Strong Performances but Empty Film

Bombshell wants to get it's message across about sexual harassment at Fox News, and Donald Trump, and how women should stick together- but unfortunately we instead are treated to a one-side view of feminism, with fast paced headaches of quick edits, speeches and pointless scenes that don't add up to anything.

Charlize Theron is Megyn Kelly, the former Fox News anchorwoman that had the guts to ask Trump why he sexually degraded women and why he should then be allowed to be President of the United States. Of course, we know he DOES become the President, so I didn't feel any thrill of victory for her character. Just whining. She gets in trouble because now everyone is tweeting about her (most importantly, Donald himself) and her "sexist" boss has to keep reminding her that "this can't be done here." Theron is electrifying in her first 5 minutes on screen, and there's a confident glow about her I have never seen, and this is from the same actor who did Monster and Young Adult. Sadly, after the opening credits and her nausea attack, she becomes less stellar and more annoying.

Nicole Kidman is Gretchen Carlson, who is filing sexual harassment charges against Roger Ailes (brilliantly played by John Litghgow). Ailes, as you may know, was the Chairman and CEO of Fox News before more than 20 sexual harassment claims got thrown at him, causing his termination. What's interesting is he was never convicted. And so even as a liberal myself, I am reminded of the social media age where you are no longer innocent until guilty. The moment someone says you sexually harassed them, your career is over. Kidman, of all three main players- Margot Robbie being the other- is good, but the weakest link. We've seen this performance from her before (watch season 2 of Big Little Lies). Kidman likes to either be a passive, breathy naif or a strong headed feminist in her films. In this case, the latter is obvious. She's competent, but nothing special.

Margot Robbie is the most sympathetic character, because she's the most relatable. While Theron struts around the office explaining to us the many roles of the newsroom in her tight knit skirts and Kidman grocery shops with aloof confidence, Robbie is much more engaging as a newbie to the Fox world who doesn't want to step on anyone's toes, and who strikes up a relationship with her supervisor, a undercover democrat who secretly hates the company she works for but had "no other option". (SPOILER) She also has an encounter with Roger because she wants to move up to anchorwoman. After he puts the moves on her (wisely kept off screen), she has a breakdown- and a phone call conversation worthy of the gold alone.

All three women are heavily supported by a solid cast, but the script (Charles Randolph, The Big Short- Oscar winner) is a mess of too much clutter, and the direction (Jay Roach- Recount, Game Change) has experience helming political projects but doesn't have any idea on how to set the tone for this movie. It just comes off sporadic and sloppy. And it's heavily geared towards angry liberals who still can't figure out why Trump won, even though it's been four years and we're tired of explaining it.

I really wanted to love this film but you need more then big speeches and great makeup to make a film work, even if Theron and Robbie are giving top-notch performances. There's a shallowness to the story that didn't keep me engaged. The MeToo Movement is screaming at the top of its lungs here, but the team is still losing. Men still run the world, including New York and Washington, and it seems sort of pointless to make a movie about something that hasn't been resolved yet.

I am reminded of Erin Brockovich, which starred Julia Roberts and Albert Finney about the small law firm that took down PG&E for contaminating water and then lying to the people who got sick. Directed by Steven Sodebergh (Traffic, 2000) and winning an Oscar for it's leading lady, the story worked because there WAS a successful conclusion. We get to see the trials, people and see that over $300 million was rewarded to the plaintiffs. Even if they didn't win, there would still have been a resolution. Bombshell suffers because it's subject is still going on right now, and nothing is being done about it- on either end. Picketing outside of offices and firing CEOs is not the answer. The answer is coming together as a country (or in this case, a news team) and acting like rational adults vs high school tweet bullies.

Margot Robbie is best in show. Even topping Theron, who is better when she's confident and not going on angry tirades.

The film will get Oscar nominations because it stars three of the best actors in the business. Notice I didn't say actresses - because I might be deemed a sexist if I did.

FINAL GRADE: C+ (the plus for the performances)