any attempts to make the film more “thriller” like fall-flat. It’s very much a bio-pic.
Overall not one of the better WWII films.
2 Stars
Review by Benjamin Maio Mackay
Screening courtesy of Palace Nova Cinemas