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Saturday, December 5, 2015

Report Card---"Trumbo"

I think it would be almost impossible to make a bad movie about the life of the legendary screenwriter Dalton Trumbo.
"Trumbo" certainly does not disappoint.
I've seen Trumbo being interviewed many times, and Bryan Cranston nails him.
He is perfect.

On to the scoring:

Is it interesting?

Extremely. It tells you everything worth knowing about the blacklist. I thought I knew everything.
Turns out I didn't.
A+.

Compelling even?

Always.
A+.

Is it controversial?

Probably the most controversial story of the 20th century. .
A+.

Is it a story worth telling?

Of course.
A+.

Is it good storytelling?

Great storytelling on every level.
A+.

Is it well written?

First rate.
A+.

Is it well cast? Well played?

Yes on all counts. Except one. There is an actor in it who plays Edward G. Robinson, who was a "Friendly" witness, something I wasn't aware of. And there's another actor, Roger Bart, who plays a studio executive. He looks just like the actor who plays Edward G. Robinson. It's another case of "Is that him or the other one?" Those of you who know me know how much I hate that.
C+.

Well shot?

Very.
A.

Did the director put such a personal stamp on it so that no one else could have made it?

Not that I could see.
C.

How long does it take to establish the film's locale?

Immediately.
A.

Is it too long? Too short?

Perfect.
A+.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

Totally, and totally.
A+.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

I pretty much knew the story. It did not deter my enjoyment of the film.
A.

Do you think about it after you've seen it?

Often.
A+.

Is it funny?

Quite.
A.

Would it have been worth the thirteen bucks it would have cost to see it in the movies?

If you like to spend money on movies....
A.

Is it impressive?

Overwhelmingly.
A+

Overall grade: A+.

Yet another truly great movie.
Mainly due to Cranston.

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My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel, "Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
They are all compilations of blog entries that have since been removed from the blog.
So this is the only way you can find them.
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne and Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperbacks, "Mark Rothman's Essays" and my new novel, "I'm Not Garbo" are not
e-books. But they are available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings lined up for those, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one. If you'd like one of the paperbacks, personally autographed, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.

And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne and Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.

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About Me

Hi. I am, according to my Wikipedia entry,(which I did not create) a noted television writer, playwright, screenwriter, and occasional actor. You can Google me or go to the IMDB to get my credits, and you can come here to get my opinions on things, which I'll try to express eloquently. Hopefully I'll succeed. You can also e-mail me at macchus999@aol.com. Perhaps my biggest claim to fame is being responsible, for about six months in 1975, while Head Writer for the "Happy Days" TV series, for Americans saying to each other "Sit on it."