Month: January 2020

(L to R) Nicole Kidman as Gretchen Carlson, Charlize Theron as Megyn Kelly and Margot Robbie as Kayla Pospisil.

BOMBSHELL

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

I just recently realized that there are two movies depicting Roger Ailes, (John Lithgow) in “Bombshell,” and there was a TV mini-series, “The Loudest Voice”, where Russell Crowe does the honors.

Russell Crowe actually just won a Golden Globe for his depiction of Ailes, but lost at the SAG Awards.

I think that in “Bombshell,” Lithgow tries too hard to show Ailes as a sympathetic man, who has severe self-esteem issues.

Unfortunately, abuse of power seems to be the norm for both men and for women in power, so self-esteem is not the issue.

To be fair, a seven-part mini-series, does have more time to develop the character of Roger Ailes.

Both Charlize Theron as Megyn Kelly and Margot Robbie as a composite female employee at Fox News, are nominated for Academy Awards in acting for their roles in “Bombshell.”

In one of Megyn Kelly’s real interviews, she admits that when she was interviewed by Ailes at Fox News, she actually did the twirl, in spite of all her attorney credentials.

This is a cultural dynamic.

Granted it is less so in the United States, than in other countries, but it is even more insidious here.

Nicole Kidman plays Gretchen Carlson, who is the fired commentator at Fox News, who starts the ball rolling by filing a lawsuit against Roger Ailes for sexual harassment in real life.

The real Gretchen Carlson, had a degree from Stanford in Organizational Behavior and came from a Lutheran family, where her grandfather was the pastor of the then second-largest Lutheran church in the United States.

Big mistake to tangle with her, Mr. Roger Ailes.

Nicole Kidman was not the best fit for the Carlson role, simply because Carlson is a one of a kind.

“Bombshell” also tries to make the case that lesbian women were hired by Fox, but were forced to hide their sexual orientation.

“Bombshell” is worth the price of admission, especially if you were at the recent 4^th Annual Women’s March, where the meaning of the sign, “Miss Ogynist” was not lost on me.