Bombshell Movie Review

Bombshell

Bombshell

Times Of India's Rating 3.5/5
avg. users' rating 2.4/5
Rate Movie News Follow on
Cast: Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie, John Lithgow, Kate McKinnon, Mark Duplass, Malcolm McDowell, Allison Janney, Connie Britton, Alanna Ubach, Spencer Garrett, Brooke Smith, Ben Lawson, Josh Lawson, Marc Evan Jackson
Direction: Jay Roach
Genre: Drama
Duration: 1 hours 48 minutes

critic's rating:  3.5/5
Leaves you shell-shocked

Bombshell brings to life the sexual harassment scandal that hit Fox network when two of its high ranking woman employees -- star anchor on Fox News Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron), and the face of Fox & Friends Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman), first accuse and then bring down Roger Ailes (John Lithgow), the right-wing Chairman and CEO of the network who was finally fired when 23 women complained about him. Margot Robbie's character Kayla is a fictional amalgamation of dozens of ambitious young women exploited by Ailes during his reign.

John Lithgow is known for playing likeable characters and hence casting him as a grandfatherly figure who preys on young women is a masterstroke indeed. He doesn't look like a monster, and in fact is shown to be something of a genius, micromanaging the newsroom from his office filled with monitors, sniffing out mistakes like a bloodhound, telling editors how to spin a story so that it attracts maximum eyeballs. It's in his closed-door scene with Robbie that his ruthlessness comes through. She manages to get some time with him, making a case for how she can contribute much more in a better position. He jokes with her agrees to some of her ideas, puts her at her ease and then asks her to take a twirl in front of him. He asks her to raise her mini skirt higher and higher with every turn. What he's demonstrating is his power. What he's commanding is unflinching loyalty towards him. Shame and humiliation are writ large on her face during the confrontation. While he looks like a Mafia don, demanding omerta from those he controls.

Through clever use of make-up and prosthetics, as also her flair as an actor, Charlize Theron gets transformed into Megyn Kelly. Soon, she's talking directly to the camera, breaking the fourth wall, spilling out the inside dope on one of the most powerful networks in the world. You're hooked and want to know more. Bombshell isn't just about sexual harassment. It's also a critique on how news is dished out, how perception is created. Those were the days when Trump was campaigning for being the president. Megyn wants to confront him on his attitude towards women and he responds with a joke about her menstrual cycle. Everyone believes this will bring about his downfall but strangely his popularity takes a boost. That’s when probably the Fox started leaning towards Trump and helped him win the elections. Because in the end, it's all about the ratings, isn’t it.

The film shows how bad were things at Fox. When women employees learn that there is a hotline for reporting workplace misconduct, Megyn informs it’s a joke as everything in the network is recorded. When the allegations first come out, many female employees openly support Ailes. Even Megyn doesn’t support Gretchen initially, thinking that the move will harm her career. It’s only later when she learns of Kayla’s trauma that she thaws.

It’s the histrionics which makes Bombshell a compelling watch. The three main actresses, stars in their own right, seamlessly shed their stardom to become flesh and bone characters. They are ably supported by the entire ensemble cast. You feel as if you’re in the midst of a bustling new network office, catching a glimpse of the lives of the various reporters, anchors, editors and executives that are part of the circus. And John Lithgow is a force by himself. You love to hate him by the end of it all. A shout out to the costume and art department as well for a faithful recreation of costumes and places...



Trailer : Bombshell


Neil Soans, January 3, 2020, 12:30 AM IST

critic's rating:  3.5/5

Bombshell Story: A revealing look intoaccounts of sexual harassment in one of the most powerful and controversial media empires of all time – Fox News.

Bombshell Review: Based on the allegations made by Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron) and Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman), against Roger Ailes (John Lithgow), the now-deceased chairman and CEO of Fox News and Fox Television Studios, ‘Bombshell’ also features Margot Robbie as Kayla Pospisil – a fictional producer meant to represent a composite of women who endured harassment from Roger Ailes.
The most striking aspect of the film is its casting and makeup. Both are truly remarkable, especially with Charlize Theron as Megyn Kelly. The actress knocks it out of the park with her performance, and all the awards buzz around her is well-deserved. Theron’s rendition of Kelly allows the audience to get a glimpse of her life before, and after the allegations came out. The screenplay doesn’t spend as much time on Nicole Kidman as Gretchen Carlson since the focus is narratively skewed towards Megyn Kelly and Kayla Pospisil. But that doesn’t take away from Kidman’s impactful performance, worthy of ‘Supporting Actress’ nominations. However, Margot Robbie is a favourite to win that accolade, with a moving portrayal of Kayla Pospisil. This fictional character embodies a lot of ambitious women who are often naïve about the compromises they are expected to make by their male superiors. John Lithgow as Roger Ailes perfectly captures the thinking process of men in powerful positions. Besides these lead characters, all the supporting performances are well put together.

While the casting, makeup and performances are commendable and riveting to watch, the screenplay often takes a surface view of the overall scandal. Considering that the firing or ‘resignation’ of Roger Ailes paved the path for other influential men to be brought down for their abusive sexual behaviours, this film deserves to be more compelling in its emotional delivery. It tries to balance its dark subject matter with humour, leading to tonality issues. There is some uneven pacing as the screenplay goes from one character’s perspective to the next. But, although the sum isn’t greater than its parts, this is an essential film that needs to be watched, considering the significance of its real-life events and what they did for the ‘Me Too’ movement.