Review of Trumbo (2015) by Yorkman — 09 Jan 2016

There's a certain irony in a biopic movie about one of the most celebrated screenwriters in Hollywood history where the screenplay is by far its biggest weakness.

Bryan Cranston plays Donald Trumbo a man who, in the 1930's, joined the American Communist party in the wake of the Great Depression in an attempt to show solidarity with millions of Americans in need.

This decision comes back to haunt him in the late 1940's when, as a consequence of the rise of the so called 'Communist Threat, along with a government who wants/needs to find a new enemy for the military to fight, decides that an all out investigation into the activities of Communism in America is required.

This leads to the formation of "The House Un-American Activities Committee" whose sole mandate is to find links between anyone employed in positions of 'influence' in American society. Teachers, government officials, civil servants and, in Trumbo's case, anyone attached to the film-making industry in Hollywood.

What follows is a study into the man himself, his desire to defend his principles and most importantly highlight the hypocrisy of a committee whose actions are as Un-American (they are essentially foregoing Trumbo's, and everyone else's, rights under the First Amendment of The Constitution) as those they believe they are trying to protect the public from.

The film concentrates on Trumbo's life as he negotiates the ups, and then subsequent downs, through the 1950s, as he and many of his friends are imprisoned and then blacklisted. Not being able to work legitimately they are forced to ghost-write for a fraction of their usual fees and 'points', leading to financial hardship and creates major cracks at home for Trumbo.

Eventually the more progressive names in Hollywood stand up and say they'll not deprive a man of his right to be recognised for his writing, going up against the likes of John Wayne, Ronald Reagan and Hedda Hopper, all of whom see the outing of 'Commies' as the American way.

Trumbo eventually gets the recognition he deserves, and The Blacklist effectively comes to an end.

The cast of the film are all universally excellent. There isn't a bad performance in the movie at all, it's like the actors understood the importance of the film not only in a historical context, but also as an indictment of Hollywood itself.

The direction is adequate, neither flashy nor boring... There are enough little flourishes to keep you visually entertained.

However, as mentioned at the beginning there is a big problem with the screenplay. It doesn't allow the viewer the opportunity to get an impression of the other side of the argument.

People who are for the Blacklisting are just portrayed as being wrong, which doesn't explain their attitudes and makes you wonder more about why certain actors were happy to spout vitriol at these tribunals. Especially someone like Ronald Reagan who subsequently became a 2-term US President!

Overall, the rating given reflects the incredible cast and their acting, more than as a reflection of the one-sided screenplay.

It's worth watching, if you know nothing about the events of the time. However, you'd be better served looking up some documentaries about Trumbo and/or The House Un-American Activities Committee.