‘Trumbo’ is a triumph

The best movie of the year. At least so far. Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) plays — no, becomes — Dalton Trumbo, who was the face of the Hollywood Ten during the dark days of Hollywood blacklisting. To put it simply, Trumbo — an avowed communist — challenged the House Committee on Un-American Activities and said it had no right to ask him his political affiliation and that it violated the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

He did jail time for contempt of Congress, and because of Hollywood powerhouses like gossip columnist Hedda Hopper and John Wayne, Trumbo was forced to write under pseudonyms. While blacklisted, he won Oscars — as other people — for writing Roman Holiday and The Brave One. As another reference point, Trumbo also wrote Exodus and Spartacus.

Hand Cranston all the best actor awards. He’s brilliant and has a blast with TV writer John McNamara’s first movie script. Jay Roach — who did the Austin Powers movies — directs and proves to be an exceptional storyteller.

Other great performances dot the landscape. Diane Lane plays Cranston’s loyal and patient wife Cleo, Elle Fanning is daughter Niki. A close to perfect Helen Mirren plays actress and gossip columnist Hedda Hopper. Other outstanding performances come from John Goodman, Lewis C.K. and Michael Stuhlbarg (Steve Jobs).

Not only is this a great movie, but it reminds us — in a time of much political turmoil and efforts of one side to silence the other — that it is free speech that truly makes us free.

This story was originally published November 25, 2015 at 12:33 PM with the headline "‘Trumbo’ is a triumph."