Trumbo (2015 film)
Trumbo | |
---|---|
Directed by | Jay Roach |
Written by | John McNamara |
Based on | Dalton Trumbo by Bruce Cook |
Produced by |
|
Starring | |
Cinematography | Jim Denault |
Edited by | Alan Baumgarten |
Music by | Theodore Shapiro |
Production companies |
|
Distributed by |
|
Release dates |
|
Running time | 124 minutes[2] |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $10 million[3] |
Box office | $13.3 million[4] |
Trumbo is a 2015 American
The film was shown in the Special Presentations section of the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, 2015,[6] and was released on November 6, 2015, by Bleecker Street. The film received generally positive reviews, with Bryan Cranston being nominated for several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Actor.[7]
Plot
Dalton Trumbo is a screenwriter whose talent places him among the elite of Hollywood. However, his active membership in the Communist Party of the USA draws the contempt of staunchly anti-Soviet entertainment-industry figures such as columnist Hedda Hopper and actor John Wayne.
Trumbo is one of
As the
Industry suspicion of Trumbo's ghostwriting develops, but he is careful not to confirm it. In 1960, actor Kirk Douglas recruits him to write the screenplay for his epic film Spartacus, and director Otto Preminger recruits him to script Exodus. Both men publicly credit him as the screenwriter, despite Hopper's futile efforts to intimidate Douglas into dropping Trumbo. By early 1961, the effectiveness of the Blacklist had been broken to the point where newly elected US President John F. Kennedy publicly endorsed Spartacus, and Trumbo and others are able to begin rebuilding their careers. Ten years later, finally receiving his due accolades from Hollywood, Trumbo speaks about how the Blacklist victimized them all: those who stood by their principles and lost their jobs, and also those who compromised their principles to keep them.
Cast
- Bryan Cranston as Dalton Trumbo
- Diane Lane as Cleo Fincher Trumbo
- Helen Mirren as Hedda Hopper
- Louis C.K. as Arlen Hird[a]
- Elle Fanning as Nikola Trumbo
- Madison Wolfe plays a younger Nikola
- Mattie Liptak as Chris Trumbo (13 to 17)
- John Goodman as Frank King
- Michael Stuhlbarg as Edward G. Robinson
- Alan Tudyk as Ian McLellan Hunter
- Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Virgil Brooks
- Dean O'Gorman as Kirk Douglas
- Stephen Root as Hymie King
- Rio Hackford as Reporter
- Roger Bart as Buddy Ross[b]
- David James Elliott as John Wayne
- Peter Mackenzie as Robert Kenny
- John Getz as Sam Wood
- Christian Berkel as Otto Preminger
- Billy Slaughter as D.C. Reporter
- Richard Portnow as Louis B. Mayer
- Sean Bridgers as Jeff Krandall
- James Dumont as J. Parnell Thomas
- Dan Bakkedahl as Roy Brewer
Production
On September 18, 2013, Bryan Cranston joined the cast to play Dalton Trumbo.[9] On April 14, 2014, Helen Mirren joined the cast to play Hedda Hopper.[10] On August 7, 2014, Diane Lane, Elle Fanning, John Goodman, and Michael Stuhlbarg joined the cast.[11] On August 13, 2014, David James Elliott, Peter Mackenzie, and Roger Bart joined the cast to play John Wayne, Robert Kenny, and Buddy Ross, respectively.[12][13] On September 6, 2014, Louis C.K. joined the cast to play Arlen Hird.[14] On September 22, 2014, Dean O'Gorman joined the cast to play Kirk Douglas.[15] On October 16, 2014, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje joined the cast to play Virgil Brooks.[16] Principal photography began on September 15, 2014, and ended on November 6, 2014.[17][18]
Release
On August 13, 2014, it was announced that Bleecker Street would distribute the film.[19] The film had its world premiere at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, 2015.[2] The film had a limited release on November 6, 2015 before going wide on November 25.[20]
Trumbo grossed $7.9 million in the United States and Canada and $5.4 million in other countries, for a worldwide total of $13.3 million.[4]
Reception
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 74% based on 205 reviews, with an average rating of 6.70/10. The site's critical consensus states, "Trumbo serves as an honorable and well-acted tribute to a brilliant writer's principled stand, even if it doesn't quite achieve the greatness of its subject's own classic screenplays."[21] Metacritic gives the film a weighted average score of 60 out of 100, based on 33 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[22]
Peter Debruge of Variety gave the film a positive review, saying, "Trumbo may be clumsy and overly simplistic at times, but it's still an important reminder of how democracy can fail (that is, when a fervent majority turns on those with different and potentially threatening values), and the strength of character it takes to fight the system."[23] Manohla Dargis of The New York Times gave the film a negative review, saying "Part biopic, part historical gloss, Trumbo tells a great-man story with a patchwork of fact and fiction, mixing in the odd bit of newsreel with a great many dull, visually flat and poorly lighted dramatic scenes."[24] Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle gave the film three out of four stars, saying "Trumbo is breezy and pithy without ever undercutting the seriousness of the subject. A certain degree of wit is appropriate in a writer's story, just as any Hollywood tale must at least have a whiff of absurdity, or else it can't be true."[25] Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film three out of four stars, saying "Trumbo is a corny, well-made B-movie about an A-list screenwriter who had to take jobs writing B-movies after he was blacklisted, but eventually worked his way back to writing A-movies with Kirk Douglas a.k.a. Spartacus as his champion."[26]
Jordan Mintzer of The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a positive review, saying "What makes the movie work are the lively performances, both from the supporting cast and from Cranston, who sheds the mimicry and pontificating of earlier scenes to turn Trumbo into a wry, self-deprecating and somewhat cheeky older man, even if he continued to stand up for what was right."[2] Ty Burr of The Boston Globe gave the film three out of four stars, saying "Cranston's performance is the motor that runs Trumbo, and that motor never idles, never flags in momentum or magnetism or idealistic scorn."[27] Alonso Duralde of TheWrap gave the film a positive review, saying "Roach and McNamara fall victim to the occasional phony biopic moment or straight-up moment of didacticism, but overall Trumbo is a lively history about the day-in-day-out drudgery of survival during oppressive times. Screenwriters are so rarely taken seriously by the film industry that it's a nice switch to watch them be the heroes."[28] Bill Goodykoontz of The Arizona Republic gave the film three and a half stars out of four, saying "Roach's film may be light in places, even sugarcoated in others, but any reminder of the past and its impact on the future is a welcome one. Plus, we get a good Cranston performance in the bargain."[29]
Despite generally positive reviews, several reviewers criticized the film for being historically misleading or ideologically manipulative. Godfrey Cheshire of the Roger Ebert Journal wrote that Trumbo is "another of those simplistic, made-to-order films about the Hollywood blacklist in which the blacklisted movie folks are all innocent, in every conceivable way."
Other critics raised similar historical concerns. While the film portrays Trumbo as "a
Accolades
Bryan Cranston received numerous award nominations for his portrayal of Trumbo, including an
Awards | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Award | Date of Ceremony | Category | Recipient | Outcome |
Academy Awards | February 28, 2016 | Best Actor | Bryan Cranston | Nominated |
British Academy Film Awards[34] | February 14, 2016 | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Bryan Cranston | Nominated |
Costume Designers Guild Awards[35]
|
February 23, 2016 | Excellence in Period Film | Daniel Orlandi | Nominated |
Critics' Choice Awards[36]
|
January 17, 2016 | Best Actor | Bryan Cranston | Nominated |
Best Supporting Actress | Helen Mirren | Nominated | ||
Best Acting Ensemble | Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Louis C.K., Bryan Cranston, David James Elliott, Elle Fanning, John Goodman, Diane Lane, Helen Mirren, Michael Stuhlbarg, Alan Tudyk | Nominated | ||
Golden Globe Awards[37] | January 10, 2016 | Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama | Bryan Cranston | Nominated |
Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture | Helen Mirren | Nominated | ||
Houston Film Critics Society[38] | January 9, 2016 | Best Actor | Bryan Cranston | Nominated |
Palm Springs International Film Festival[39] | January 2, 2016 | Spotlight Award – Actor | Bryan Cranston | Won |
San Diego Film Critics Society[40] | December 14, 2015 | Best Actor | Bryan Cranston | Nominated |
Best Supporting Actress | Helen Mirren | Nominated | ||
San Francisco Film Critics Circle[41]
|
December 12, 2015 | Best Actor | Bryan Cranston | Nominated |
Best Supporting Actress | Helen Mirren | Nominated | ||
Saturn Awards[42]
|
June 22, 2016 | Best Independent Film | Nominated | |
Screen Actors Guild Awards[43] | January 30, 2016 | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role | Bryan Cranston | Nominated |
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role | Helen Mirren | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Louis C.K., Bryan Cranston, David James Elliott, Elle Fanning, John Goodman, Diane Lane, Helen Mirren, Michael Stuhlbarg, Alan Tudyk | Nominated | ||
Writers Guild of America Awards[44][45] | February 13, 2016
|
Best Adapted Screenplay | John McNamara | Nominated |
Paul Selvin Award | Won |
Alleged Robinson inaccuracy
The film depicts actor
References
- Notes
- ^ "Arlen Hird" is a composite character based on Alvah Bessie, Lester Cole, John Howard Lawson, Albert Maltz, and Samuel Ornitz.[8]
- ^ "Buddy Ross" is a composite character based on Dore Schary and Walter Wanger.[8]
- Citations
- ^ Hunter, Allan (13 September 2015). "'Trumbo': Review". Screen International. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
- ^ a b c Mintzer, Jordan (September 12, 2015). "'Trumbo': TIFF Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ Baum, Gary (September 2, 2015). "Bryan Cranston Goes From Drug Lord to Communist in Blacklist Saga 'Trumbo': "A Socialist, But He Loved Being Rich"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
- ^ a b "Trumbo (2015)". The Numbers. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
- ^ Child, Ben (September 19, 2013). "Bryan Cranston to play blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo". The Guardian. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
- Screen Daily. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
- ^ "Trumbo reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
- ^ a b Rapold, Nicolas (November 4, 2015). "'Trumbo' Recalls the Hunters and the Hunted of Hollywood". The New York Times. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (September 18, 2013). "'Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston Will Next Play Blacklisted Scribe Dalton Trumbo". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (April 14, 2014). "Helen Mirren Eyes Biopic 'Trumbo' With Bryan Cranston (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- Screen Daily. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- ^ Kit, Borys (August 13, 2014). "'JAG' Star David James Elliott to Play John Wayne in Bryan Cranston's 'Trumbo' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- ^ "David James Elliott and Peter Mackenzie Head to Hollywood for "Trumbo"". The Tracking Board. August 13, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- Screen Daily. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- ^ Kit, Borys (September 22, 2014). "'Hobbit' Actor to Play Kirk Douglas in Bryan Cranston's 'Trumbo' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- ^ Ford, Rebecca (October 16, 2014). "'Thor: The Dark World' Actor Joins Jay Roach's 'Trumbo' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- ^ "On The Set For 9/22/14: Liam Hemsworth Starts By Way of Helena, Elisabeth Moss Wraps Meadowland". Studio System News. September 22, 2014. Archived from the original on November 11, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- ^ "On the Set for 11/10/14: Star Wars: The Force Awakens Along with Angelina Jolie/Brad Pitt's By The Sea Wraps & More". Studio System News. November 10, 2014. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- Indiewire. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- ^ McNary, Dave (March 17, 2015). "Bryan Cranston's 'Trumbo' Set for Nov. 6 Release". Variety. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
- ^ "Trumbo (2015)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
- ^ "Trumbo reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
- ^ Debruge, Peter (September 13, 2015). "'Trumbo' Review: Bryan Cranston Clears Blacklisted Writer's Name". Variety. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
- ^ Dargis, Manohla (November 6, 2015). "Review: Bryan Cranston in 'Trumbo,' as a Screenwriter in a Hollywood Under Siege". The New York Times. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
- ^ LaSalle, Mick (November 12, 2015). "'Trumbo' a witty film about a tortured period". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
- ^ Roeper, Richard (November 12, 2015). "'Trumbo': Bryan Cranston acts in broad strokes as writer in the blacklist jungle". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
- ^ Burr, Ty (November 19, 2015). "Bryan Cranston puts the swagger in 'Trumbo'". The Boston Globe. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
- ^ Duralde, Alonso (November 5, 2015). "'Trumbo' Review: Bryan Cranston Blasts the Blacklist in a Rousing Hollywood History". TheWrap. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
- ^ Goodykoontz, Bill (November 12, 2015). "Review: 'Trumbo' a breezy look at important history". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
- ^ a b c Cheshire, Godfrey (November 6, 2015). "Trumbo". Roger Ebert Journal. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
- ^ Capshaw, Ron (November 30, 2015). "Film the Legend". Library of Law and Liberty. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
- ^ Buchanan, Patrick (November 6, 2015). "Dalton Trumbo Had It Coming". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
- ^ White, Armond (November 13, 2015). "Trumbo in Hollywood and privilege in Manhattan". National Review. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
- ^ "Baftas 2016: full list of nominations". The Guardian. January 8, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
- ^ "Nominees for the 18th Costume Designers Guild Awards Announced". Costume Designers Guild. January 7, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (December 14, 2015). "Critics' Choice Awards Nominations: 'Mad Max' Leads Film; ABC, HBO, FX Networks & 'Fargo' Top TV". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
- ^ Lang, Brent (December 10, 2015). "'Carol,' Netflix Lead Golden Globes Nomination". Variety. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
- ^ Adams, Ryan (December 13, 2015). "Houston Film Critics Society Nominations". Awards Daily. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
- ^ "Bryan Cranston to Receive Spotlight Award, Actor". Palm Springs International Film Society. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
- ^ "2015 San Diego Film Critics Society's Award Nominations". San Diego Film Critics Society. December 11, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
- San Francisco Film Critics Circle. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
- Saturn Awards. February 24, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
- ^ "Key Deadlines and Dates for 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® Announced". SAG-AFTRA. February 25, 2015. Archived from the original on August 17, 2017. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
- ^ Lewis, Hilary (January 6, 2016). "'Trainwreck,' 'Steve Jobs' Among WGA Screenplay Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
- ^ "The Paul Selvin Award". Writers Guild Awards. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
- ^ Ross, Steven J. Hollywood Left and Right: How Movie Stars Shaped American Politics, Oxford University Press, 2011
- ^ Testimony of Edward G. Robinson before the House Committee on Un-American Activities, April, 1952. U.S. Government Printing Office, 1952, p. 2421.
- Apple iTunes M4Vvideo file, beginning at minute 46:20.