20 Essential Movie Performances That Will Define 2017

5. Gary Oldman - Winston Churchill (Darkest Hour)

Gary Oldman The Darkest Hour
Working Title Films

The Role: British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, as he attempts to deal with the desolation of the so-called "darkest hour" of World War II, between France falling in June 1940 and the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, when the British Empire stood solo against Nazi Germany.

Why It'll Define 2017: Simply put, Gary Oldman looks set to give one of cinema's all-time great, transformative performances as Churchill, completely changing the structure of his face to play the legendary PM.

If there's more to the performance than mere make-up wizardry, and knowing Oldman there will be, then this could be a real treat, as long as the transformation isn't so distractingly brilliant it actually makes it hard to just watch the movie.

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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.