Churchill

A little history has guided me towards this review. On this day in 1940, Winston Churchill (a World War I veteran) succeeded in replacing Neville Chamberlain as British Prime Minister. So 80 years ago today.

This film is a Biography of the time leading up to Operation Overlord (or as we now know it, D-Day). Brian Cox takes the role of Winston, as he struggles to come to terms with the overall plan for the big day. He is a very patriotic Britain, who believes that leaders, should lead. He struggles to come to terms with the risk that is involved in the details on the mission, set out by Dwight Eisenhower, AKA Ike (played by John Slattery) and General Montgomery, AKA Monty (played by Julian Wadham). He also seems to feel as though he is being pushed out of all of the major decisions.

I think that this is a decent movie to watch. Slightly slow at times, but as in the context of the real life seriousness, it had to be strategic. Brian Cox plays the part of Winston Churchill very well and has all of the traits and the stature that we associate with Winston, the cigar smoking, the clothes, the walk, the hat and the way he was perceived to be. I also think that Miranda Richardson played an excellent part as the down to earth, Clemmie Churchill (Winston's Wife). She shows the cool temper that would have been required and also the strength that undoubtedly made her his rock.