It is, like the cable-news network that is its subject and its setting, shiny and hectic. But I do think that as men capturing this sense of muscular predation, how that dynamic works is something that maybe we would not have come to so quickly had we been women.. To play anchor Gretchen Carlson, host Megyn Kelly, and composite character Kayla Pospisil respectively, the actresses were transformed with hair, makeup, and expert prosthetics. The results? Who is Margot Robbie Portraying in 'Bombshell'? Is it a - Distractify InBombshell, the buzzy, upcoming movie based on the downfall of Fox CEO Roger Ailes at the hands of the women he'd harassed, Margot Robbie plays a character named Kayla Pospisil. We hear his breathing grow increasingly, discomfitingly labored. Right: Nazanin Boniadi. While there have been examples of secret liberals within the walls of Fox News over the years, no one of her specific profilea lesbian who supports Hillary Clinton and works for OReillywas part of any of the reporting surrounding the Ailes scandal. I paused. Perhaps one of the most infamous moments in the film arrives when Megyn Kelly isquestioning then-presidential candidate Donald Trump in 2015 on Fox News. Justin Kirkland is a Brooklyn-based writer who covers culture, food, and the South. 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. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. With a clean updo, thick eyeliner, and a stern smile, she's almost entirely transformed into the former Fox News anchor. 'Bombshell' fact vs. fiction: What really happened at Fox News? - USA Today It was about taking something from her, taking her dignity, and then having her feel ashamed enough that she doesnt want anybody to ever know about this, Bombshells director Jay Roach tells Vulture of the scene. With the emotional adventure of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever closing out the controversial fourth, Joseph Bologne Could Have Been As Big As Beethoven In, Angela Bassett Doesnt Owe The Oscars A Thing Not Even A Smile, Tessa Thompson Talks Going To Couples Therapy With Michael B. Jordan, one of the people who agreed to be interviewed. ", 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. Right: Charlize Theron portraying Kelly in, Left: Gretchen Carlson. Right: Spencer Garrett. 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. Photos by Hilary Bronwyn Gayle SMPSP/Lionsgate and Andrew Toth/Getty Images. "No one wants to cross Roger," the agent told her. She tells Ailes about her career. Dustin is the founder and co-owner of Pajiba. Yes and no. The long answer is that Kayla Pospisil is a composite based on a few different accounts from actual people with connections to Fox News. I wanted the breathing to be unmistakably monstrous. For example, Anne Ramsay (Mad About You) plays news anchor Greta Van Susteren. "It shows the degree in which Roger was one of the drivers of the Republican establishment. ", 'You could do worse, right?' But in terms of the sexual assault case that drives Pospisil's arc forward, the character was created after filmmakers interviewed a number of Fox News staffers who were bound by a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). Get to know who's who in the cast before you watch the movie in theaters. But we tried to communicate as much as we could with everybody." Ailes was in charge of what she said on air, and would frequently berate her for her opinions. 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. Heres how it works. She gives a quick spin, her mouth frozen in a tight smile, attempting to make light of the move. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. (If you are not a fan of Jeanine Pirro, the Fox News host who recently wrote a book titled Liars, Leakers, and Liberals: The Case Against the Anti-Trump Conspiracy, Bombshell provides several scenes that will leave you feeling fully vindicated.). Megyn Kellya Fox host who published allegations against Ailes in her 2016 memoiris played by Charlize Theron. Ailes himself tried to weaponize the Fox News apparatus to attack and discredit Carlson and eventually Kelly. Megyn Kelly (Theron) acts as the primary narrator of the film that kicks off with Gretchen Carlson's (Kidman) initial allegations against Ailes. James and Lachlan really were at Sun Valley, the Idaho resort town and conference, when they found out about Carlsons lawsuit. Along with Esquire, his work has appeared in NYLON, Vulture, and USA Today. 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Kayla Pospisil, the ambitious young "evangelical millennial" producer (played by Margot Robbie) who works for Carlson's show when she is introduced, is a composite character invented for the . Bombshell 's miniskirt-harassment scene between John Lithgow's Roger Ailes and Margot Robbie's Kayla Pospisil was the most "excruciating" sequence director Jay Roach has ever filmed . Such scenes were drawn from Kelly's book, as well as Gabriel Sherman's 2014 Ailes biography "The Loudest Voice in the Room" and Sarah Ellison's 2016 expose for Vanity Fair, Randolph says. Wed heard how fatherly he could be, jokey, and a good coach. It's Anchor Barbie," quips Jess. About two-thirds of the way through the ripped-from-the-headlines drama, Bombshells cringiest scene unfolds: a sequence of events that begins with the words Stand up and give me a twirl and culminates in humiliation. As mentioned earlier, Alisyn Camerota's Vanity Fair article was extremely informative. The abuse here is psychological. Chloe is a News Writer for Townandcountrymag.com, where she covers royal news, from the latest additions to Meghan Markles staff to Queen Elizabeths monochrome fashions; she also writes about culture, often dissecting TV shows like The Marvelous Mrs Maisel and Killing Eve. 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 are you, crazy?' Right: Connie Britton. Kayla Pospisil Isn't A Real Person, But She's A Stand-In For - Bustle 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. She just said, Listen, I trust you and I trust the way youre coming at this. Charlizes collaboration and power in the overall hierarchy was imperative. During a post-screening Q&A with Jay Roach and Charles Randolph, they discussed the importance of their research ahead of making this film in order to create an accurate and faithful representation. Left: Rudi Bakhtiar. But it is also because the assault Bombshells camera depicts is not physically violent. Even though they sleep together, Kayla insists shes not gay, but the real scandal is that Jess Carr is a closeted Democrat working at Fox News. The film stars Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie, and John Lithgow, and follows the story of a group of women at Fox News whose efforts led to CEO Roger Ailes' crimes being exposed. When other victims come forward against Ailes, the movie portrays Kelly as keeping herself separate from them. Carlson was a well-known Fox News personality from 2005 until June 23 of this year, when her contract wasn't renewed. The "Saturday Night Live" favorite is a scene-stealer as Kayla's savvy co-worker Jess Carr, a closeted lesbian and liberal who has complicated feelings about working at a network that preaches against her values and lifestyle. Short skirts were required and pants were banned." Idon't have anything.". The long sweep of America has been defined by forward motion, President Obama said in his farewell speech three years ago. You may email him here, follow him on Twitter, or listen to his weekly TV podcast, Podjiba. Charlize Theron plays Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly in Bombshell, and the movie opens as she is preparing to host a 2015 Republican presidential primary debate that would go on to cause a monthslong feud between her and future President Donald Trump. Its also true that there was longstanding tension between the brothers and Ailes, which is part of why they supported quickly conducting an internal investigation at Fox News. Pospisil begins to tell Carr about what happened, but Carr interrupts, saying she cannot get involved. Kelly and Carlson, however, complicate it considerably. Although there were eventually 23 victims who gave their names and stories to construct a . Bill Shine, a former Fox News producer and executive who eventually became Trumps communications director, is played by Desperate Housewives Mark Moses. I wanted the breathing to be unmistakably monstrous.. The scene is intimate. Gretchen Carlson, former Fox News anchor. Kayla helps Bombshell elide it. Margot Robbie's character Kayla Pospisil is not a real . Roger Ailes, and John Lithgow as Roger Ailes. Everything Bombshell Doesn't Tell You About The True Story Left: Rudy Giuliani. Ailes did have friends and allies, too, including Rudy Giuliani (played by Richard Kind in the movie) and his lawyer, Susan Estrich (played by Allison Janney), despite her background as a staunch feminist. But Kayla, a figure informed by everyone and therefore by no one, also makes the movie smoother and easier than it might be. The film outlines an extremely important time in the U.S. surrounding the 2016 presidential race, and highlights the right-wing bias of Fox News, which is depicted as being riddled with misogyny and enabling inappropriate power dynamics. Photos by Hilary Bronwyn Gayle SMPSP/Lionsgate and Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Hollywood Reporter. Veteran actor Malcolm McDowell portrays Rupert Murdoch, the media tycoon at the top of a worldwide empire. She also launched and managed the sites virtual book club, #ReadWithMC. Kayla Pospisil is a fictional employee at the news network, portrayed by Margot Robbie in Fox's signature bleached-blonde style. Although Kayla is a fictional character, her experiences of harassment are drawn from interviews Randolph and Roach conducted with ex-Fox News staffers(some of whom violated their non-disclosure agreements to speak with filmmakers). Kelly may be the star of the show; Kayla, however, is its moral center. Portrayed in "Bombshell" by Nazanin Boniadi, Rudi Bakhtiar was a Fox News journalist who came out with allegations against Brian Wilson (via New York), the former Fox News Washington bureau chief. 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. Left: Greta Van Susteren. Thats in part because it is shot so unsparingly. Is Kayla Pospisil a Real Person? Margot Robbie Plays Her in 'Bombshell' Probably. Knowing that he. "I wanted to show the bystander narrative. Huddy toldThe Hollywood Reporterthat although her discussions with Randolphviolated her nondisclosure agreement with Fox, she felt like she had nothing left to lose: "I lost my house. A lifelong Fox News fanatic and young evangelical ("I see myself as an influencer in the Jesus space," she says), Kayla soon catches the eye of Ailes, who promises to promote herto on-air talent in exchange for sexual favors. 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. Michelle Obama and Bruce Springsteen Tore Up the Stage with Glory Days. Is The Diplomat Returning for a Season 2? Slate is published by The Slate 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). Maybe we can take this shot out, take that breathing down. And the women on the team universally said, Do not touch a frame. In "Bombshell," this is word-for-word in accuracy, butviewers are led to believe that Kelly discussed this question before the debate with Lachlan and James Murdoch. When Pospisil moves on to a new job on Bill OReillys show, she befriends Jess Carr, a producer played by Kate McKinnon. Photo illustration by Slate. That freedom, however, also allows a story about sexual harassment to wander, at times, into the realm of the fanciful. Nicole Kidman takes on the role of Gretchen Carlson, the Fox News anchor whose diminishing position at the network stands in contrast with Kellys. 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. And then he gives her an order: Stand up and twirl for me.. Right: Ashley Greene. And while the film notes that there are a lot of similarities between Bombshell and real life, certain parts of the film were fabricated, including one of its lead characters. It certainly was for me in the room. on. Both involve Margot Robbie, whose role is small here but pivotal and terrific. Photos by Hilary Bronwyn Gayle SMPSP/Lionsgate and Wesley Mann/FOX News via Getty Images. It is painful to watch. 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. But McKinnons character allows Bombshell to do something else, as well: to serve up a scene in which Jess and Kayla are lying in Jesss bed, ostensibly having slept together. 2019 brought us a critically acclaimed based-on-a-true-story film in the form of "Bombshell," directed by Jay Roach and written by Charles Randolph. The film stars Charlize Theron as Megyn Kelly, Nicole Kidman as Gretchen Carlson, and Margot Robbie as fictional news producer Kayla Pospisil. That is ultimately unclear. Left: Roger Ailes. Kelly then comes forward with her own case of harassment, followed by more than 20 other women (via Vulture). There were good arguments about how disturbing Rogers breathing [should] be. Why Does Kim Kardashian Do This to Christmas? Many of them embody familiar Fox News talents. Carlson didnt owe anybody shit, but had she not said something, men like Ailes; his successor; Bill OReilly; Bill Shine; and Charles Payne would still be at Fox News, and they would still be harassing women, and Brian Kilmeade and Steve Doofus would still be openly harassing their Fox & Friends co-host on air. The new movie Bombshell tells the story of how the women of Fox News brought down the networks infamous CEO, Roger Ailes, but it does so by filling the film with a mix of characters who are based on real figures and others who have no one real-life counterpart. Only the bravest celebs will go full catboy at 2023s Met Gala. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. McKinnon has described her character as a closet liberal and closet gay woman. Her presence allows Bombshell to point out that Fox News is a more complicated place than its broadcasts might make it seem. By joseph / June 19, 2022 Kayla Pospisil is a fictitious news network staffer who is played by Margot Robbie with Fox's distinctive bleached-blonde hairstyle. You can see this in another composite character in the film: Kaylas best friend at the network, Jess Carr, played by Kate McKinnon. This incident is shown accurately in the film, down to the specific words used by Wilson. The initial allegation of misconduct came from a Ailes biography in 2014, "The Loudest Voice in the Room" by Gabriel Sherman. -Smart Writers & Smart Content & Smart Readers-mclennan county indictments 2020 Geral mclennan county indictments 2020. 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. Much of what the movie tells us about him is backed up by accounts of the scandal. The Stars of 'Bombshell' vs. the Fox News Figures They Play Cookies help us deliver our Services. 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. He indeed occupied a second-floor suite at the News Corp. headquarters in New York City with a camera outside his door. The software that cloned Drake and the Weeknds voices is easy to useand impossible to shut down. It sure seems like it! The following article includes allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. She and another fictional character, a production assistant named Jess Carr (Kate McKinnon), drink too much after work and end up spending the night together. It wouldnt have been as sleek. She left the network last year and reportedly pressured women at work to support Roger Ailes amidst sexual harassment allegations, according to Vox. It was just so clear this was going to be a team effort. Nancy Erika Smith, one of Gretchen Carlsons lawyers, is portrayed by Robin Weigert (Deadwood, Big Little Lies). The most damning of the recordings was probably the one in which Ailes was caught saying to her, I think you and I should have had a sexual relationship a long time ago. Carlson received $20 million in the eventual settlement. Thats the weird trap hes laid for her. Former Fox contributor Tamara Holder told The Hollywood Reporter that she signed an agreement that comes with a penalty of $500,000 if she breaks her NDA, though it's unclear if Fox would follow through on that consequence. Maybe? Jess was "all made up," Randolph says. John Lithgow, who plays Roger Ailes in Bombshell, had prosthetics applied to adjust his nose, cheeks, neck, hairline, and earlobes. Here are the women who have publicly accused Roger Ailes of - Vox Things you buy through our links may earnVox Mediaa commission. Roger Ailes attempted to force himself on Kelly three times early in her career, and she rebuked him. It is to have a tale told by a narrator who is, if not fully unreliable, then deeply fraught. (Though whether Pirro confronted Megyn Kelly at a vending machine and asked her to do the same, as in the movie, is less clear.) Upon moving to the crew of Bill O'Reilly's team, she sets her sights on currying favor with Fox News CEO, Roger Ailes (John Lithgow) in hopes of getting a spot on-air. But the main way the film wrestles with the complications of its own story is by eliding them. 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. "Each hair is hand-tied one by one," hairstylist Anne Morgan told the Washington Post, explaining the level of care and labor that went into them. The dried-out husk of Kendalls soul is up, Roman is spiraling down, and the game of. Ailes was more deferential of Trump than Rupert initially was, and this may have worked to the sons advantage in eventually pushing for Ailes ouster. Left to right, Charlize Theron as Megyn Kelly, Nicole Kidman as Gretchen Carlson and Margot Robbie as Kayla Pospisil in "Bombshell." (Courtesy Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/SMPSP) This article is more than . But Bombshell is primarily Kellys story. Played by Connie Britton in the movie, Ailes wife, Beth, was by his side throughout the scandal, reportedly taking it just as personally as he did. Left: Abby Huntsman. The real Megyn Kelly addressed this in the discussion mentioned above after watching the movie for herself,describing it as a "fantasy." 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.. She pulls the dress up higher, her hands trembling, until her underwear is exposed. jimmy fallon guest schedule this week - fpcintl.com mclennan county indictments 2020 " Randolph says. The movie leaves out the fun detail that when it became clear that Ailes was on his way out at Fox, Estrich, meaning to send a statement to the Drudge Report, accidentally sent a draft of his $40 million separation agreement, which Drudge then published, and unpublishedthough some questioned whether this was a mistake or negotiating tactic. But this is how it happens, and it takes someone like Gretchen Carlson who I am sure has her own host of problematic issues separate from this to build enough personal capital in order to sacrifice it (and her career) to finally put a stop to men like Ailes. But it might have been more revealing. Throughout the film, Kayla must grapple with the fact that a man with a lot of power, a person whos the driving force behind a corporation she idolizes, sexually assaulted her. Forward motion! Left: Sean Hannity. Kayla isn't based on a single person's experience, but is actually based on many people's experience working at Fox News under Ailes, though, Kayla's image is maybe-possibly based on Tomi.
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