☆☆☆
Unfocused and unclear about whether it's a scathing indictment of sexual harassment or a swift satire of Fox News, Bombshell seems rushed to capitalize on a social movement. Despite phenomenal work from its three central performers, particularly Charlize Theron, it can't overcome fits-and-starts pace or casting more akin to an Irwin Allen disaster show from the 1970s.
Everyone who's anyone shows up at least for a moment, so much you'll find yourself whispering, "Wait, is that ... ?" Amid this sea of guest stars, the four most prominent characters are Theron as former Fox News host Megyn Kelly, Nicole Kidman as Gretchen Carlson, Margo Robbie as a fictionalized young up-and-comer, and John Lithgow as sleazeball chairman Roger Ailes.
Carlson is the first to accuse Ailes of shockingly vile sexual behavior, while Kelly faces relentless attacks (including from a certain presidential candidate) that stir conflict in her. The truth is absorbing and disturbing, but for whatever reason it's not enough for director Jay Roach and screenwriter Charles Randolph (did anyone think this story might be better told with female voices?), so they add in Robbie's character, who is unbothered by the revelations until she faces Ailes on her own.
Dramatically, it's both too much and not enough, and just when Bombshell gets good, it lobs in a "cameo" by a Fox News personality to force a laugh. It's off-kilter; both too righteous and not angry enough. Though occasionally terrific, Bombshell turns out to be a bit of a dud.
Viewed Dec. 13, 2019 -- AMC Century City
1815
Everyone who's anyone shows up at least for a moment, so much you'll find yourself whispering, "Wait, is that ... ?" Amid this sea of guest stars, the four most prominent characters are Theron as former Fox News host Megyn Kelly, Nicole Kidman as Gretchen Carlson, Margo Robbie as a fictionalized young up-and-comer, and John Lithgow as sleazeball chairman Roger Ailes.
Carlson is the first to accuse Ailes of shockingly vile sexual behavior, while Kelly faces relentless attacks (including from a certain presidential candidate) that stir conflict in her. The truth is absorbing and disturbing, but for whatever reason it's not enough for director Jay Roach and screenwriter Charles Randolph (did anyone think this story might be better told with female voices?), so they add in Robbie's character, who is unbothered by the revelations until she faces Ailes on her own.
Dramatically, it's both too much and not enough, and just when Bombshell gets good, it lobs in a "cameo" by a Fox News personality to force a laugh. It's off-kilter; both too righteous and not angry enough. Though occasionally terrific, Bombshell turns out to be a bit of a dud.
Viewed Dec. 13, 2019 -- AMC Century City
1815
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