BOMBSHELL (2019) – My rating: 8.5/10

Bombshell is a biographical drama directed by Jay Roach and written by Charles Randolph. The film tells the story of Roger Ailes’ sexual harassment affairs during his reign at Fox News and the cover-up that eventually forced him to step down.

A tenacious Roger Ailes (John Lithgow) is the head of Fox News, the primary televised source of conservative politics. He runs the corporation with an iron fist that includes fear and determination. Roger is seen as an icon and only answers to Rupert Murdoch (Malcolm McDowell), who is CEO of the Fox network. The stories of Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron), Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman), and Kayla Pospisil (Margot Robbie), who are three political anchorwomen employed at Fox are revealed in Bombshell.

Megyn Kelly is one of the most popular anchors/commentators at Fox and is preparing to co-moderate the 2016 Republican debate. On the day of the debate, Megyn becomes sick and throws up, but nevertheless questions Donald Trump on negative comments he made about women. In retaliation, Trump sends out several tweets hurting her reputation.  As a result, Megyn is further ridiculed by reporters and others. One reporter sneaks into Meg and Doug’s home in order to take pictures of their daughter causing her husband, Douglas Brunt (Mark Duplass) to kick him out by force. When Megyn returns to work, Fox hires a security detail to protect her but refuses to go after Trump. Roger, who is a fan of Megyn, becomes paranoid with protecting her and thinks that someone poisoned her the day of the debate.

Meanwhile, Gretchen Carlson is the co-anchor of the popular program “Fox and Friends”, but is taken off and demoted to a less popular show and position. Often Gretchen faces sexist comments by others, on and off the air. Gretchen decides to escalate her situation by hiring legal representation. The lawyers mention that Gretchen should not engage with these newfound enemies then tells her the story of Rudi Bakhtiar who was fired for coming out against her employer who she accused of sexual harassment. The lawyers explain their plan to file a harassment suit against Roger Ailes personally and inform Gretchen that she will need to have other women come out and tell their story.

Kayla Pospisil is the newest hire at Fox, a young conservative from a religious background. She starts off working for Gretchen but is soon offered a position to work for “The O’Reilly Factor”. Gretchen asks Kayla to stay with her and warns her to be careful, but she refuses and questions why she shouldn’t take the job. On her first day, Bill O’Reilly (Kevin Dorff) yells at her and she is consoled by a coworker, Jess Carr (Kate McKinnon). Jess becomes a good friend while Kayla’s situation becomes pretty ugly at Fox.

I thought Bombshell was well laid out, conveying to the audience how one of the biggest sex preditors was caught with his pecker in the mouth of babes.  I think the movie was well-acted and the make-up was phenomenal.  It seems Trump got away with a lot more than just the Iranian crisis.  I’m glad women are coming out and stopping these preditors.  The film received generally favorable reviews, with critics praising the performances of the cast, particularly (Theron, Kidman, Robbie and Lithgow) however they criticized the screenplay and inaccuracies in the storytelling. The film received two nominations at the 77th Golden Globe Awards for Theron and Robbie, four at the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards for Theron, Robbie and Kidman, as well as Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture and three at the 73rd British Academy Film Awards. I really liked Bombshell, Check It Out!

 

COCO (2017) – My rating: 8.5/10

Coco is a 3D computer-animated fantasy film produced by Pixar and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Coco is based on an original idea by Lee Unkrich, which he also co-directed with Adrian Molina.The story follows a 12-year-old boy named Miguel Rivera who is accidentally transported to the land of the dead, where he seeks the help of his deceased musician great-great-grandfather to return him to his family among the living. The concept for Coco is based on the Mexican holiday, ‘Day of the Dead’. The film was scripted by Molina and Matthew Aldrich.

The story opens in Santa Cecilia, Mexico. Imelda Rivera was the wife of a musician, who left her and their 3-year-old daughter Coco, to pursue a career in music. When he never returns, Imelda banishes music from her life and that of her family and opens a shoe-making family business.

Ninety-six years later, her great-great-grandson, 12-year-old Miguel, now lives with Coco and their family. He secretly dreams of becoming a musician like Ernesto de la Cruz, a popular actor and singer of Coco’s generation. One day, Miguel inadvertently damages the picture frame holding a photo of Coco with her parents at the center of the family ofrenda and removes the photograph, discovering that his great-great-grandfather (whose face had been torn out) was holding Ernesto’s famous guitar.

Coming to the conclusion that Ernesto is his great-great-grandfather, Miguel ignores his grandmother Elena’s objections and leaves to enter a talent show for the Day of the Dead. He enters Ernesto’s mausoleum and takes his guitar to use in the show, but becomes invisible to everyone in the village plaza. However, he can interact with his dog Dante and his dead relatives who are visiting from the Land of the Dead for the holiday. Taking him there, they realize that Imelda cannot visit, as Miguel removed her photo from the ofrenda. Discovering that he is cursed for stealing from the dead, Miguel must return to the Land of the Living before sunrise or he will become one of the dead; to do so, he must receive a blessing from a member of his family using an Aztec marigold petal that can undo the curse placed upon him when he stole Ernesto’s guitar. Imelda offers Miguel a blessing but on the condition that he abandon his musical pursuits when he returns to the Land of the Living; Miguel refuses and attempts to seek Ernesto’s blessing.

From this point, the movie is just getting started.  It is very interesting to see how Miguel resolves his many issues.  There are many new characters to meet and many twist and turns to this colorful movie.  It is brilliantly written and the music is breathtaking.  Children will love Coco, I know I did.  I consider it a “must see” for children and adults alike.  Kudos and congratulations to Pixar and Disney for such an entertaining movie — it will reel you in and keep you there still the very end.  This is one film you shouldn’t miss.  Check it out! Below is a list of the talented cast of voices that performed Coco.

  — SOME SPOILERS IN THE DESCRIPTIONS BELOW —

Anthony Gonzalez provides the voice of Miguel Rivera, a 12-year-old aspiring musician.
Gael García Bernal provides the voice of Héctor, a charming trickster in the Land of the Dead who enlists Miguel to help him visit the Land of the Living, and is later revealed to be Miguel’s great-great-grandfather, Imelda’s husband, Coco’s father and the patriarch of the Rivera family.
Benjamin Bratt provides the voice of Ernesto de la Cruz, the most famous musician in the history of Mexico and Miguel’s idol. Revered by fans worldwide until his untimely death, the charming and charismatic musician is even more beloved in the Land of the Dead.
Antonio Sol provides Ernesto de la Cruz’s singing voice, except for “Remember Me”.
Alanna Ubach provides the voice of Mamá Imelda Rivera, Miguel’s late great-great-grandmother, Héctor’s wife, Coco’s mother and the matriarch of the Rivera family.
Renée Victor provides the voice of Elena Rivera, Miguel’s grandmother (“Abuelita”) who strictly enforces the ban on music that is the legacy of her grandmother.
Ana Ofelia Murguía provides the voice of Mamá Socorro “Coco” Rivera, Miguel’s great-grandmother and the daughter of Héctor and Imelda.
Edward James Olmos provides the voice of  Chicharrón, a friend of Héctor’s who is forgotten in the Land of the Dead.
Alfonso Arau provides the voice of Papá Julio Rivera, Miguel’s late great-grandfather and Coco’s husband.
Selene Luna provides the voice of Tía Rosita Rivera, Miguel’s late great-grandaunt, and Julio’s sister.
Dyana Ortellí provides the voice of Tía Victoria Rivera, Miguel’s late grandaunt, and Elena’s sister.
Herbert Sigüenza provides the voice of Tíos Oscar and Felipe Rivera, Miguel’s late identical twin great-great-granduncles.
Jaime Camil provides the voice of Papá Enrique Rivera, Miguel’s father and Elena’s son.
Sofía Espinosa provides the voice of Mamá Luisa Rivera, Miguel’s mother.
Luis Valdez provides the voice of Tío Berto Rivera, Miguel’s uncle, and is also the voice of Don Hidalgo.
Polo Rojas provides the voice of Abel Rivera, Miguel’s cousin.

[Coco is Oscar nominated for BEST: Original Song and Animated Feature Film]

.