Wed heard how fatherly he could be, jokey, and a good coach. Do we need to see another actor (John Lithgow in this case) creep on another actress (Margot Robbie here)? The scene is intimate. The drama (in theaters now)goes behind the scenes at Fox News in 2016. My television career combusted, and I couldn't get a job for over a year come after me. The other terrific scene, which illustrates whats really the thesis of the film, is a conversation between Kayla and Therons Megyn Kelly. Pospisil also mentions how she can prove her brand of "Christian millennial" is profitable by the millions of Instagram followers she has. Margot Robbie also stars as a fictional Fox News producer named Kayla Pospisil, who appears in the trailer with Kelly and Carlson as they head to the network's executive suite on the second floor. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Gretchen Carlson, former Fox News anchor. .css-gegin5{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#9a0500;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-gegin5:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}For Bombshell, a trio of A-listersNicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, and Margot Robbiewere Fox-ified. Here, too, are wide-ranging tragedies expressed through an aesthetic that verges on cartoonish. Now that Fleishman is out of trouble, Caplan can go back to catering. ADVERTISEMENT Theron plays Megyn Kelly, Kidman plays Gretchen Carlson and Robbie plays Kayla Pospisil. Roy Wood Jr.s Best Jokes at the 2023 White House Correspondents Dinner. (Theron also helped develop the material and co-produced Bombshell.) Her character is also informed by interviews Bombshells filmmakers conducted with many of the women who made those claims. Margot Robbie as Kayla Pospisil Robbie is the biggest star in the film not to play a real person: she will take on the role of Kayla Pospisil, a Fox News associate producer invented for the. What would the film have looked like had her character not been part of its universehad Bombshell reckoned more directly with its real and deeply flawed heroines? Pospisil asked the fictional Kelly if she ever wondered what her public silence following her own harassment incidents meant to the women who came after her. It is to have a tale told by a narrator who is, if not fully unreliable, then deeply fraught. It has to fit a predetermined idea of what men think is pretty, more specifically what Roger Ailes thinks is pretty.". As in the movie, some news sites like Breitbart reported that some of Foxs top talent promised to quit if Ailes were removed, but such a pact did not actually exist and may have been planted by Rogers team. Although there were eventually 23 victims who gave their names and stories to construct a . Things you buy through our links may earnVox Mediaa commission. Ill say this much, though. Malcolm McDowell plays mogul and longtime Ailes enabler Rupert Murdoch in the movie, and his sons, James and Lachlan, are portrayed by real-life Aussie brothers Josh and Ben Lawson, respectively. What are you, crazy?' But inside Ailess office, he skips past a discussion of her qualifications and simply orders her to stand and turn slowly in place so he can evaluate her physical attributes. The Obama-Springsteen friendship continues on. One of those women who could participate in the suit is Kayla Pospisil (Margot Robbie, who also snagged a Golden Globe nomination), a Christian woman whose ambitions get her a meeting with. As in the movie, he was known for asking women to stand up and spin around for him as well as justifying his actions by calling television a visual medium. Even the horrible details of his parents divorcethey are said to have broken up and moved out of his childhood home while he was away at collegeare real: That one appears in Gabriel Shermans book. (The sons, it must be said, arent quite as handsome in real life as the movie makes them out to be.). The initial allegation of misconduct came from a Ailes biography in 2014, "The Loudest Voice in the Room" by Gabriel Sherman. 2023 The Stand up and give me a twirl sequence required a particular form of self-awareness. Murdochs sons, Lachlan and James, are played by real-life brothers, Ben and Josh Lawson, respectively. Heres how it works. The following article includes allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. You may email him here, follow him on Twitter, or listen to his weekly TV podcast, Podjiba. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Instead, the character is inspired by 20 real-life accounts. Just because a movie belongs to the genre Slates Dana Stevens has called Bad Moments From Recent History, Recreated in Uncanny Detail doesnt guarantee that everything in it is accurate. Another difference between the film and real life may be the intensity of toxicity that is portrayed. Bombshellpremieres in theaters everywhere December 20, 2019. Nor was a secret lesbian tryst between an Ailes victim and a veteran producer. She pulls up the hem of her dress. Related: Why is Fox News being sued again over alleged sexual harassment? She is the one whose arc, in the film, bends the most sharply. Right: Elisabeth Rohm. The lawsuit filed against the men made its point clear, stating, "Fox News would have the public believe that it is a different place from the Fox News that was run by former disgraced Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes. Then it would drift to this darker place., The production team screen-tested numerous cuts of Bombshell in the lead-up to its premiere (the movie will expand into wide release this weekend). He listens for a moment. Right: Allison Janney. Lionsgate While the three leading stars appeared in the initial teaser released in August, the full-length preview gave a . Forward motion! From a bond as close as any sibling to silenceis their relationship repairable? But it could never tip into exploitativeness, says Randolph, who claimed a 2016 Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for his work on the financial dramedy The Big Short. It is primary-colored and stylized and dizzying. Alongside Nicole Kidman and Charlize Theron, as Fox and Friends co-host Gretchen Carlson and The Kelly Files host Megyn Kelly, respectively, Robbie plays a composite character intended to represent the various women who came forward with horrific sexual-misconduct charges during Ailess tenure overseeing the top-rated news network. When it came time to go, Ailes did agree to a noncompete clause, and indeed didnt get his wish to say goodbye and address the newsroom along with Rupert Murdoch, who did that on his own, locking Ailes out unceremoniously. The long answer is that Kayla Pospisil is a composite based on a few different accounts from actual people with connections to Fox News. So, how do you make heroines out of characters that some in the audience will see as deeply compromised if not outright villainous? Is Kayla Pospisil real? John Lithgow as Roger Ailes is in the bunch, sporting a heavy dose of prosthetics. This character is another composite. Following her confrontation with Wilson, she rejoined Fox News on "Fox and Friends." Robbies performance is masterful, and Kaylas lack of specificity makes her an apt stand-in for the many people at Fox News who are not part of the story Bombshell is telling. She was, as in the movie, one of the people who pressured Megyn Kelly to speak out on Ailes behalf after the Carlson lawsuit came out. These further discoveries enable us to see Ailes in candid conversations that he was unaware were being written down. But any harassment situation has two people in the room and historically, the perpetrator has been a man. She resists. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. According to the Los Angeles Times, the book described how Ailes was willing to pay a female producer an additional $100 a week to have sex with him. For the purposes of "Bombshell," the narrative begins with Carlson's allegation, perhaps to portray the events from the point of the view of the main female characters. Here, see just how close Bombshell's cast came to looking like the real Fox employees who inspired the film. Its not Megyn Kellys fault that Roger Ailes was a monster. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Bombshell shows Carlson planning her lawsuit against Roger Ailes diligently, as Carlson apparently did in real life too. Though Margot couldn't copy the mannerisms, speech patterns, and looks for her character like Charlize and Nicole could, she's still getting a lot of attention for her part in Bombshell. new york mets minor league teams; little tikes dino cozy coupe assembly instructions; is stuart ramsay married; drummer needed for tour 2021. losing isaiah i threw him away monologue Kayla Pospisil, played by Margot Robbie, is instead a composite figurea woman woven from the stories of multiple real-life people. "Were not revealing the people we talk to. Justin Kirkland is a Brooklyn-based writer who covers culture, food, and the South. For example, Anne Ramsay (Mad About You) plays news anchor Greta Van Susteren. During the discussion, Kelly went on to say that she found the scene to be counterproductive in regards to the #MeToo movement overall, hinting that it was inaccurate about the women's relationship because a man wrote it. Robbieplays an ambitious, wide-eyed staffer named Kayla Pospisil. Sure. In Kelly's group discussion, Zann, when asked for her first thoughts after watching the film, commentedthat it let Ailes off too easy. Likewise with Kayla: Her willingness to look the other way creates this dynamic, and she realizes at the end that it affects herself. I wanted the breathing to be unmistakably monstrous.. Yes? Bombshell is now in theaters. She was previously an editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com. Spencer Garrett (Air Force One) portrays conservative talk show host and commentator Sean Hannity. Kayla also wonders, why did none of those women or any of the men who so obviously knew what was going on ever warn Kayla before she walked into Ailes trap? Nicole Kidman stars as Gretchen Carlson, the former Fox News anchor who filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Roger Ailes. Kayla is devastated that Ailes pressured her, that she gave in to the pressure, and that people know about it, and when Kelly asks Kayla to come forward, Megyn uses that empathy tool that journalists often use to elicit cooperation. With a clean updo, thick eyeliner, and a stern smile, she's almost entirely transformed into the former Fox News anchor. Bombshell is rendered in the style of Vice and The Big Short (its screenwriter, Charles Randolph, also wrote the screenplay for the latter). She tells Ailes about her career. Margot Robbie's character is an amalgamation of the many women that came out with allegations against Roger Ailes. Finally, she complies, as the interaction she had thought was a job interview congeals into something else. Aileshis initial warmth growing colder as he issues commandsasks her to hike up the bottom of her dress. While we cannot be sure what is true, it appears that the women were not given much freedom in regards to their appearance. Ashley Greene (Twilight) makes an appearance as Abby Huntsman, a former Fox & Friends co-host who moved on to The View. The scene between Kayla and Ailes is what roots the film as it explores the legal battle that led to Ailess ouster from the network. He would have good advice, and women would come into his office and feel very comfortable at first. Photos by Hilary Bronwyn Gayle SMPSP/Lionsgate and Kevin Hagen/Getty Images. The Slate Group LLC. Let's break down exactly what was missed from this important story. But it might have been more revealing. She accepts a cup of coffee offered by her driver, only to fall violently illbefore the debate is about to begin. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. But we tried to communicate as much as we could with everybody." Gretchen Carlson, and Nicole Kidman as Gretchen Carlson. We learn that this is a rule enforced by Ailes and it was a bigger issue than explored in the film. Erica Gonzales is the Senior Culture Editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage on TV, movies, music, books, and more. This fabricated moment was addressed in the Kelly panel by former "Fox News Live" associate producer Julie Zann: "This is shameful because it is unfactual it is victim shaming this is sending the wrong message.". "I wanted to show the bystander narrative. Within the first few mom, My expectations for this years Oscar Awards were low. (Carlsonwho was the first to come forward with allegations of sexual harassment against Ailesis something of the side character in the trio.) To transform herself into a shockingly accurate likeness of Megyn Kelly, Theron wore an impressive array of custom prostheticsa nose plug, nose tip, and pieces for her eyelids, jaw, and chinall painstakingly crafted by prosthetics master Kazu Hiro. To play anchor Gretchen Carlson, host Megyn Kelly, and composite character Kayla Pospisil respectively, the actresses were transformed with hair, makeup, and expert prosthetics. It certainly was for me in the room. Was the scene between these two composite characters making a point about the secret lives of women? If Kayla, a self-described "evangelical millennial," feels familiar, it's because the inspiration for her comes from actual accounts. She is almost indifferent to the other women and appears to prioritize herself and her career. Kayla is surprised to learn this, but even more surprised to learn that its happened to so many other women, none of whom came forward. When other victims come forward against Ailes, the movie portrays Kelly as keeping herself separate from them. Its a phenomenally fun scene to watch. Is The Diplomat Returning for a Season 2? Happy twelfth wedding anniversary to the Prince and Princess of Wales. With Barry on the loose, all Gene, Fuches, Hank, and Sally can do is crumble as they wait to see who hes coming for first. Kayla is no more and no less than what Bombshell tells us she is. That makes sense, considering Kayla Pospisil isn't a real person, but rather a composite character based on not one but multiple very real people. Bombshell is a work of uncanniness. Later in the film, it's revealed that she was asked to give sexual favors to Ailes. Knowing that he. ", She mentions how the casting of Theron, Kidman and Robbie was clever; viewers will see faces they know and love, and not dig into the potentially problematic nature of the real-life views of Kelly or Carlson. "Roger said, 'How dare you have a cup of coffee from a guy you don't know. Through her own account of life working with Ailes, we see a story that was not shown in "Bombshell." Right: Ben Lawson portraying him in. His deep dislike for Carlson is right in the center of "Bombshell," and this chilling exchange emphasizes just how far this goes. Fox News spokesperson Caley Cronin declined to comment on the film to USA TODAY beyond confirming that "Bombshell"producers "never reached out to Fox News during any part of the production.. It is painful to watch. Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: As part of your account, youll receive occasional updates and offers from New York, which you can opt out of anytime. The end! It was just so clear this was going to be a team effort. Photo illustration by Slate. November 23, 2022 by by (L to R) Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, and Margot Robbie play Megyn Kelly, Gretchen Carlson, and Kayla Pospisil, respectively. Much of what the movie tells us about him is backed up by accounts of the scandal. (Though whether Pirro confronted Megyn Kelly at a vending machine and asked her to do the same, as in the movie, is less clear.) The scene mostly works because who is not going to love pillow talk between a closeted lesbian played by Margot Robbie and a closeted Democrat played by Kate McKinnon (also, its impossible not to think of Bari Weiss at this moment). Robbie plays an ambitious, wide-eyed staffer named Kayla Pospisil. "Megyn has a good ear for absurdist details.". Based on the true story of the 2016 sexual assault suit against Roger Ailes, the CEO and chairman of Fox News, "Bombshell" was directed by Jay Roach and stars Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie. In an article from The Guardian, however, a Fox News spokesperson said, "No edict exists on what women are required to wear." Margot, who plays Kayla Pospisil in the film that dramatizes the . Left: Abby Huntsman. Terms of Service apply. Megyn Kelly's Most Controversial Moments Ever (opens in new tab), Margot Robbie Wore Sharon Tate's Jewelry in 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' (opens in new tab). The scene is lifted directly from Kelly's 2016 memoir "Settle for More,"although the journalist refuted inferences by the New York Times and others that she was poisoned, tweeting that she contracted a "stomach virus" before the debate. Apparently making Ailes out to be a villain didnt require much embellishing. Carlson and Kelly both deny having involvement with the film, though Carlson has started a campaign about the necessity of throwing out NDAs in relation to cases of sexual assault and harassment. A scene with Kayla and Megyn displays a case of victim shaming from Kayla with her placing the blame on Megyn for her own assault because she did not speak out. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. She gives a quick spin, her mouth frozen in a tight smile, attempting to make light of the move. The number of women directors in Hollywood is so small, its such an embarrassing statistic, he recalls. Megyn Kellya Fox host who published allegations against Ailes in her 2016 memoiris played by Charlize Theron. While it doesn't cover everything, "Bombshell" does a good job of addressing events that otherwise get overshadowed, and the film does still serve as an important beacon of hope for the wider movement. She may not be based on a single person, but Robbie's character endures some painful scenes throughout the filmI won't drop too many spoilers herethat were inspired by real-life events, and unfortunately make Kayla Pospisil all too relatable for millions of women.
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