Film Review: Bombshell. Director: Jay Roach.
Virginia Woolf wrote, "for most of history, anonymous was a woman". Come to think of it, it does seem probable. Be it expression of skill or the ability to get things done, women have been suppressed repeatedly and ruthlessly by men. In today's era of equality where the manifestations of feminism have changed, some men have happily shared the limelight with women who earned their fair share after rising against this suppression, while some have objectified them with sordid and appalling conduct, which not only damaged and traumatized them, but also made them quit careers in which they could have shone as luminaries.
'Bombshell' directed by Jay Roach depicts three women, out of whom Gretchen Carlson and Megyn Kelly are experienced journalists running their own TV shows in 'Fox', a media Corporation and Kayla Popsisil, a novice who has been appointed as the back end staff in 'Fox' but has aspirations to one day run her own TV show, just like Megyn and Gretchen, only to know a lot of hidden dirty business that takes inside the seemingly wonderful Corporation in which every ambitious journalist in America covets a job.
Lord Petyr Baelish from 'Game of Thrones' spoke of atrocities of any kind as chaos and called them ladders. Some women look at sexual offers from their superiors as a ladder but most are devastated by the mere utterance of the words which are synonymous to a nightmare in a work environment, where, by textbook definition, a group of people gather to achieve a common objective. No matter how much one tries to ignore these things and get on with work, it feels like hitting a roadblock and spiraling backwards.
'Bombshell' depicts the real life incidents that took place in the 'Fox' media corporation where Gretchen Carlson was asked to put on more make-up and a shorter dress to peddle news on the TV by the male Director of the Corporation. While watching the film, the viewers will wonder that even if times have changed, the perspective towards women has remained the same. Only the manner of objectification has changed. It was way back in 1868, where Josephine March ( 'Jo' from the novel Little Women, Louisa May Alcott) said that women have ambitions as much as they have souls. The viewers will realize that forms have changed, but things are just the same.
With a big Corporation comes a toxic work culture that some thrive in, and some don't give two hoots about. The film depicts a toxic workplace with a cut-throat competition, where most do not have the sensitivity to deal with the issues faced by their colleagues. When Kayla tells Jess, her colleague about the issues she has been facing, Jess reprimands because she now has a liability of Kayla's secret and that Kayla is supposed to take care of these things herself.
'Bombshell' is an important film because it highlights the issues faced by women at the workplace and how turning down sexual offers cheapens a lot of hard work to reach a certain position. The film sends a message regarding workplace sensitization and standing up for the people who have been wronged, even if we may not directly be connected with them is depicted very well. It is a film everyone must watch for the element of truth it portrays.
The film is courageous in its portrayal of three parallels how three women look at the same thing similarly, yet differently. The language used in the film is very direct and explicit, but not once does it make the viewer uncomfortable, it disgusts the viewer at someone's depraved level of thinking despite the high position they hold. The film tells the viewer to not shy away from sharing these experiences and being bold enough and having enough values to punish the perpetrator and get them dismissed.
A special mention needs to be made of the Japanese special-effects make-up artist Kazuhiro Tsuji who transformed Charlize Theron into Megyn Kelly, John Lithgow into Roger Ailes and Nicole Kidman into Gretchen Carlson. Even Margot Robbie was 'Fox'ified as Kayla Popsisil. The likeness to the real life female journalists and Roger Ailes is unbelievable. The actors have given stupendous performances and every role has carved its niche. A special mention to John Lithgow's performance as the tyrant Roger Ailes needs to be made as he was successful in arousing a feeling of anger and disgust in the viewer.
The direction of the film is edgy. Even though the film is not a thriller, it leaves the audience anticipating and clearly on the side of the victims. Cinema depicts reality, and the fact that films on these lines have to be made to send a message is sad, but effective. 'Bombshell' is a Call to Action to those who have been wronged, against their perpetrators. The background music of the film where Billie Eilish's 'Bad Guy' is used, is racy and tasteful. The film can be suitable for family viewing for an adult audience, not for the scenes, but for the bold language used in it.
Overall, 'Bombshell' must be watched for the importance of its message that despite horrible realities, hope, resilience and collective action can make all the change.
MY TAKE: 7/10.
THIS BLOG POST IS DEDICATED TO MY PARENTS, MY SISTER AND TO MY FRIENDS 'M', 'T', 'T', 'J', 'A' 'K', 'P' AND 'S' WHO STOOD BY ME WHEN I HAD EXPERIENCES OF THIS KIND. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING THERE FOR ME WHEN I HIT THE ROCK BOTTOM.
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Wonderul review .. Especially the part where you gave credits for the make up artist. Shows how perfectly you have reviewed a movie 👍🏻 Keep writing and another amazing blog 💯
ReplyDeleteWonderful review Radhika, amazingly written. The epilogue of this review is fantastic 👌❤️
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