Review of Trumbo (2007) by Chris Q — 17 Mar 2016

A wonderful period drama and flawless tribute to an inspirational screenwriter, Trumbo is a compelling and irresistible movie about one of the darkest period of Hollywood the US as a whole. Sharp, yet gentle and touching, this is the story of one of Hollywood's greatest screenwriters who dared to stand for what he believed in a time when the anti-communist paranoia was ruining thousands of lives in the United States.

Based on the true events spread between the end of the 40s to the beginning of the 60s, Jay Roach's movie focuses on the life of screenwriter Dalton Trumbo and the Hollywood Ten who opposed to testify in front of the Congress for alleged connection with the Communist party and got blacklisted from Hollywood. Even though the story is well-known and the element of a surprising is not present, the movie is highly compelling due to the polarizing topic revealed. One could not stay indifferent to the political terrorism that reigned over the first years of the Cold War. Mainly due to the brilliant acting and on-screen presence of Bryan Cranston as Dalton Trumbo, the movie is so gripping, emotional and thought-provoking. A simple biopic of a great man, Trumbo is not only a movie about a single person and his personal fight, but also a story about the madness of these dark times. Madness that destroyed thousands of lives.

It is true that the movie got only one Oscar nomination Best Actor for the remarkable Bryan Cranston, but in my humble opinion, it should have received bigger attention by the critics. A period drama that will not leave you long after the final credits, Trumbo is a most delightful and a must see delivery!