Bombshell

Name: Bombshell
Genre: Biography, Drama
Released: December 13, 2019
Duration: 109 min
Rating: 64
Cast: Alanna Ubach, Alice Eve, Allison Janney, Ashley Greene, Brigette Lundy-Paine

2019

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 46 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 183 Ratings

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6.3

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6.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 183 Ratings

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Bombshell

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Movie Details & Credits

Lionsgate | Release Date: December 13, 2019 | R

Starring: Alanna Ubach, Alice Eve, Allison Janney, Ashley Greene, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Brooke Smith, Charlize Theron, Connie Britton, D'Arcy Carden, Elisabeth Röhm, Jennifer Morrison, John Lithgow, Kate McKinnon, Liv Hewson, Malcolm McDowell, Margot Robbie, Mark Duplass, Nazanin Boniadi, Nicole Kidman, Tricia Helfer

Summary: A group of women decide to take on Fox News head Roger Ailes and the toxic atmosphere he presided over the network.

Director: Jay Roach

Genre(s): Biography, Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 109 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Mick LaSalle

Dec 10, 2019

A superb drama about sexual harassment at Fox News. Read full review

Lorry Kikta

Dec 12, 2019

It’s impressive that Bombshell is able to discuss all the issues at hand all at once. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Dec 24, 2019

With Bombshell, thanks in large part to the contributions of his actors, Roach has crafted a compelling “ripped from the headlines” motion picture that unfolds like a page-turner. Unfortunately, with little room for nuance or detail, it lacks the depth necessary to make it more than a superficial dissection of what amounted to low-hanging fruit in the 2010s series of major headline sexual harassment revelations. Read full review

IndieWire Eric Kohn

Dec 9, 2019

Bombshell is a lurid, cartoonish romp, marred by rough and sometimes overbearing flourishes, but not without a tragicomic soul. That alone makes it a genuine movie of the moment. Read full review

Garrett Mitchell

Dec 23, 2019

Though the stories explored in Bombshell are explosive, the film's uneven pace makes them merely sizzle like reading a news brief instead of an illustrative Vanity Fair profile. Read full review

Polygon Jesse Hassenger

Dec 12, 2019

Apart from some compelling procedural elements, the movie is mostly style, and that style is a generic mess of tics: pseudo-documentary quick zooms, exchanges of fraught glances, and handheld camera work. Read full review

Joshua Rowin

Dec 9, 2019

The film is too irreverent in tone and narrow in scope to place Roger Ailes’s criminality in a larger, more meaningful context. Read full review

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User Reviews

GreatMartin

Dec 24, 2019

In 2003/2004 I saw "Monster" and walked out of the theatre saying that if Charlize Theron doesn't win the Oscar for her performance I will never go to the movies. Well, she did I still go and today I saw a performance by Charlize Theron that might not get her that second Oscar but she, alongIn 2003/2004 I saw "Monster" and walked out of the theatre saying that if Charlize Theron doesn't win the Oscar for her performance I will never go to the movies. Well, she did I still go and today I saw a performance by Charlize Theron that might not get her that second Oscar but she, along with Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie, certainly deserve nominations. (Robbie stands a chance in the supporting category as the other two have won best actress Oscars.)

I honestly did not recognize Theron until the near end of the movie due to makeup and prosthetics---another Oscar nomination?--and she has lowered her voice that she is Megyn Kelly. Though the film revolves around Theron/Kelly, for those who don't know the whole story, it was Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman) who was responsible, not only for the downfall of Roger Ailes (John Lithgow) but helped bring the #METOO movement to the forefront.

As with all 'based on a true story' I often wonder how true private conversations are but this man was so abusive that you know a lot wasn't being told and it boggles the mind what he did do and what he, and other men, got away with. The fact that many women covered up for him and one seems to be a pimp for him, doesn't bring any shame on them but on the industry for their practices regarding women.

Any film dealing with the politics in the past 5 years will have to involve Trump and Fox News but, even if we see the behind the scenes involving the Murdochs, this is not a Republican versus Democrat movie. There is a reason why the 3 leads, and so many others, are beautiful blondes wearing tight and short dresses and showing their legs and it all points to Ailes, and Fox, allowing him to do what he did because he was making the company billions of dollars.

Aside from Theron, Kidman and Robbie there are many name actresses such as Holland Taylor, Kate McKinnon, Allison Janney and Connie Britton playing large, small and all important parts.

Lithgow is a repulsive looking man as Ailes--again makeup and prosthetics--making it so unimaginable that he could get any woman that he wanted sexually but he does because of the way the industry worked. Richard Kind does a quick impersonation of Rudy Giuliani while Malcolm McDowell plays Rupert Murdoch and various actors play well known TV figures.

The screenplay by Charles Randolph holds your attention no matter how familiar you may be with the story while director Jay Roach keeps the film going at a quick pace.

"Bombshell" is a must see for the performances, the story and getting out to all the public exactly what brought the #METOO movement forward. Certainly every man should see this film.… Expand

2 of 9 users found this helpful27

benward

Jul 18, 2020

this movie is great. really brings to light what happens behind the scenes. people say it hates on men, but here's the thing. if it don't apply, let it fly. but if it stings, then maybe it was supposed to sting. if you assume that an instance of sexual harassment is an attack on men, thenthis movie is great. really brings to light what happens behind the scenes. people say it hates on men, but here's the thing. if it don't apply, let it fly. but if it stings, then maybe it was supposed to sting. if you assume that an instance of sexual harassment is an attack on men, then that says more about you than the movie.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

Cinefeelya

Dec 22, 2019

This is not a summation of the complexity and depth of sexual harassment. It's one single story not intended to represent everyone's experience. It's incredibly well-acted, entertaining, and emotionally evocative.

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

GLADIADOR

Jan 14, 2020

Filme bom com um tema pesado, so não precisa no meio do filme parar de falar do tema do filme pra focar em outras coisas

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

donelson

Jan 17, 2020

Even more shallow than the news reports during the times covered. The performances are good, but the dialogue is pretty shallow throughout most of the movie. It's entertaining, but mostly superficial, probably to avoid angering the gray eminence himself, Murdoch.

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

JoeCool

Feb 27, 2020

This movie wants to be like Vice, and Vice wasn't great. Unfortunately there's not a lot going on that keeps you entertained or even interesting. Charlize Theron was worth watching, but that's about it. Voicing anti-Trump sentiments might be entertaining for a while, but it gets old prettyThis movie wants to be like Vice, and Vice wasn't great. Unfortunately there's not a lot going on that keeps you entertained or even interesting. Charlize Theron was worth watching, but that's about it. Voicing anti-Trump sentiments might be entertaining for a while, but it gets old pretty fast. The sexual harassement part just never really builds up enough momentum to leave a mark.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

Broyax

Nov 29, 2021

C’est inspiré de faits réels qui ont déclenché à la fois une tempête médiatique et une prise de conscience ainsi qu’une révolte… et une indignation parfaitement légitimes. Le chantage et le harcèlement sexuel ne sont pas admissibles à notre époque, dite « moderne » et civilisée et jeC’est inspiré de faits réels qui ont déclenché à la fois une tempête médiatique et une prise de conscience ainsi qu’une révolte… et une indignation parfaitement légitimes. Le chantage et le harcèlement sexuel ne sont pas admissibles à notre époque, dite « moderne » et civilisée et je supporte bien évidemment le mouvement « me too » et « balance ton porc ».

Le féminisme a donc encore beaucoup de combats à mener… mais ce n’est avec des films de cet acabit que le « mouvement » va progresser… car « Scandale » est un scandale scandaleusement nul à chier. Hautement soporifique, affreusement chiant et bavard, ce pseudo-film n’a aucun intérêt tel qu’il est, à part servir de puissant somnifère !

Franchement, j’aurais préféré un vrai documentaire parce que là, j’ai très vite décroché… c’est si maladroit et si mal fait que ça ne sert pas la grande cause féministe si vous voulez mon avis. Et puis, j’ai un autre gros problème avec ce film complètement merdique : il concerne les actrices…

En effet, à part Margot Robbie, on ne reconnaît ni Theron ni Kidman : que leur est-il arrivé au juste ? ont-elles été grimées par ordinateur ? ou bien ont-elles séjourné un peu trop longtemps sur le billard de leur charcudoc préféré ? ça fout les jetons, franchement ! et ça aussi, c’est un scandale… M’enfin bref, on ouvre la poubelle, on balance et on passe à autre chose, tout le monde peut se trumper, je suppose.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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