Review: Trumbo

"He's among us... But he sure as hell isn't one of us."

This is a phrase that Dalton Trumbo (Brian Cranston), a prolific screenwriter in Hollywood known for his tendency towards communism, hears often. In 1940s America, the slightest indication of communism suggests that an individual may be a Russian spy, and Trumbo and his Hollywood friends take the brunt of that heat: director Jay Roach's TRUMBO relates the story of the subpoena of the "Hollywood Ten" -- Trumbo and 9 other Hollywood artists known for their communist beliefs -- for allegedly conspiring to corrupt democratic values and overthrow the government, through movies... or, in other words, for their political beliefs.

But a little jail time does not slow the Hollywood Ten down; though upon their return it is nearly impossible to get work like they once did, Trumbo leads the way by selling his work under friends' names and pseudonyms. The goal is to reveal the absurdity of the blacklist; but Trumbo finds along the way that there is a lot to lose by giving himself over to the cause. Arlen Hird (Louis C.K.) puts it plainly: "You talk like a radical, but you live like a rich guy." And it's true: he leads a very comfortable life, with his wife, Cleo (Diane Lane) and three kids (his eldest, Nikola, played by Elle Fanning, is most often at the forefront), and a big house and pool. But Trumbo announces that he is not willing to lose it all -- simply to risk it all. And that statement is truly put to the test throughout the film.

Cranston gives a home run of a performance, transforming into Trumbo with seemingly no effort. With an over abundance of spectacular supporting cast (also including Helen Mirren, Alan Tudyk, and David Maldonado, to name a few), the film tromps through American history, spanning into the later years of Dalton Trumbo's life. At some point it becomes a character piece, really delving into the way he steered his and his family's life to fulfill his desired purpose.

TRUMBO is a fascinating look at the man behind ROMAN HOLIDAY and THE BRAVE ONE. Now playing at the Midtown Cinema!