Trumbo

In the late 1940s and early ‘50s, Hollywood was terrorized by Sen. Joseph McCarthy and his House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). Encouraged by judgmental patriot John Wayne (David James Elliott) and vicious gossip columnist Hedda Hopper (Helen Mirren), HUAC—chaired by J. Parnell Thomas (James DuMont)—subpoenaed “suspicious” citizens, asking them: “Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?” A primary target was Hollywood's highest-paid screenwriter, Dalton Trumbo (Bryan Cranston), whose mockery of the committee landed him in jail, convicted of contempt of Congress. Trumbo led the “Hollywood Ten,” who found themselves blacklisted, unable to work. While others fled overseas, Trumbo refused to leave. Instead, he adopted pseudonyms while writing scripts that included Roman Holiday and The Brave One, both of which won Oscars for Best Original Screenplay. While most of Trumbo's work was for schlocky B-picture mogul Frank King (John Goodman), eventually Stanley Kubrick and Otto Preminger would give Trumbo credit for Spartacus and Exodus, respectively. Habitually writing in the bathtub with a long-stemmed cigarette holder clenched between his teeth and a tumbler of Scotch at his side, Trumbo—with Oscar-nominee Cranston superb as the highly-principled idealist—is supported by his loyal wife (Diane Lane) and activist daughter (Elle Fanning). The strong ensemble cast also includes comedian Louis C.K. as cynical Arlen Hird (a composite of several screenwriters), Michael Stuhlbarg as enigmatic Edward G. Robinson, and Dean O'Gorman as outspoken Kirk Douglas. Along the way, director Jay Roach astutely utilizes archival footage and re-creates newsreels while illuminating one of the most shameful periods in Hollywood history. Highly recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include the behind-the-scenes segments “Who is Trumbo?” (4 min.) and “Bryan Cranston Becomes Trumbo” (2 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are bonus digital and UltraViolet copies of the film. Bottom line: a small extras package for this excellent bio-pic.] (S. Granger)