Brian Cox, John Lithgow, Timothy Spall, Brendan Gleeson, Richard Burton, Rod Taylor… many and famous talents have already worn the clothes of one of the most important and influential political figures of the 20th century, Winston Churchill. century. To this already very respectable list we must now add the name of Gary Oldman.
An actor who is unanimously recognized and respected by his peers, much appreciated by the public, Gary Oldman is undoubtedly a huge actor whose talent has long been revealed. He is also a completely versatile artist who can thrive in very different registers, gifted with a great capacity to transform himself physically and vocally to the needs of the role.
With The Dark Hours, available on Prime Video, he therefore embodies this totemic figure of Great Britain as the country is hit by the disaster of Dunkirk and England soon finds itself alone against Nazi Germany, which is threatened with invasion.
Endowed with a vast culture, known for his kind words, also a good manipulator, cunning, while hating his political enemies, but able to enthuse a crowd with his brilliant oratorical talent, Churchill. is an absolutely fascinating, conflicted figure that Oldman makes his own in an extraordinary performance.
He also won, among other things, the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama, as well as the Oscar for Best Actor in 2018. A first in his already long career.
For him, everything started with a voice. “I had to make sure my voice sounded like Churchill’s. I took one of his speeches and an answering machine and started experimenting. Then I went looking for information, beyond the information in the script, to understand the man. Who stood up to the dictator. I wanted to understand his psychology, the way he thought. and rebuilt it stone by stone” said the actor.
Beyond the prosthetics and make-up, it took the actor six months to find the right balance for his role, working on his diction to achieve his model’s voice, his gestures. The result is to be found in this fascinating historical biopic directed by Joe Wright in excellent form.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
