First off, Gary Oldman is spectacular as Churchill, serving up one of his best performances in recent memory. He sinks so far into the role that he becomes barely recognizable, leaving only Churchill incarnate. His performance is elevated to another level by the fantastic supporting cast, consisting of Ben Mendelsohn, Lilly James, Ronald Pickup, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Stephen Dillane, all of whom provide equally solid performances. Although, at the end of the day, it’s the Gary Oldman show, and he will continuously dazzle throughout this historical drama.

Joe Wright’s direction combined with Bruno Delbonnel's cinematography hook you immediately with a sweeping long take of the parliament building that twists and winds throughout, introducing us to the political turmoil of the world the film takes place in. Once the visual hooks are set, they just keep digging deeper into your skin as the film wears on. Wright and Delbonnel deliver an assault to the senses, utilizing the gorgeous architecture, camera movement and lighting to supplement the performances and stylize the story. There are some absolutely stunning sequences in the film that I was not expecting — among them are aerial shots looking down over the bomber planes.