Director: Jay Roach
By Alex Watson
Although it doesn't quite grasp its subject quite like we hoped, Jay Roach's Trumbo still brings a fine and ambitious turn from Bryan Cranston. Dalton Trumbo's blacklist during the McCarthy trials was a notable event in Hollywood because it led to one of its true greats being shunned. Roach effectively nails the man well but although this a slick and polished piece, it never thrills us like it should.
Screenwriter Dalton Trumbo has just become Hollywood's high paid writer, he is also a long-time campaigner for more pay for studio workers. During the McCarthy trials, his communist beliefs see him blacklisted and jailed along with nine other writers including Arlen Hird (Louis CK). Desperate to make a living, Trumbo will be forced to write scripts under false names in order to make a living.
Trumbo is a movie where Jay Roach wants to combine both fun and serious together. Dalton Trumbo is a man of great eccentricities such as his long cigarette holder and writing whilst in the bathtub, His biggest vice though is his big mouth and despite the fact he is happily married to Cleo (an underused Diane Lane) he still believe his perfect US could be better. "You talk like a radical, but you live like a rich guy!" mentions Arlen at one stage to his friend. Trumbo lives off the Hollywood dime and has some big name friends such as Edward G Robinson (Michael Stuhlberg) but is quickly making enemies in the wrong places. Anti-commie columnist Hedda Hopper (Helen Mirren) is one who wants him sent down the river. Early we see a clash of ideas between Trumbo and John Wayne where he respond to Duke's challenge about World War II "If you're going to talk about World War II as if you personally won it, let me be clear where you were stationed- on a film set!"
His subsequent trial for his communist beliefs sees him risking everything to protect his beliefs. Being called out before the committee sees Dalton simply playing a game and daring his nine other friends to do the same. Friendships are tested, particularly when his friend Robinson crumbles and names people. John McNamara's script calls out Hollywood on one of its darkest periods, but we never really feel the full effect. Forced to churn out B-movie scripts for lousy pay, rather feeling down the man gets creative. During his long banning from the Hollywood scene, he will write such Oscar winners as Roman Holiday which friend Ian McKellen-Hunter (Alan Tudyk) is credited for. Linking up with shady executive Frank King (John Goodman) is where the movie does have its funny moments. King mass produces forgettable pictures, which coincidentally have lots of writing jobs available for banned writers.
There is a great sense of injustice throughout Trumbo that his banning went on for so long (Trumbo wasn't credited with his Oscar win until 2011). Despite some neat direction from Roach, this picture cannot grab our attention like it should. It's the uneven mix of comedy and drama are one are which makes it fall down. His relationship with his suffering family is one area that feels underdeveloped along with his friendships with his nine other comrades. Trumbo's later revival under such important stars such as Kirk Douglas (Dean O'Gorman) and the hilarious Otto Preminger (Christian Barkel) do warm the heart because he was finally credited for the movie Spartacus. Though impressively we feel the sacrifice that the man makes, especially during his final scene when accepting an award. In one speech his denounces the blacklist and powerfully denounces those who compromised their beliefs.
Bryan Cranston at long last makes the transition across to big screen star and as Dalton Trumbo, he exemplifies the brave stand that this man took. Demonstrating a keen wit along with a heavily plagued conscience, Cranston is the glue that holds the picture together. Truly now, he is the who knocks. Helen Mirren is memorably nasty as the glamorous columnist, Heddy Hopper and is able to turn from charmingly cute to the wicked witch in an instant. John Goodman is also scene-stealing in a brief role as Frank King and watching him respond to Hollywood intimidation with a baseball bat is pure funny "You wanna call me a pinko in the papers? Do it, none of the people go to my fucking movies can read!"
Trumbo was left off the majority of the big Oscar nominations because even though this is well produced film, its lack of depth is obvious. Cranston alone is one reason to see this picture, but this is also a heavy reminder of just how Hollywood got it wrong.
No comments:
Post a Comment