Director Jay Roach has had one of the more interesting and successful careers as a director and producer for nearly 20 years running. Most people know him as the director of all three AUSTIN POWERS films as well as the first two MEET THE PARENTS/FOCKERS movies. But in more recent years, he’s made a name for himself with two quite excellent looks at recent presidential elections. With RECOUNT, he examined the clusterfuck that was the 2000 election and the debacle with Florida’s voting rules and methods; four years later, he made GAME CHANGE, with its focus on the McCain/Palin campaign of 2008. Also in 2012, Roach released THE CAMPAIGN, a farce about the modern way in which lobbyists essentially own those who run for office.
Stepping away from elections, but certain not away from politics, Roach’s latest work is TRUMBO, an in-depth look at the life, career and politics of one of the successful screenwriters ever in Hollywood, Dalton Trumbo (played by the great Bryan Cranston). The film is not only a wonderful look at a particular golden age in Hollywood--look for lively appearances by actors portraying Edward G. Robinson (Michael Stuhlbarg), Hedda Hopper (Helen Mirren), John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, and Otto Preminger--but it shows the devastating impact that the Communist-hunting House Un-American Activities Committee had on the lives of artist, including Trumbo and his close friends, some of whom were actually communists and posed zero threat to the welfare of the nation.
In many ways, TRUMBO proves that even the notorious Blacklist couldn’t keep the best of the best writers down, with many of them able to continue to squeak out a living writing scripts under assumed names, including the eccentric Trumbo, who ended up winning two Oscars under false names while officially being banned from the business. Not everyone was so lucky, as we also see in the film. TRUMBO manages to be entertaining and educational, and it blends the best of what Roach is capable of. And I just happen to have seats to an early screening of TRUMBO in Chicago next week. Here are the details…
The early Chicago screening of TRUMBO for Ain’t It Cool News readers and one guest takes place on Tuesday, November 10 at 7:00pm at a theater in downtown Chicago (the exact location will only be given to the winners). As an added bonus, we’ll have director Jay Roach on hand for a post-screening Q&A. Here’s how to win…
To win, send me an email at TrumboChicago@aintitcoolmail.com (please note the new email address) with the subject line “Are You Now, or Have You Ever Been…” (exactly like that). In the body of the email, I need your full Name, if you are bringing a guest (each winner may bring ONE, confirmed guest--if I think you gave your extra ticket to someone trolling for free tickets at the theater, you won't get in), and the answer to the following question: “What is your favorite film about old-timey Hollywood, real or imagined, and why?” I need a film title and a detailed reason for your choice. Keep your responses BRIEF--no more than 100 words (no matter how tempted you are to go over the limit). Best answers (as judged by me) win, and you'll hear from me very soon if you won, so check your email over the weekend.
Although this is not an exclusive Ain't It Cool News event, winners’ seats will be reserved until 15 minutes before showtime (meaning 6:45pm). The venue is deliberately overbooked to guarantee a full house for our guest. If you can't arrive by 6:45pm, don't enter this contest. If you show up at the last minute, there is no guarantee that your seats will be good or together. If there's even the slightest chance you or your guests will have to back out of attending or arrive late if you do win, don't enter. If you have a job that might make you late or unable to attend, or an ill/pregnant relative, or a temperamental significant other, or a scratchy throat, do not enter. And the 24-hour-notice-to-cancel rule is done. If you win and don't show up, the Black List is your new best friend.
Good luck, everyone! And thanks to Bleecker Street Media for giving us this very cool screening to Chicago and brining in our guest.
