You know the name Jay Roach from some pretty broad and silly comedies: tthe “Austin Powers” films, “Meet the Parents” films, “Dinner for Schmucks,” and most recently the American political farce “The Campaign,” with Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis. But Roach is finally getting serious, though this tendency has been percolating for some time, as evidenced by his lesser-seen, made-for-HBO movies “Recount” and “Game Change.”
Roach’s next film is “Trumbo,” a movie centered on famous screenwriter Dalton Trumbo. The titular character is played by Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”), and the cast also features an impressive ensemble cast that includes Helen Mirren, Elle Fanning, Diane Lane, John Goodman, plus Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Louis C.K., Alan Tudyk and Michael Stuhlbarg.
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Trumbo was famous for the screenplays “A Guy Named Joe" (which Steven Spielberg remade as “Always”) “Our Vines Have Tender Grapes," and the Oscar-nominated “Kitty Foyle” before his career was destroyed by the McCarthy-era of blacklisting based on alleged communist affiliations, though he continued to write under pseudonyms for more than a decade. Trumbo won two Academy Awards while he was blacklisted; one for "The Brave One" under the sobriquet Robert Rich, and another was posthumously awarded for writing “Roman Holiday” in 1993, which was originally given to front screenwriter Ian McLellan Hunter.
“Trumbo” will make its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, but in the lead-up, you can watch the new trailer below.