News division’s harassment allegations are a ‘Bombshell’
If you don’t think the story behind “Bombshell” is the stuff of drama, consider that it also did much to fuel a cable series (“The Loudest Voice”) before the movie was released.
With its double-entendre title, the 2019 film (currently streaming on Peacock) is the tale of the sexual harassment at Fox News that ultimately deposed the late Roger Ailes as the chief of the organization ... and as much as he’s at the center of the saga, as played by the ever-excellent John Lithgow, “Bombshell” is even more the story of female employees who fought back, some of them very visible Fox stars.
One is Megyn Kelly, and while actors often are cast for their resemblance to the real-life people they play, it is absolutely astonishing how much Charlize Theron looks like Kelly here. It’s not just the hairstyle or the posture that have been among the journalist’s trademarks; it’s a matter of capturing everything about her to perfection, making “Bombshell” worth seeing for Theron (also a producer of the film) alone. She was Oscar-nominated for the portrayal, as was the hair-andmakeup team that worked with her and ultimately won the award.
Nicole Kidman plays former morningshow co-anchor Gretchen Carlson, who did much to lead the charge vocally against those she accused of improper behavior, and Margot Robbie (also a current Oscar nominee for the movie) has a composite character based on several other Fox News employees who were in Ailes’ orbit. Unfortunately, in the end, going that route weakens “Bombshell”: If you’re going to stay factual with other figures in the situation, you shouldn’t invent one to go alongside them.