Prismark10 The Gathering Storm is a HBO/BBC co-production focusing on a pre World War Two, Winston Churchill, a lone voice warning of German aggression. Churchill is brilliantly portrayed by Albert Finney, someone who is much an outcast, practicing his speeches which are spoken in an almost empty Commons chamber. Struggling with money, a growing family and cajoling information from the Foreign Office.Linus Roache is Ralph Wigram the Foreign Office mole who hands Churchill a lot of sensitive information. At the time of the original broadcast of the film, there was controversy as Wigram's role had been exaggerated as in reality there were several people giving information to Churchill.Vanessa Redgrave plays Churchill's wife who has had to suppress her own ambitions to raise a family and keep the home going and is desperate to take a trip to the Far East to explore.The film has an all star cast from Jim Broadbent, Tom Wilkinson, Derek Jacobi and early appearances from Hugh Bonneville and Tom Hiddleston.The film also marks the return to acting from Ronnie Barker who had retired from show-business in 1987. With such a cast, its little wonder he returned from retirement as the butler Inches and very much steals the film.The film looks gorgeous, is very well acted but comes across as clunky which is very much fault of the script. We do see another side of Churchill who was more complex and I still think he is painted very much as the hero underdog. During his earlier stint in government he had done some unsavoury things as well as having a fondness for the drink.There were also the juxtaposition of Wigram who has a disabled son being taken aback by the Nazi's pursuit of policies relating to racial purity and wanting to get rid of people who are abnormal. Its done in a rather ham fisted way. We get it; Wigram wants the Nazi stopped because if they took over the world they will murder his child and other children like him.The subject matter is still interesting and demands attention but maybe a more flowing and edgy screenplay was needed.

lisamcolson What an incredible time in history to cover in a film. A lot of young people today really don't understand what an incredible gift was given to us by way of Mr. Churchill's vision and determination to defend against such a horrible man like Hitler. Had he not, what a different world we would be living in today.We've heard of Mr.Churchill and the famous speech during World War 2, but to get such an intimate view of the man himself, his family and the wonderful pride he had in England was inspiring. I wish there were more people like him in our world today. He wasn't afraid to speak out when the rest of the country wanted him to play along..and behave.Albert Finney was simply extraordinary in this film, as was Vanessa Redgrave. The whole cast was wonderful.I would highly recommend this film to all.

Mark Hone I enjoyed this very much, although I had certain quibbles. Finney is excellent and you forget that you are watching an actor. It could be argued that he portrays Churchill as an older man than he actually was in the 1930's when he was in his early 60's. The Finney Churchill is more like the late-war Winston, approaching 70. Derek Jacobi is miscast as Baldwin, who was a much more avuncular character, at least in his public persona. He is also not physically bulky enough. Poor old Neville Chamberlain is airbrushed out altogether and the film skates straight over the 1938 Munich Crisis, the apogee of Appeasement and deprived Churchill of some of his best lines, e.g. 'We have suffered an unmitigated defeat. On the other hand Vanessa Redgrave was superb as Clemmie and when Churchill returned to the Admiralty in triumph I shed an unashamed tear.

northbaychassen I can't endorse this movie enough. It demonstrates the truth of destiny and what one may have to endure to accomplish one's destiny. I.e. that one has to keep trudging on, that one might know one level what their destiny is, but at the same time have to find out where it is in the real world. Also that even great men can suffer from depression. The difference is how it is dealt with.I should add the most important point which is that even when the whole of parliament was against him, Churchill stuck to his guns on his belief of what Germany was about. He was ridiculed, marginalized and not treated well. It was his preparation and his alarm bells despite all of this that saved England.And this is the real last point: it also demonstrates how important the support of those around him was.