‘Bombshell’ tells the story about how the head of Fox News was brought down when his female employees, notably on screen talent, level accusations of sexual misconduct.
I don’t expect this film will find much of an audience here. Whilst it might seem timely, with the profile of the Me Too movement, it has been released quite soon after ‘The Loudest Voice’ was shown on TV, and that 7 part series had much more scope to go into the subject matter in depth. We also do not have a tradition of openly biased TV news stations, and the news stations we do have do not have the influence they do in the US. That still sits with the written press, as demonstrated by the recent election.
That all, however, is a shame, as this is an extremely well made drama that lays bare the terrible behaviour of Ailes, and some of his senior male employees. It largely avoids preaching and grandstanding speeches, as it presents the women as driven and ambitious, willing to let their boss’s behaviour slide to an extent, as well as being courageous in speaking out.
Charlize Theron is excellent as Megyn Kelly, who finds herself at the centre of the story whilst she is still reeling after an encounter with president to be Donald Trump. Nicole Kidman, someone who has gone up in my estimation after recent performances, is less impressive though as Gretchen Carlson who set the wheels in motion. The supporting cast is full of great actors in small roles, with John Lithgow truly creepy as Ailes and Kate McKinnon is good in a small part as a Fox employee with secrets. It is a shame that writer Charles Randolph chose to invent the third main character of Kayla, and Margot Robbie really should have got her Oscar nomination for ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ rather than for this.
Some viewers may be uncomfortable with Rupert Murdoch and his sons being portrayed in a pretty favourable light, but on the whole I found this a rewarding and important film.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10