3.5 stars out of 5
Watching Trumbo, I was stylistically reminded of two other nonfiction films of recent vintage: The Imitation Game and Saving Mr. Banks. Like Imitation, Trumbo has sort of an educational-film feel to it (and minus a few f-bombs, certainly would make sense to show to high-school classes). As such, there’s a little too much exposition: “You won the National Book Award!” And, like Banks, the story is presented in an old-timey, classic-Hollywood style. Which I guess makes sense for a movie about the movie biz, in perhaps its darkest period.
Bryan Cranston — who you may remember from TV’s Malcolm in the Middle (what? He was in something else? Oh yeah Tim Whatley) — stars as author-turned-screenwriter Dalton Trumbo. He’s also a family man, and a proud member of the Communist Party. I was a little annoyed that text at the beginning of the film seemed almost apologetic, basically saying, “Lots of people used to be Communist, really! It was, like, totally OK!” As if the filmmakers were scared that viewers would quickly turn against the main character for being a “Commie,” like Hollywood did.
Cranston does very nice work as Trumbo. He’s smart, hyper-talented, vivacious, opinionated, bossy, selfish, stubborn, etc. etc. — not the most likable sort, really — but Cranston makes us root for him just the same. Also surprisingly good is Louis CK, at least after he eases into his part, as one of Trumbo’s fellow blacklisted writers. Again making the most of a small role, as he did in Inside Llewyn Davis, is John Goodman — blustery and hilarious as the head of a small schlocky film studio. (The reliably-funny Stephen Root is his second-in-command.) Diane Lane as Trumbo’s trying-to-be-supportive is solid as usual; gotta love Diane Lane.
Michael Stuhlbarg (A Serious Man, Boardwalk Empire) decides not to do an Edward G. Robinson impression. Uh, OK. Elle Fanning as Trumbo’s “I learned it by watching YOU!” daughter used to be younger. You know who kind of bored me in this movie? Helen Mirren. Yeah I said it! “What, no! Helen Mirren is so cool! She rides the subway and says fuck and is awesome in everything!” Well, not this. You want to blame the writer and director? Fine but I’m blaming Dame Helen. She is influential gossip columnist Hedda Hopper who is an excruciatingly one-sided character here — evil incarnate! Even evil-er than John Wayne! Yawn.
We do learn a lot in this movie, important stuff about the McCarthy era, if we didn’t know it before. Strong performances, decent laughs, not the most artful direction. In my opinion the film starts OK, then actually gets pretty good, then maybe tails off to just OK again. I don’t foresee lots of big nominations, but you never know — Hollywood loves movies about movies.
Jack Silbert, curator