It’s no easy task bringing to the big screen a larger than life figure but director Jonathan Teplitzky effortlessly pulls it off in Churchill.
Donning the iconic bowler hat, walking stick, cigar in his mouth and a drink in his hand Brian Cox convincingly transformed himself into the one and only Winston Churchill.
His performance gave me goosebumps and I felt as if I was watching the man himself; Cox fully throws himself into this role and the results are nothing short of spectacular.
While, many viewers know him as the unrelenting force to be reckoned with, the man who refused to yield to the Lufftwaffe during the Blitz, Churchill focuses on the days leading up to D-Day.
He is portrayed as broken and haunted by the failure of the Gallipoli campaign during the First War.
Desperate not to make the same mistake again he goes up against General Montgomery (Julian Wadham) and Ike Eisenhower (John Slattery) as they plan for the final offensive, Operation Overlord.
As the Allies work together to push the Nazi’s out of Europe, Churchill seems to be making a nuisance of himself.
His behaviour becomes erratic; his drinking increases and his wife Clemmie (Miranda Richardson) even slaps him across his face.
Despite his behaviour there is no denying the British people are in awe of him.
As the soldiers head to Normandy, Churchill must embrace his destiny.
He must rise from his drunken stupor and realise that he is more than just the Prime Minister.
He is a beacon of hope and in the words of his wife, ‘you will always be the man who saw us through.’
A riveting and poignant film, Churchill is a must see,
Also starring James Purfoy as King George VI, Richard Durden as Churchill’s aid and friend Jan Smuts and Ella Purnell as Churchill’s new secretary Helen.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Rated: PG
Distributor: Transmission Films
In cinemas June 8
