Bombshell
2019 · Directed by Jay Roach
Original language: English
- drama
The story
Bombshell is a revealing look inside the most powerful and controversial media empire of all time; and the explosive story of the women who brought down the infamous man who created it.
What it’s like
Bright, glossy fluorescence over open-plan newsrooms and polished studio sets, with a restless handheld camera that drifts through corridors and then locks into the cold symmetry of anchor desks and boardroom glass. The palette runs to cool blues, sterile whites and the warm amber of late-night offices, and the hair, makeup and wardrobe are rendered with an almost showroom precision. Scoring is propulsive, synth-tinged pop and rock that keeps a nervous forward pulse, dropping into quiet when the women are alone in a room and the stakes sink in. Pacing is brisk and talky, built on overlapping dialogue, walk-and-talk sequences and sharp cuts, with frequent direct glances into the lens that puncture the fourth wall. The emotional register is angry, wry and ultimately defiant, a tale of professional women weighing fear, ambition and loyalty before choosing to speak. Intensity is moderate: sexual harassment and sexualised dialogue are depicted directly and often uncomfortably, with no graphic violence and no gore, and the mood is more tense than frightening. Suited to viewers who want a sharp, grown-up workplace drama about power, complicity and courage, and to those drawn to ensemble performances from its three leads.
More films like Bombshell
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved Bombshelland we’ll explain which ones fit you.
