Bombshell (2019)

Based on true events, this film tells the story of a few incredibly brave women, and their fight for truth and justice in the high-stakes world of broadcast cable news.

Set entirely in the Fox News headquarters in New York, during the presidential campaign in the lead-up to the 2016 election, the film centres around three women in particular, and their campaign to bring down the head of the network, accused of multiple counts of sexual harassment over several decades.

Popular anchor Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron) is at the height of her career. With the prime timeslot on the Fox network, she has everything at her disposal. That is, until presidential hopeful Donald Trump tweets out an insult at her after a simple question that he refuses to answer. Once his supporters see the vitriolic messages online, they turn against her en masse, sending threatening messages of their own, including death threats.

Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron), Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman) and Kayla Pospisil (Margot Robbie).

Meanwhile, less-popular anchor Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman) is fighting a fight of her own, as the head of Fox News Roger Ailes (John Lithgow) feels her drive to report the truth is diametrically opposed to the network’s ideals. In fact, it becomes so difficult for the two of them to get along that she is fired.

Young up-and-coming reporter - who wishes to one day be an anchor herself - Kayla Pospisil (Margot Robbie) on the other hand, is climbing the ranks very quickly, as Ailes seems to have taken quite a shine to her. The trouble is, the things she has to do to get ahead stand in opposition to her conservative Christian faith.

After Gretchen is fired, she gets in touch with a law firm, accusing Ailes of decades of sexual harassment, and it isn’t long before other women - both current and former employees - begin to come forward.

Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron) and Roger Ailes (John Lithgow).

The screenplay, written by Charles Randolph, is very well-constructed. One has to continually pinch oneself to remind one that this film is actually a true story, so shocking are the revelations and comments and views of many of the characters, particularly the male characters. The film uses a large amount of archival footage as well, reminding viewers of the truth and historical nature of the plot.

Theodore Shapiro’s music - as scarce as it may be - is brilliantly composed and constructed. There isn’t a lot of it, however, but the sections where it does feature are improved dramatically by the music. Shapiro uses his music exclusively to highlight the more intense psychological moments of the story, and it works well in every instance.

I was not a big fan of the cinematography in this film, I’m sad to say. While cinematographer Barry Ackroyd does have a good grasp of light and dark, shadow and contrast, the enormous amount of hand-held camera and quick movement left me feeling nauseous at the best of times, and not because of the subject matter. There are a lot of very close shots as well - in fact, most shots are way too close in my opinion.

Kayla (Margot Robbie) and Jess (Kate McKinnon).

The performances of the cast are quite good, though. There is actually an enormous ensemble cast in this film, including Jay Duplass as Megyn Kelly’s long-suffering husband, Allison Janney as Ailes’s lawyer, and even appearances by the Murdoch family (not the real thing, they’re played by actors). The three lead female actors are all fabulous, none more so than Margot Robbie, who could be on her way to yet another Oscar nomination.

John Lithgow is also fantastic as Ailes. Were it not for his name in the opening credits, one may not even recognise him in this role. He not only looks very different in a physical sense, but his portrayal of the character is so well done, and so different from anything else he has done before, he may also be in line for a nomination this year.

Director Jay Roach has made a pretty good film here, certainly a film that will be talked about for a long time, and especially in this time of award ceremonies. I wouldn’t say you need to rush out and see it on the big screen, but you definitely do need to watch it; it is an important story filled with important issues.

8 out of 10.

Masterminds (2016)

The first film directed by Jared Hess (think Napoleon Dynamite, Nacho Libre, or Gentlemen Broncos, to name just a few) that he did not write (or even co-write) the screenplay to, this still has his distinctive mark all over it, in a good way.

David Ghantt (Zach Galifianakis) is an employee of Loomis Fargo, a job he loves dearly. Though his job is incredibly repetitive, he has become so trusted as an armored-car driver, he is the only non-management employee to be entrusted with keys to the vault.

When new employee, attractive and flirtatious Kelly (Kristen Wiig) starts working with him, he finds it difficult to remain completely faithful to his fiancee Jandice (Kate McKinnon). The two of them become very close, and she (one way or another) convinces him to help her steal over $17 million dollars from the company.

David Ghantt (Zach Galifianakis) and Kelly (Kristen Wiig).

The two become involved with small-time criminal Steve Chambers (Owen Wilson) and his wife Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Ellis). Steve uses (and abuses) David's incredibly trusting nature, and convinces him to take the entire fall for the heist, and then flee to Mexico.

David believes the whole time that Kelly will be joining him in Mexico, when in reality, Chambers turns Ghantt into the FBI, beginning a cat-and-mouse game between David and international police, including FBI Agents Scanlon (Leslie Jones) and Plewe (Jon Daly).

Throw in an incredibly eccentric hitman named Mike McKinney (Jason Sudeikis), and you have the recipe for a hilarious comedy, in a very similar vein to Hess's previous films.

David Ghantt (Zach Galifianakis) and Mike McKinney (Jason Sudeikis).

His trademark long camera shots (long as in duration, not distance from the action) and slightly odd characters and situations are all here, giving the film a very similar feel to his previous offerings. However, he did not write the screenplay this time around. The screenplay was written by Chris Bowman & Hubbel Palmer and Emily Spivey, and the style does feel different enough from Hess's style, though the film is definitely identifiable as a Jared Hess film.

The cast all perform their roles very well, almost always underplaying the comedy (again in that typical Hess style). Galifianakis in particular is fabulous as the reluctant hero, and it is a role that is different enough from his previous work, too. Jason Sudeikis is also great as McKinney, but certainly, the two best performances have got to be from Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones, who both do an incredible job in their roles. It is definitely a change to not see these two brilliant comedians working together, as they don't really have any scenes together (they do work very well together, as those who have seen their work before will know), but they both still do a brilliant job at portraying their characters, and again underplaying the comedy.

Agent Scanlon (Leslie Jones).

Sarah Edwards's costume design is well done, clearly defining and revealing each character. And with that, the production design, courtesy of Clayton Hartley, sets each and every scene in a very real world.

Despite not writing the screenplay, Hess has still managed to leave his mark all over this film, establishing himself as a truly unique director with a unique vision. This is a very clever film, using all the classic tropes and rules of comedy, while never descending into cliche or stereotype. If you haven't seen it, I would certainly recommend it, particularly if you have enjoyed any of Jared Hess's previous offerings.

7 out of 10.

Yesterday (2019)

A brand new film from the brilliant minds of screenwriter Richard Curtis and director Danny Boyle, this film takes a relatively simple premise and turns it into an amazing film.

Young singer/songwriter Jack Malik (Himesh Patel), who also works part-time in a warehouse-style supermarket, is struggling to make a name for himself as an artist. Supported since the beginning of his 'career' by his manager Ellie Appleton (Lily James), the two of them go from one low-paying, low-attended gig to another, before Jack decides that it just isn't working for him.

No sooner has he given up on his music career altogether than he gets just the break he has been waiting years for.

At the same moment that the power goes off simultaneously all over the world, Jack is knocked off his bike by a bus, and comes to the next day in hospital, missing his two front teeth.

Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) and Ellie Appleton (Lily James).

After he recovers enough to leave the hospital, he meets with his closest friends, including Ellie, who presents him with a brand-new guitar, since his previous instrument was destroyed in the accident. When his friends ask him to play something, he comments that a beautiful guitar needs a beautiful song, and plays the Beatles' classic song, Yesterday.

His friends are blown away by this song, and ask him when he wrote it. He tells them it was written by Paul McCartney, and they stare back at him blankly. He mentions The Beatles, and they have no idea what he's talking about.

He rushes home, and after a prolonged Google search, he discovers that - after the worldwide power cut - he is now in a world in which The Beatles have never existed, despite the fact he can remember all of their songs.

Jack finds himself in a serious ethical dilemma, but decides that since The Beatles never existed in this world, he isn't hurting anybody by taking the credit for their entire back-catalogue of music. Of course, it isn't long before 'his' music has drawn the interest of the music world; after all, The Beatles were amazing, and their songs not only spoke to a generation of fans, but completely changed the world of popular music forever - for the better.

Ed Sheeran quickly becomes one of Jack's biggest fans.

When fellow singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran asks Jack to be his support act on his European tour, Jack not only gains a whole new world of fans, he attracts the attention of Ed's manager, Debra Hammer (Kate McKinnon), who wants to turn him into the next big thing.

I'll leave the plot description there, I don't want to spoil the many surprises this film has any more than I already have.

Richard Curtis's screenplay is absolutely brilliant on every level. His appreciation and respect for the work and influence of The Beatles is clear, and he has constructed a magnificent plot filled with fascinating, three-dimensional characters. There are many clever moments throughout the film, all of them developing organically from the relatively simple premise of "What if The Beatles never existed?"

If you have seen any other film written by Richard Curtis before, you will know that he has an uncanny ability to balance hilarious comedy with heartbreaking drama, and this film is no exception. His skill for writing realistic, authentic dialogue is once again on display here, and it is such a joy to behold.

Most of the film's music is of course Beatles songs, all of them performed by Patel on either the guitar or the piano (and it really is him playing them, not someone else's hands!), but there are also a few moments throughout the film where there is original music underscoring the action. All of the original music is composed by Daniel Pemberton, and it fits with the rest of the film so perfectly that it feels like a natural part of the film itself. At no point does it draw unnecessary attention to itself, but it serves the on-screen action as any good film score does.

Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) appearing on The Late Late Show with James
Corden.

The performances of the cast - especially Patel and James - are fantastic, and everything is played for absolute realism and truth; the entire cast maintain the film's premise unwaveringly throughout. Ed Sheeran - who appears as himself, though perhaps a slightly fictionalised version of himself - does very well with his performance, too; it would be an absolute misnomer to refer to his appearance as a cameo, as he is a significant member of the cast.

I particularly enjoyed the scenes with Sanjeev Bhaskar and Meera Syal, who play Jack's parents, supportive at every moment. These two - having worked together many times before - have such a great on-screen chemistry together, and impeccable comic timing.

Director Danny Boyle has made an absolutely wonderful film here, one that I am certain audiences all over the world will enjoy. If you have ever been a fan of The Beatles, you absolutely must see this film. If you - for some unknown reason - are not familiar with The Beatles, you absolutely must see this film, and then listen to as many Beatles songs as you can.

If money were no object, I would pay to see this on the big screen again and again; this film is a definite contender for my favourite film of the year.

10 out of 10.