TRUMBO (Theatrical Release USA 2015)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

Trumbo—a film that follows up on the 2007 documentary of the same name—attempts to elaborate on the life of Dalton Trumbo, an American screenwriter who belongs to the Communist Party during Cold War years. The film suffers from the question: Why is this particular story so relevant that a film needs to follow the documentary? Bryan Cranston plays a rather weak Dalton Trumbo with some particularly deadly dramatic scenes that do not carry well. The script seems intent on regular attempts to make that deadly dive into oblivion that often plagues remakes of stories already told. The story waivers between a few scenes quite well acted and scenes not well done with the whole cast caught in some kind of odd dance that winds itself around a maypole of mediocrity.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Dalton Trumbo (Bryan Cranston) finds his writing career severely off track after Hollywood studios place him on a Black List in response to United States Government investigations. Trumbo attempts to earn money within his profession by writing under a variety of pseudonyms until the 1960s when President Kennedy supports a Dalton Trumbo-written movie script, Spartacus.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Jay Roach for his directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producer Kelly Mullen for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Edward G. Robinson (Michael Stuhlbarg), Rocco (David Maldonado), Sam Wood (John Getz), Cleo Trumbo (Diane Lane), Party Goer (Laura Flannery), Hedda Hopper (Helen Mirren), John Wayne (David James Elliott), Chris Trumbo (Toby Nichols), and Niki Trumbo (Madison Wolfe).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. But, if time is limited, the documentary tells the historical story better. The film, while told from a different perspective, feels redundant.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers