Bombshell Review: An explosion bigger than itself

One look at the poster and I thought it was a film about a heist or some action film. The promotional material gave me an impression of this film that was so different from what it actually delivered.

Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie as Megyn Kelly, Gretchen and Kayla in the film.

Bombshell - a slang word usually used to describe a woman that one may find sexy. However, in this film, that word doesn’t only mean that. It also refers to its literal meaning - an unexpected event.

This film is based upon the accounts of several women at Fox News who set out to expose CEO Roger Ailes for sexual harassment. One of the first few products of the #MeToo era (inclusive of The Morning Show). Mark Duplass is in both of these pieces! Since I had watched The Morning Show, I had some knowledge of a film in this space. Frankly, you do not need the knowledge to understand (or not) what is going on. Bombshell’s screenplay felt a little messy for me. The dates mentioned throughout the film did not make it any easier to follow the chain of events. You get the gist of what happens.

The film has a prolific cast. Other than Margot Robbie, Nicole Kidman and Charlize Theron. There are so many familiar faces in the film & they play all their characters to the T! If you watch The Good Place & Atypical, you’re in for some surprises!

I also noticed the quick zooms in this film. The kind that you would find in The Office or even Brooklyn Nine Nine. Furthermore, there were some points in the film that either Margot, Nicole or Charlize’s characters would have a first person narration in the scenes. This I felt was very effective in some scenes - especially nearing the end. Breaking the fourth wall really worked for that last scene with Nicole’s character - Gretchen.

This scene in the elevator is one of the most crucial moments in the film and it represents how intertwined the lives of these women are in the film! Loved it.

My favourite scene in the movie has to be the one with Kayla’s (Margot Robbie) breakdown. That scene is so gut- wrenching, you’d wish you could make her feel better. It truly amazes me that these are stories of real women who had the courage to speak up against a Television mogul. They had everything to lose. They did it regardless of that. Not only for themselves but for women after them who would work in this same industry. The director brings across this point very subtly with the shots where he cuts to the women’s daughters.

Bombshell is a movie that you’d want to catch in the cinemas primarily because Margot Robbie & Charlize Theron are phenomenal in their roles!