Image Credit: Hilary B Gayle

By The Popcorn Guru

Popcorn Guru

MOVIE REVIEW: Bombshell

Feb 10, 2020 | 6:15 PM

Welcome to The Popcorn Guru, a new movie review blog on CFJC Today.

Film is a powerful medium, especially when it is used to convey true events relevant to our time. Bombshell (2019) depicts the events that led to the sacking of Roger Ailes as CEO and chairman of Fox News. More importantly, it’s the story of victims of sexual harassment bravely rising up to support each other and take down a powerful predator in what can be considered a precursor to the #MeToo movement.

The story itself flows and feels real, and doesn’t shy from showing how bad sexual harassment and assault can be, but doesn’t go so far as to give itself an R rating. The gender power inbalance is poignant, and the power of denial is shown to be devastating, especially when the other women at Fox at one point side with the men against those who have spoken up.

As a man, I’ve never been aware of the sheer powerlessness against sexual predation experienced by working women such as those portrayed in Bombshell. It was eye opening to be confronted with the realities of a predominantly patriarchal system that silences individuals to protect the powerful, and only fails in doing so in the face of overwhelming solidarity. Usually, when a victim speaks up alone – like anchor Juliet Huddy (portrayed by Jennifer Morrison in the film) – they are let go and made sure they can’t put up a fight after they’re gone. It’s an unacceptable system, and is something that is changing all too slowly.

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: How to reduce food waste in Kamloops during the festive season

2h ago

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: December 12, 2024

21h ago

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: North Shore BIA working hard to develop a 'happening place'

Dec 12, 2024

The hair and make-up team fully deserve the Oscar they won. Megyn Kelly (played by Charlize Theron) was entirely convincing – in appearance, in demeanor, and in voice. Theron’s performance was believable and captivating, and she was not alone. The star power in this picture wasn’t wasted, Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie, and John Lithgow all gave performances that evoked powerful emotions, albeit of different types.

The style this movie is shot in shares traits with documentaries. Similarly to The Two Popes, there are bump zooms into characters’ faces during tense moments, and quick cuts in a style that resembles a documentary editor putting in only the most usable seconds of a hectic shoot into the final cut, even though it was a narrative film with time and the ability to have multiple takes. It infuses a sense of reality into the image because it is a look we most often associate with footage of real events.

Bombshell‘s portrayal of Roger Ailes contains one very important aspect: it is possible for someone to be both a genius and a monster. The good doesn’t cancel the bad, or vice versa, and it is important that we hold each other up and not defend bad behaviour with unrelated good.

Bombshell – Runtime 1hr 49 min