Bombshell. (15.)
Directed by Jay Roach.
Starring Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie, Nicole Kidman, Allison Janney, Kate McKinnon and John Lithgow. 108 mins
Three bombshells, all blonde, naturally – two are real-life figures, Fox anchors Megyn Kelly (Theron) and Gretchen Carlson (Kidman), the third is a made-up composite figure (Robbie.) The bombshell they drop is that Roger Ailes (Lithgow), the head of Fox News, the organisation dedicated to infantilising public discourse and degrading the democratic process, sexually harassed a number of women on his staff.
The film does a decent job of guiding audiences through a story that doesn't lend itself to simple dramatics. It also manages to give it enough breezy energy to make it watchable while still getting across how hurtful sexual harassment is. The performances are strong, especially Theron as Kelly revealing the balancing act required to maintain a strong career woman image. But as the story unfolds before the backdrop Trump's presidential campaign, you may feel that the actions of the 21st century's most effective and insidious propaganda machine are a more urgent issue.
Directed by Jay Roach.
Starring Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie, Nicole Kidman, Allison Janney, Kate McKinnon and John Lithgow. 108 mins
Three bombshells, all blonde, naturally – two are real-life figures, Fox anchors Megyn Kelly (Theron) and Gretchen Carlson (Kidman), the third is a made-up composite figure (Robbie.) The bombshell they drop is that Roger Ailes (Lithgow), the head of Fox News, the organisation dedicated to infantilising public discourse and degrading the democratic process, sexually harassed a number of women on his staff.
The film does a decent job of guiding audiences through a story that doesn't lend itself to simple dramatics. It also manages to give it enough breezy energy to make it watchable while still getting across how hurtful sexual harassment is. The performances are strong, especially Theron as Kelly revealing the balancing act required to maintain a strong career woman image. But as the story unfolds before the backdrop Trump's presidential campaign, you may feel that the actions of the 21st century's most effective and insidious propaganda machine are a more urgent issue.
