Mikes Film Talk

It is not often that I am so moved by a film that I must review it. 2015’s Trumbo hit me that way. It is a splendid bit of biopic filmmaking that rises above the shameful time of “A red under every bed.” AKA; McCarthyism.

Trumbo, is a recreation of the most shameful period of American history to date. It is a depiction of the force that was Dalton Trumbo. The man who defied the blacklist could and should win Best Picture for 2015.  It stars Bryan Cranston, who should already be making space for an Oscar. Diane Lane and John Goodman also appear. Director Jay Roach, gives a film that is impossible not to love.

Entertaining, funny, heartbreaking and thought provoking; Trumbo gets so  much right. This compensates for the few items that might be wrong. The film looks sumptuous, rich and full of detail. From Dalton’s library to the tools of his trade, everything  looks spot on and beautiful. The things that do not work do irritate.  Some things, though, cannot be faithfully recreated.

Cast is King/Queen

A perfect example  of this is in the area of casting.  As the main  “protagonist”  Cranston’s casting of Dalton Trumbo is serendipity in its purest form. The man is Trumbo.  All of the actors chosen to play the “main roles”  fit their characters like tailored kid-gloves.  Diane Lane, for example. She can play any part with a skill that many hope for and spend a lifetime trying to achieve but fall that bit short. She becomes Cleo Trumbo almost effortlessly.

Elle Fanning, little sis to Dakota, as Trumbo’s teen daughter is perfect. Fanning is well on the path to outshining  her wunderkind older sister. Her performance in this film proves that the Fanning girls definitely got more than their fair share of the talent gene.

Helen Mirren, drops the accent to portray Hedda Hopper as vicious and malicious shrew.  Best actress should be hers automatically.  Sadly, Lane and Fanning are also up for the gong and this three way race will definitely end in tears for someone.

John Goodman, alongside Stephen Root who plays Hymie, portrays the outspoken ‘B’ filmmaker Frank King. Goodman’s King may just have the best comic line in the entire film. When chasing out a representative of the “opposition” Frank states that he makes films “for the p*ssy and the money, both of which are falling out of the trees,” One of those moments that if this was not what Frank really said, it should have been.

Trumbo Star

The true star of this film, however, is Cranston. He brings the legend that was Dalton Trumbo to life. Whether he is sitting in his bathtub telling Niki off for disturbing him. Or attempting to survive in prison, the actor lends a realism to the Oscar winning writer. A man blacklisted by a combination of well meaning patriots and vicious politicians with hidden agendas.  Although Hedda Hopper falls in neither camp.  This vitriolic and strident gossip columnist could well be the template that some modern  writers strive to follow. (Ann Coulter for instance?)

The Music

The music, sets, cinematography and costumes in this film all combine to bring a breath of truth to the proceedings. Just as the mix of newsreel footage of the time takes the viewer back to a bygone age. To a most shameful time in the land  of the free. All these elements bring the audience back to a different world. An earlier time.

Annoyances

There are things that have been “altered” or that annoy.  These few moments take nothing away from the film.  Part of the problem has to do with that ever present curse of biopic features that  deal with stars of yesteryear. Finding a modern actor to convincingly portray “Duke” Wayne, who had a lifelong love affair with America, would be difficult and it was.

The unenviable task fell to David James Elliott.  Michael Stuhlbarg was left to bring Edward G. Robinson to life.  Dean O’Gorman was Kirk Douglas. Otto Preminger was played by Christian Berkel. All the actors carried off their roles with varying degrees of success. Sadly, only O’Gorman came close to looking like the performers they were meant to portray.

Cranston, as Trumbo, carries off the look and the sound of the legend. More importantly, he fills the spirit of the man.  This film is a testament to the drive and tenacity of Trumbo and his overwhelming talent.

Direction

Director Jay Roach takes the John McNamara screenplay, adapted from Bruce Cook’s nove. He and breathes life into a time that many in the audience have only read about.  The communist witch hunts, helmed by McCarthy, got their start here in the land of dreams.

The stage was set by world events, as stated in the film’s introductory titles. Making this, perhaps, an inevitability.  Roach captures the time and the feelings of a bygone era to great effect. Come award time, Trumbo should sweep the gongs on offer.

This is easily the best film to come out this year. It features actors who all are well known for delivering first class performances. John Goodman, Alan Tudyk and Louis C.K. all give first rate portrayals. While Goodman is up for Best Supporting actor, he may be pipped at the post by Schulman. His vulnerable and touching performance as Edward G. Robinson. A man the committee forces to crawl and beg his way back to work. 

This is easily this critic’s favorite film, despite the bits that “do not fit exactly.”  Any biopic, especially one so long after the fact, will fictionalize, or alter certain time periods and facts, in order to make the story more entertaining and palatable.  Film, by the very nature of the medium, fictionalizes any “true story” or event. Trumbo is not exception, but it does not do so frivolously or senselessly, it alters for the over all good of the story.

Trumbo should be seen by all who have heard of Dalton Trumbo and the blacklist. Or Spartacus. Roman Holiday or Hedda Hopper or the Un-American Committee.  The film should also be seen by anyone who loves a hero. An intelligent talented writer of creative works and, of course, Bryan Cranston.

The Verdict

This is a 5 star film and one that, thus far, falls into the category of favorite film of 2015. If you watch nothing else, watch this one. Then when it garners praise at the award ceremonies later, you will not be surprised. Trumbo can be streamed on Tubi and Plex or rented via Amazon Prime.

The Trailer