Trumbo **** (2015, Bryan Cranston, Diane Lane, Helen Mirren, John Goodman, Michael Stuhlbarg, Elle Fanning) – Movie Review

Director Jay Roach’s riveting 2015 movie tells the crucial story of the diabolical Hollywood blacklist and America’s persecution of left-wingers and radicals that brought appalling harm to individuals, some jailed after committing no crime, and shame to their nation. It hones in on the story of Hollywood’s top screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, a communist who was jailed and blacklisted for his political beliefs along with many other creatives.

Based on Bruce Cook’s book, John McNamara’s elegant screenplay tells a horrible story but one that has a happy ending that Hollywood would love. Trumbo emerges not only a genius screen-writer with an enviable way with words and wit but also as an astute, clever individual who stayed pretty calm and showed great courage under fire and eventually found a way to manipulate the situation to his and his fellow men’s advantage. Working under pseudonyms, mostly for low-budget producers the King Brothers, Trumbo managed to win two Academy Awards under fronts of other names – for Roman Holiday and The Brave One. In the end, this killed the evil blacklist, at least with a little help from his friends.

The movie demonises the ultra-right-wing John Wayne and the turncoat Edward G Robinson and especially the gossip columnist Hedda Hopper, while turning eccentric geniuses Kirk Douglas and Otto Preminger into the heroes of the story. Or at least the hero’s friend. For Dalton Trumbo is of course the hero, and he’s played beautifully by Bryan Cranston in a Golden Globe nominated turn. He’s warm and wise, but not too much of either. It’s intricate star character acting, it isn’t a showy turn. Cranston, after a lifetime of supporting roles, is finally a star!

Helen Mirren has a field day as the villainess, the horrendous Hopper. How she seems t relish her bad girl role! She landed a Golden Globe nomination too. John Goodman has a huge fun time too as the equally eccentric Frank King (with Stephen Root as Hymie King). It’s disappointing that neither actor won a Golden Glove for this is the kind of film that needs awards to boost its appeal.

Michael Stuhlbarg, David James Elliott, Hymie King and Christian Berkel look pretty much nothing like Robinson, Wayne, Douglas or Preminger, but they all get right stuck into their roles, and produce memorable turns. There’s a little space left for Diane Lane and Elle Fanning as Trumbo’s wife Cleo and daughter Nikki, though not too much.

The movie balances being an entertainment, a Hollywood history lesson and a heart-on-sleeve message movie with considerable skill and style. It’s thoroughly enjoyable and is there to stir consciences and make your blood boil. I know they’re only movie stars, and they may be some people’s favourites, but it will be hard to view Wayne and Robinson in the same light again. And in the other way, the same is true  about Douglas and Preminger. They were autocrats, but sometimes at least used their power well, in this case for enormous good.

Rightly, the movie is careful to name names too, mostly in old footage – bad guys Sam Wood (film director), Robert Taylor, good guys Gregory Peck, Lucille Ball, Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. History casts a giant shadow, but some of the shadows shine bright still.

PS: Jay Roach is known for Meet the Parents (2000), Meet the Fockers (2004) and Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999).

© Derek Winnert 2016 Movie Review

Link to Derek Winnert’s home page for more reviews: http://derekwinnert.com/