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As a relatively apolitical American, my knowledge of Winston Churchill is limited to a few soundbites and anecdotes. As such, I have no way of knowing how true The Gathering Storm is...but I hope it's very true.
The movie, a made for HBO film (but should be available to rent soon), opens with Churchill already a doddering old man, on the outs with most of his political cronies, bemoaning that his days of influence are behind him. It follows him as he first learns of the Nazi threat, and ends right before he becomes Prime Minister.
While the facts are all very interesting, the fascinating part is that it is told mostly through the eyes of his friends, family, and servants. The love they all share for him is never explained. In fact, it is occasionally marveled at by onlookers.
Probably the most endearing part of this movie was its description of his relationship with his wife, Clementine. While it is hard for me to reconcile the bulldog image with this lovestruck retiree, in retrospect I can see it makes perfect sense.
Albert Finney's transformation into the famous visage of Churchill is so immersive as to be scary. He even has that lopsided stare down pat. Vanessa Redgrave as Clementine is wonderful, the perfect supportive wife with a mind of her own. The rest of the cast is sprinkled with excellent performances from British actors we know well, but (as an American) perhaps can't quite remember from where.
I don't know if HBO is available in Britain, but I would certainly like to hear some reactions if it is.
The movie, a made for HBO film (but should be available to rent soon), opens with Churchill already a doddering old man, on the outs with most of his political cronies, bemoaning that his days of influence are behind him. It follows him as he first learns of the Nazi threat, and ends right before he becomes Prime Minister.
While the facts are all very interesting, the fascinating part is that it is told mostly through the eyes of his friends, family, and servants. The love they all share for him is never explained. In fact, it is occasionally marveled at by onlookers.
Probably the most endearing part of this movie was its description of his relationship with his wife, Clementine. While it is hard for me to reconcile the bulldog image with this lovestruck retiree, in retrospect I can see it makes perfect sense.
Albert Finney's transformation into the famous visage of Churchill is so immersive as to be scary. He even has that lopsided stare down pat. Vanessa Redgrave as Clementine is wonderful, the perfect supportive wife with a mind of her own. The rest of the cast is sprinkled with excellent performances from British actors we know well, but (as an American) perhaps can't quite remember from where.
I don't know if HBO is available in Britain, but I would certainly like to hear some reactions if it is.
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