TheReviewMonk
Trumbo backdrop

Trumbo

12 February 2016English2h 4m
Drama
out of 10
Recommendedmost critics liked it
Monk Score · 6 scored reviews · 3 not rated

Cranston's vivid turn carries this Blacklist-era biopic past its historical thin spots.

Verdict tier Recommended, most critics liked it, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.

  • Praised: Bryan Cranston's riveting performance
  • Criticised: Thin, overstuffed historical treatment

Audience

User score 7.0 out of 10 from 1 rating, not enough ratings for a verdict yet

Not streaming in India

Top cast

Full cast & crew

Critic consensus

What 9 critics are saying

Critical reception for Trumbo leans positive, with most reviewers finding it an engaging and worthwhile account of a remarkable real-life story. Bryan Cranston's performance is the most widely cited strength, earning consistent praise for being riveting and heartfelt, with Helen Mirren also noted as a standout. Common criticisms include the film feeling overstuffed and thin in its handling of history, with some noting a slow pace and a failure to dig deep into its subject. A dissenting voice found the biopic bland despite Cranston's efforts.

How the 6 scores spread

3 not-rated reviews aren't plotted

Positive / mixed / negative reviews

Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10

AI-generated summary of 9 critic reviews · may contain errors

Report inaccuracy

From the papers

Critic reviews (9)

Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated

  1. Top critic

    Indian Express

    Film review ·

    The film is a fascinating account of how show business works, where success ultimately subverts everything else.

  2. Top critic

    IBNLive

    Film review ·

    At times the film feels overstuffed from too much history being condensed into 2 hours. But it's consistently engaging, primarily on the strength of Cranston's riveting, heartfelt performance, which has deservedly earned him an Oscar nomination this year.

  4. Hindustan Times

    Film review ·

    It all makes for an enthralling story about how far government, industry and individuals might go to uphold what they believe is right.

  5. DNA India

    Film review ·

    Watch this one for the brilliant Bryan Cranston and his perfectly delivered lines, a lovely Diane Lane as his wife Cleo and Mirren, a truly terrifying and malevolent journalistic force of nature.

  6. Times Of India

    Film review ·

    While the period detailing is great, the film does have a few historical inaccuracies. And yes, the pace can be a bit slow at times but the emotional intensity of the film never sags. And John McNamara's script saves the day.

  7. Mid-Day

    Film review ·

    By and large the film is faithful to it's subject and keeps you engrossed and involved in it's drama. So largely fulfilling in my opinion!

  8. Scroll.in

    Film review ·

    Trumbo provides a snapshot of what was clearly a very dark time in Hollywood and American history, but it stays a bit thin on the ground.

  9. The Hindu

    Film review ·

    Trumbo may not dig deep – for all its pleasures, the film doesn't linger. But it does a fine job of picking up a remarkable real life story of an unlikely hero and telling it with a filmic aura it deserves.

Credits

Cast & crew

Cast

Director

Cinematography

You may also like

English films like Trumbo

TMDB

This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.