Bombshell (2019) * * 1/2

Directed by:  Jay Roach

Starring: Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie, John Lithgow, Kate McKinnon, Mark Moss, Allison Janney, Malcolm McDowell, Alanna Ubach

Maybe if The Loudest Voice didn't premiere as recently as this past summer, Bombshell would seem fresher.   The Loudest Voice starred Russell Crowe as Roger Ailes, and the focus was how such an egomaniac misogynist formed Fox News and made television history.   Bombshell is more about the women who were finally fed up with Ailes' bullying and harassment and put the wheels in motion to remove him from his lofty perch.    But Bombshell isn't as angry as it needs to be.   When Ailes gets his, (no spoiler alert to anyone hopefully), the payoff isn't as emotionally satisfying as it could've been.    If The Loudest Voice wasn't shown until after Bombshell, maybe I would be writing a more glowing review.   Maybe.

Bombshell begins with business as usual at Fox News circa 2016.   Donald Trump is the leading Republican candidate and makes war with Fox's lead anchor Megyn Kelly (Theron) after she asks him some pointed questions during a Republican candidates' debate.   We all know what Trump said about Kelly and how it made Kelly the story as much as himself.   Ailes feigned support for Megyn, but in reality, he did his best to urge the conflict on.   When Megyn Kelly finally sat down with Trump for a "hard hitting" interview, she is accused of softballing the interview.   Megyn simply wanted to put the whole ordeal behind her and her family.

Then, there's Gretchen Carlson (Kidman), who is bumped from her morning show to a less desirable afternoon slot after rejecting repeated advances from Ailes and decides to sue Fox News and Ailes after being fired.    Gretchen's lawyers feel her case would be strengthened if other female employees came forward to join the lawsuit.    There are plenty of prospective plaintiffs, since Ailes made intimidation and harassment a cottage industry while running the Fox News empire.  Among them is Kayla Pospisil (Robbie), a newcomer looking to get on the air.   She goes to Ailes to convince him to give her a shot, and he does, after sexual quid pro quo.  Kayla feels dirty and cheapened by the experience, and blames herself. 

Naysayers claim women like Kayla could've said no to Ailes and his advances.   What they fail to realize is that a power monger like Ailes wasn't merely asking Kayla or others to sleep with him.   There was an implied consequence to rejecting him, such as firing, demotion, or further harassment.   Women like Kayla, Gretchen, and Megyn were forced to make career choices entirely upon Ailes' whims or the desires of other powerful men who wielded their power like a weapon.

Another character forced to suppress her sexuality (and her admiration of Hillary Clinton) is Jess Carr (McKinnon), who shows Kayla the ropes and has a one-night stand with her.   For Jess to actually declare herself a Democrat and a lesbian would be tantamount to revolution at Fox News.   There are female supporters of Ailes, like show host Jeanine Pirro (Ubach), who rallies the troops with "Team Roger" t-shirts. 

Bombshell is replete with terrific performances from among the very best actors around.   Jay Roach has directed Recount and Game Change, two superior political dramas, so the stage was set for a pointed, topical storm of a movie which never developed fully.   I expected more anger, more bile, more scathing commentary.   Instead, Bombshell plays like a Cliffs Notes version of the story.