Trumbo (2015)

This fabulous true story of blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo is timely in today's climate of wiretaps and profiling. I'm so glad it was shot in color because it's stunning, with spectacular period details, cars, and the opulence of 1950s Hollywood.

Bryan Cranston (last blogged in Argo) brings the necessary frenetic energy to the title character and Diane Lane (profiled in Inside Out) is a lovely calm counterpoint as his wife Cleo. You can't go wrong with Louis C.K. and Michael Stuhlbarg (both most recently in these pages for Blue Jasmine) and they don't disappoint playing fellow screenwriter Arlen Hird and actor Edward G. Robinson, both blacklisted as well. Helen Mirren (last in Woman in Gold), besides having some strong scenes as actress-turned-gossip-columnist Hedda Hopper, gets to wear fantastic hats and dresses. Costume Designer Daniel Orlandi deserves props for the headgear, the neckwear, all of it. And we have Jay Denault (shot, among other things, Boys Don't Cry (1999), Real Women Have Curves (2002), Dinner for Schmucks, and Clear History) to thank for the luscious cinematography.

This is the first drama directed by Jay Roach (most recently helmed Little Fockers) and he did a great job, working from the debut feature script by John McNamara (who has written three TV movies, and dozens of TV episodes), based on Bruce Cook's 1977 biography Dalton Trumbo.

You can look up facts about Trumbo ahead of time, but we enjoyed learning on screen which movies he wrote. Oh, and be sure not to race out of the theatre as the credits begin, as you'll be treated to still photos and some film clips of the real people.

As I write I'm listening to this playlist of the Theodore Shapiro (last scored Infinitely Polar Bear) soundtrack. Cool jazz, fast action.

Speaking of cool, there's no accounting for the 71% critics' average on Rotten Tomatoes, though its audiences are a bit warmer at 81. Jack, Ann, and I thought it was terrific.