Movie Review | Trumbo (Lights, Camera, Action!)

Trumbo (UK Rating: 15)

This was a time that split Hollywood down the middle, destroying careers and reinforcing others. For Dalton Trumbo, the eponymous hero of Trumbo, released this Friday, 5th February, it meant time in prison, losing his home and reputation, finding a way to keep writing and earn money, and, eventually, seeing his name back on the big screen. An unashamed member of the Communist Party of America, he was blacklisted by the government and all the big studios, won two Oscars that he couldn't claim, yet somehow held on to his principles, despite the cost.

The film is a drama based on fact, which means it's populated by the big movie names of the day. Apart from Trumbo himself, played by the Oscar-nominated Bryan Cranston, there's actors Edward G. Robinson (Michael Stuhlbarg), John Wayne (David James Elliott), and Kirk Douglas (Dean O'Gorman), all on different sides of the political divide. There's director Otto Preminger (Christian Berkel) and, perhaps most venomous and influential of all, notorious gossip columnist Hedda Hopper (Helen Mirren), who was firmly anti-Communist and determined to make life difficult for anybody she perceived as having politics even vaguely tinged with red. Essentially, the film's storyline is a simple one: it shows the rise, fall, and rise again of Trumbo, yet placing it in a rich context of history, glamour, and well-known names.

Trumbo is also an actors' film and boasts some fascinating performances. Out of those playing big stars, O'Gorman is startling as Kirk Douglas. The physical similarity, especially in recreated scenes from Spartacus (the film that eventually won Trumbo the Oscar he was able to accept), is breathtaking. However, it doesn't stop there, because the actor has clearly done his research and got Douglas' voice and movement right, as well. Mirren, also, is inspired casting as Hedda Hopper, complete with tight-waisted suits and extravagant hats, plus waspish dialogue that she delivers with relish.

At the head of the distinguished cast, though, is Cranston, in a performance that cements his transition from a small screen actor to a commanding leading man on the big one. His Trumbo is a pain in the neck, intransigent, at times selfish, but he has heart, loyalty, and is committed to what he is doing. He's also a genius with words, spoken and written alike, which turns out to be both his downfall and his saviour.

8/10

Great - Silver Award

Anybody who loves Hollywood history will wallow in Trumbo and, for anybody with scant knowledge, it's an entertaining eye-opener. Glossy, pacey, and with the dual benefit of a sparkling script and classy actors to perform it, the film is a crowd pleaser, yet one that's not only skilfully made but intelligent and thought-provoking. The two don't often go together - here they go hand in glove.