Film Review: Bombshell
Source: Lionsgate Publicity
Isabelle Osborne reviews Jay Roach’s latest biographical drama, Bombshell.
Inspired by true events, Bombshell explores the dark reality of the TV industry. Focusing upon the aggressive sexism within Fox News, it shows how gender hostility can be transformed into female empowerment.
The film tells the story of the channel’s CEO, Roger Ailes (played by John Lithgow), who fell from grace after Gretchen Carlson (played by Nicole Kidman), the channel’s former anchor, exposed him as the perpetrator of countless incidences of sexual harassment and proceeded to sue him in 2016. The scandal led to Ailes’ ousting from the network, after countless women stepped forward to support Carlson’s accusations.
Bombshell reveals how Ailes’ repulsive perception of women in the media industry was used as justification for his abuse of power in hiring women for their looks, rather than their professionalism. He regarded female physicality as a woman’s greatest (and only) asset, leading to his condoning of the wearing of revealing outfits and heavy makeup to increase the appeal of the news shows. Kayla Popsisil (played by Margot Robbie), a fictional character who represents the testaments of real life victims, soon realises this upon Ailes’ requesting for her to lift her skirt until her underwear is exposed in an attempt to analyse her visual appeal for the show. Thus, the advancement of female careers in exchange for sexual relations with superiors captures the central political message of the film.
Ailes’ reaction to Gretchen Carlson’s “no cosmetics” segment epitomises the role women played in Fox News’s success. Carlson’s appearance on the show make-up free was an attempt to empower females to see the value of their natural beauty, and to increase young girls’ feelings of self-worth; but her deviation from the stereotypical “sexy” female presenter infuriates Ailes in the film.
After the refusal to accept Ailes’ sexual advancements, Carlson is fired: reaffirming that to refuse the sexist media mogul’s sexual advancements was to render yourself worthless for the channel.
Another powerful topic of exploration within the film is the political undertones of the dramatisation of Megyn Kelly’s (played by Charline Theron) questioning of Donald Trump’s misogynistic attitudes during his campaign for President. Ailes overrules Kelly in an attempt to end her attack on Trump, on the basis that Fox News was paramount in the building of the modern Republican Party, and was due to play a key role in the 2016 presidential election. Kelly was betrayed by her superior, and forced to endure the sexist backlash after outing Trump for calling women he disliked “fat pigs, dogs, slobs and disgusting animals”. The film highlights the relentless nature of these attacks, which were predominantly facilitated through the use of social media and in interviews with Trump. He targeted Kelly on a personal level so that she “became the story” just for doing her job as a journalist; she thus stands as an example of how women were not only the target of physical sexual abuse within the work place, but also verbal sexism on a national level.
When writing this article, my friend asked me what I thought of the fact that the film only starred white, blonde women rather than representing those of ethnic minority background. This places the film into a larger context of prejudice; the fact that TV networks hire a specific type of woman not only highlights the serious lack of representation within the industry, but sparks a consideration of how degrading it is for the women the film represents, as the realisation dawns that they are hired because they fit a certain image the television producers seek to shine the spotlight on.
And what of Rupert Murdoch, owner of the multi-media corporation? In light of his firing of Ailes and ridding his corporation of his toxic misogynism, Murdoch is the man who saves the day (and his multi-million company), the hero of the film. The film provokes the audience to question Murdoch’s integrity in this circumstance — he allowed this sexist monster to manage his media empire whilst continuing to reap the financial rewards. Was he entirely ignorant to what Ailes was sanctioning? Such bitterness is partially redeemed in light of how Fox News continues to be trapped in a spiral of litigation trouble as Ailes’s downfall still echoes through the corridors of the network.
The film’s portrayal of the demeaning treatment of women in the industry is the reason for anyone and everyone to watch it. It exposes the experience of those who were powerless to use their voices for fear of losing their livelihood and reputation, allowing an insight into the lives of outwardly successful women who were fighting a battle behind closed doors. The film also has a positive message. Despite the sexism that penetrates the seemingly glamorous media industry, women have risen above the battle they face, to seek justice. The taking down of one of the most influential network bosses in history opened the dialogue for women to assert their rights in achieving justice, and making a film of the events can only aid the continuation of such a conversation. We need films like this to raise awareness of the damaging effects of sexism in the workplace, and to ensure the fight for gender equality continues.