Eye-opening examination of media powerhouse
Terrific trio Charlize Theron (Megyn Kelly), Nicole Kidman (Gretchen Carlson) and Margot Robbie (Kayla Pospisil) star as women taking on Fox News head Roger Ailes (John Lithgow) and the toxic atmosphere he presided over at the network.
The timing of Jay Roach’s truelife drama couldn’t be more on the ball with the #MeToo movement in full flow.
Charles Randolph’s (The Big Short) script focuses on the 2016 American presidential election and the eye-opening goings-on behind the scenes of a major media conglomerate.
The main talking point ahead of Bombshell’s release was Theron’s appearance; if you thought her transformation in 2003’s Monster was dramatic then just wait until you see the South African here.
Aided by make-up artist Kazu Hiro, Theron is unrecognisable in her powerful performance as news anchor Kelly.
Kidman is good too but it’s actually Robbie – an everimproving actress – who shines the most with a natural, sweet and vulnerable turn.
Lithgow has long delivered top notch character work and he doesn’t hold back in making Ailes as reprehensible and lecherous as possible.
At times Roach’s camera work is like looking through Ailes’ eyes as he emphasises how these women were often treated like sex objects and figures of ridicule.
But Randolph doesn’t write the lead trio as butter wouldn’t melt in their mouths-types; they also have their flaws, so there can be no accusations of over-glamourising or sweetening the situation.
Straight-talking is the order of the day as barbs are thrown and egos built and broken in an intense workplace never far from boiling point.
Bombshell carries an important modern message expertly performed by a courageous cast not afraid to get their hands dirty.