Blut, Schweiß und Tränen

A biographical film about Winston Churchill during World War II, it was a follow up to The Gathering Storm which was made seven years earlier and covered the years just prior to the war.

The film is told largely in flashbacks while Churchill and his family are holidaying in France at the conclusion of the war as they wait for the results of the election.

Brendan Gleeson who replaces Albert Finney from the previous film, gives a very good performance as Churchill who has to be one of the most often portrayed historical figures. Gleeson would pick up an Emmy which duplicated what Finney also achieved. Since then we have also seen John Lithgow pick up an Emmy for his portrayal of Churchill in The Crown and Gary Oldman an Oscar for Darkest Hour.

Janet McTeer plays Clementine Churchill and gives a fine restrained performance which apparently was her intention as Clementine was a very reserved person. Iain Glen gives a strong performance a King George VI as does Len Cariou with Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Churchill is portrayed as a brilliant, heroic, inspirational leader, but also as a flawed man driven by what he perceives as his destiny or duty to prevail and succeed at all costs - ignoring everything and everyone else.

All in all it is a solid if not outstanding production.

I simply loved this movie. amazing story of bravery and great leadership and chivalry. I felt very connected to this movie as an Iranian since my own country was in 8 years of bloody war with Iraq( read the world)! The writing was flawless , lovely story telling with almost all angles of Winston Churchill's characters. I liked how the writer showed how important Mrs.Churchill was in the success of Winston Churchill as one of the best politicians of the history , with out doubt.

casting and direction was just perfect and let's not forget unbelievable make ups that were done on the face of the actors and actresses. Epic job by the costume designer(s) as well. but I think everybody agrees that the best of the best in this film is the performance of the leading actor whom by the way I can not believe did not win golden globe after this outstanding performance.

In the end I have mention the big mistake by the writers made in writing , the movie shows that Stalin , Roosevelt and Churchill meet in Tehran but they never mention the main reason of that meeting. the main reason of that meeting was to decide over the new government of Iran after the removal of Reza Shah whom they assumed was pro Germany. Allied government needed Iran to be saved from Germany who had racial roots with Iranians because of Iran's key role in the middle east and more importantly it's resources and of course Persian Gulf as the key to Suez Canal. also fall of Malaysia and Philippines was never mentioned which was another error made by the writers. the way they pictured the war it was like world war 2 was all about and around Britain which was not the case at all.

Continuing the storyline of ¨Gathering Storm¨ (2002) by Richard Loncraine, ¨Into the storm¨ by Thaddeus O'Sullivan is a look at the former British prime minister's life and career at the end of WWII. Winston (Brendan Gleeson) and Clemmie Churchill (Jane MacTeer) kept their strength and will united during WWII. Years ago, the couple experienced especially complicated moments when the politician became the only dissenting voice against the terrible threat of Hitler and the Nazi party against England. While the powerful Wehrmacht destroying the European armies and rampaging across the continent to Dunkirk, and an impeding encroachment over England by Nazis is nearly. As Churchill carries out ¨Dynamo Operation¨ to save the British army and French soldiers from Dunkirk siege and he will fight the Nazi enemy at whatever cost. And in 1940 the important "Battle of Britain" took place, in which the Nazi aviation, the Luffwaffe, tried to destroy the nation but was countered by the Royal Force, hence: Never have so few owed so much to so many. Germany was arming itself for war, but they didn't count on one man !. Never , never surrender¡ Never give up. Never give in! A relentless leader is the greatest weapon of war !.

Churchill was the Nazis' greatest obstacle during WWII. With his fearless and rhetorical authority he inspired millions of Britons and others around the world to fight Hitler to the end. The film covers historic moments such as the Yalta conference with Roosevelt and Stalin, Churchill's heart attack in the middle of the conflict - which was kept secret - his desire to accompany the troops on D-Day and the phrases that transformed him into one of the most recognized speakers of the 20th century.

The brothers Ridley and Tony Scott produced the previous film ¨Gathering Storm¨ by Richard Loncraine (focusing on Churchill's family life, and marriage troubles and as he had to explore a negotiated peace treaty with Nazi Germany or going on the war) , and this sequel ¨Into the Storm¨ by Thaddeus O'Sullivan, worthy of numerous awards. This is an exciting film based on facts with biographic elements about the turbulent life of the great Prime Minister Winston Churchill , a man who took a stand that changed history while his own Conservative Party was plotting against him . In ¨Gathering Storm¨and ¨Into the Storm¨ there are several historical happenings well developed and well paced. In May 1940 Neville Chamberlain is forced to resign due to the opposition Labour Party that accused being too weak in face the Nazi enemy, in fact he signed the useless Covenant of Munich in 1938 , then Churchill is appointed P. M. , along the way he manages to convince the different parlamentary forces , as well as he prepares Dynamo operation to rescue the European armies in Dunkirk .

Its protagonist is the late actor Brendan Gleeson, one of the most respected British actors of his generation, actor in notorious films such as Frankie (2019), The Guard (2011), Calvary (2014) and In Bruges (2008) , and sharing the stage on this occasion with the also prestigious Janet McTeer , who played Albert Nobbs (2011), Me Before You (2016) and Tumbleweeds (1999). The two great main actors are well accompanied by the best plethora of supporting British actors, such as: Donald Sumpter, Jack Shepherd, Bill Paterson, Robert Pugh, Clive Mantle, Adrian Scarborough, Andrew Havill, James D'Arcy, Patrick Malahide as Major General Bernard Montgomery, Iain Glen as King George VI and the American Len Cariou as Franklin D Roosevelt.

This professional filmmaker Thaddeus O'Sullivan has made a moving and decent biographic flick. Thaddeus is a good Brit craftsman who has directed good works displaying a long career both television and cinema, such as : December bride (1990), Nothing Personal (1995) , Stella Days (2011), Shetland (2016), Maigret (2017) , Citizen Lane, (2018), Silent Witness (2020), Miracle club (2023), among others. Rating: 7/10. Better than average. The flick will appeal to WWII enthusiasts.

Superficial. Talk about dumbing down! I suppose, to be fair, there are millions in Britain, and even more in America, who have no idea who Winston Churchill was and the service he performed. Doubtless these people need to have the basics spelled out. However, the result is a the equivalent of a Disney cartoon version of A Christmas Carol. As an English viewer I also could not escape the uneasy feeling that this was a slightly twee version of British history adapted for Americans.

Gleeson did not convince me as Churchill. As another reviewer has noted, he lacked the impish and self-deprecating humour which was such an important counterbalance to some of his less endearing qualities. Janet McTeer's part could have been played by almost anybody. And when did Attlee become a Scot? One of the most convincing bits was the actor they found for Stalin - surely one of the best lookalikes of all time. Otherwise I don't know how they managed to gather such a roster of top acting talent for insignificant roles.

Shame. It could have been good.

I am finally relieved of the long wait: the Gathering Storm left me strangely unfulfilled, ending as it did with the outbreak of WW2. Now Thaddeus Sullivan's Into the Storm carries us forward into that mammoth conflict with a splendid sensitive portrayal of the enigmatic Churchill.

Hats off to Brendan Gleeson, I would never have thought an Irish actor could take over from my hero Albert Finney with such consummate ease, but I guess Brendan owns the role of Winston now, he truly WAS him! (Then again, what do I know, I thought Len Cariou played Roosevelt with a British accent,imagine my surprise to find he's a Winnipeger who lived a long time with Glen Close!)

But Gleeson really was brilliant: His tribute to the disfigured pilot,are you humble in my presence,how humble do you think I am in yours? Drops his towel in front of Roosevelt, you see I have nothing to conceal from you ha ha! On religion: whether you believe or disbelieve,it's a wicked thing to take away a man's hope.

I loved the throwaway lines: RAF Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur 'Bomber' Harris being stopped for speeding, and the copper saying you might have killed somebody, and Harris replying My dear fellow, I kill thousands of people every night!

And Winnie's relationship with King George who was worried by Churchill's plans to land on DDay: I have decided to go in with the forward landing craft, I'm sorry your Majesty that would be impossible.. Why not Winston, at least I have a replacement.

Come to think of it, there's no spoilers here, this is simply a trailer.. don't miss the show!