Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: Jay Roach, Lionsgate, M 109 Minutes.
The explosive expose of the sexual harassment scandal that damaged the Fox TV network in 2016 is compellingly and dramatically brought to the big screen by ‘Trumbo’ director Jay Roach in his latest release.
The drama revolved around celebrated Fox News anchors Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron of ‘Atomic Blonde’) and Gretchen Carlson (Aussie actress Nicole Kidman of ‘Boy Erased’) who together triggered the incredible downfall of Fox News’ domineering Chairman Roger Ailes (John Lithgow of ‘Pet Sematary’).
In the movie’s opening sequence, set at the first presidential debate in early 2016, Kelly is preparing to ask presidential candidate, Donald Trump about his sexist comments towards women, only to suddenly feel physically sick.
Following the debate, Kelly’s colleagues are strongly critical of her one-on-one interview with Trump – for not going on the offensive against the presidential candidate’s revolting responses during her interview.
Subsequently, it is Gretchen who falls foul of Ailes for refusing to accept his sexual demands, resulting in her being removed from her top-rating show. She takes legal action, suing him for sexual harassment.
This compels Kelly to finally come forward, together with some 20 other women from the Network including the naïve recruit Kayla Pospisil (Aussie actress Margot Robbie of ‘Suicide Squad’), to complain of harrassment by Ailes in a visually sickening scene.
Once the scandal becomes headline news, Murdoch’s sons, James and Lachlan (Aussies Ben and Josh Lawson of ‘The Little Death’) get involved, but it is left to their father Rupert (Malcolm McDowell of ‘Corbin Nash’) to force Ailes’ resignation before taking on the Chairmanship.
Roach’s rendition of the actual events leading to the resignation of Fox’s reprehensible media mogul is compelling viewing, complete with many enjoyable scenes filled with considerable tension that saturates the storyline.
Of course, the major highlight is the stand-out performances of Theron – especially her remarkable resemblance to the real Megyn Kelly – Lithgow and Kidman, with both appearing as look-alikes for Roger Ailes and Gretchen Carlson respectively, while Robbie is disappointing.
Although the underlying theme in ‘Bombshell’ is focused on sexual harassment in the workplace, what makes this movie particularly entertaining is the incorporation of the power politics predominant at a major TV network-exercised by one powerful individual.
With the Oscars to be announced next month, Theron deserves to be awarded Best Actress for her performance.
Vic’s Verdict: 4 Stars
