Wednesday 22 June 2016

Trumbo (2015 Jay Roach)

Didn't recognise any of the names behind the camera - Roach directed the Austin Powers films and the Meet the Parents duet of horror, so an odd choice? Writer John McNamara wrote a bunch of various US TV - again odd. DP Jim Denault has shot loads of unfamiliar stuff, editor Alan Baumgarten at least has American Hustle to his credit, composer Theodore Shapiro writes mainly for second-rate comedies.

Quite a lot of unknowns in massive cast too, though clearly Oscar-nominee Bryan Cranston (great), Diane Lane (terrific), Elle Fanning (good as ever) and Helen Mirren (good, but slightly 'flexible' accent seems to wander between English, American and Scottish) need no introduction.

Those that do are Michael Stuhlbarg as Edward G., David James Elliott (John Wayne), Louis C.K. (Arlen Hird), Roger Bart (Buddy Ross), Adewale Akkinuoye-Agbaje (prisoner with attitude), John Goodman, Stephen Root (his partner), Dean O'Gorman (Kirk Douglas) and Christian Berkel as Otto Preminger.

So, good biopic. I think I enjoyed the last half hour best, though scenes with John Goodman fun (noticed the Gun Crazy poster). Not sure the debate about moral imperatives vs earning a living come over that well. Trumbo sure wrote a lot of different kinds of stuff. Final real life interview, reflecting author's feelings about his eldest daughter, is a highlight.

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