Did “Bombshell” Bomb Because It's Too True? #MeToo At Work
Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie in “Bombshell,” that bombed at the box office. (Photo courtesy of Lionsgate)
“No one will believe you. They will call you a liar. Do you think women are idiots?” It’s a turning point in the recent movie, “Bombshell,” when Charlize Theron playing Megyn Kelly says it in a meeting at Fox News.
The movie has many shocking and pivotal moments, from Nicole Kidman playing Gretchen Carlson who says, “Someone has to speak up, someone has to get mad,” to the emotional breakdown of Margot Robbie playing a fictional character, Kayla, who was sexually assaulted by FOX News chairman and CEO Roger Ailes in his office.
Yet the movie that critics had great expectations for before it hit theaters last month, has bombed. Why?
According to The Hill, “‘Bombshell’" which should be leaving most theaters in short order after premiering nationwide on December 20, has generated only $15.6 million at the box office as of December 29. That's not even half of what the movie cost to be made. Reviews for the film have been mixed, with a 67 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes out of a possible 100. Yet, given the cast and hype, a disappointment from a critical perspective and a movie that clearly has not benefited from positive word of mouth.”
Its lackluster reception may be because women do not need to see on the screen what they live through in real life. And what is in the headlines.
“The lackluster reception for @Bombshellmovie may be because women do not need to see on the screen what they live through in real life or what’s in the headlines. #MeToo”
The Harvey Weinstein rape trial beginning January 6 highlights the realities for so many women who unfortunately relate to the effects of #MeToo movement in the workplace, its relevance and its detractors.
“The #HarveyWeinstein rape trial beginning January 6 highlights the realities women who relate to the #MeToo movement in the workplace, its relevance and its detractors. ”
Variety reports, “Weinstein’s lead lawyer, Donna Rotunno, specializes in sex crimes cases, and has built a reputation in Chicago for meticulous cross-examination of accusers. In interviews, she has pushed back on aspects of the #MeToo movement.”
Rotunno tells Variety, “My biggest issue is this notion that because women make a claim it must be true. This notion that cross-examination is victim shaming … is obscene. Any claim has a right under our system of justice to be questioned and cross-examined. That doesn’t mean we’re horrible people. But I have a right to do my job.”
This movie may be too real as more than 10 million Americans have experienced sexual violence in the workplace, according to Reuters.
“That represents almost 7 million women and 3 million men who have reported assault, unwanted sexual contact or verbal harassment by a boss, supervisor, coworker, customer or client, the study authors report in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine,” Reuters reports.
“About 1 million women, or 0.8%, have been raped by a coworker, who was more likely to be a non-authority figure. About 400,000 men, or 0.4%, have been sexually coerced by a coworker and 184,000 were forced to penetrate another person,” the report shows..
Read more from Gloria Feldt in take The Lead on #MeToo
In the years that #MeToo has called attention in many different industries about the legacies and continuation of sexual harassment, assault and discrimination, change has affected some workplace cultures, with firings and new policies on trainings and recourse.
“ #MeToo has affected some #workplace #cultures, with firings and new policies on trainings and recourse. #SexDiscrimination #Progress”
Brittany N. Brantley and Lauren C. Tompkins write in Crain’s Cleveland Business, “Change starts with conversation. Begin by talking with employees about sex discrimination: what it is, what it looks like and how it could be affecting your workforce in the wake of #MeToo. Men and women need to be able to openly discuss what is and is not unwelcome, nonconsensual and discriminatory conduct. Management must take the lead in starting and being supportive of the conversation.”
In order to shift a workplace culture to one that is safe for everyone, Brantley and Tompkins write, “Openly address the concern that men have of being falsely accused or that, if a complaint is made, they will automatically be found in violation of policy. Explain how those concerns would be addressed through a prompt, thorough and full investigation. Discuss the process your organization has for investigating all complaints in an unbiased manner, with both parties being treated equally throughout the process. Assure employees that all parties involved are given an equal and fair opportunity to respond to allegations, provide their accounts of events and offer documentation and evidence to support their accounts. Often, those who are afraid of being falsely accused simply do not understand the process.”
Read more in Take The Lead on pushback after #MeToo
While the real life actions of Gretchen Carlson—depicted so expertly in “Bombshell,” by Kidman—ultimately caused the downfall of Ailes, it took women coming forward in support of each other to make that difference. And that support was not immediate or easy, as many women at first fought against the status quo—even though so many had been assaulted, threatened and fired if they did not comply.
A true workplace shift requires everyone signing on to change, not just women, but men as well.
“A true #workplace #shift requires everyone signing on to change, not just women, but men as well. #Equality #PowerTo”
Gloria Feldt writes in Take The Lead: “When men assume a level of privilege that leads to misuse of power in the form of sexual harassment, the consequences for women are profound. They stand back and self-limit. They devalue themselves because they have been devalued, reduced to pieces of meat or eye candy.”
“@GloriaFeldt writes, “When men assume a level of #privilege that leads to misuse of #power in the form of sexual harassment, the consequences for women are profound.” ”
Feldt writes, “If others can objectify you, this gets into your head; it causes you to be risk averse, not to hold up your hand or raise your authentic voice. Your humanity is eviscerated. You will never achieve equality because you have the enemy living in your head telling you that you are unworthy. Your power goes from inside to outside of yourself and your intentionality is lower than the man next you because he knows he owns the world and you know only the world’s limitations. To overcome this pattern, it’s essential that men and women work together as the equals they are in intelligence, skills, and capabilities.”
According to Digiday, in advertising and creative agency spaces, the effects of #MeToo prevail—to a degree.
“According to @Digiday, in advertising and creative agency spaces, the effects of #MeToo prevail—to a degree. #TimesUp”
“In the years since #MeToo, alleged bad actors like former Droga5 CCO Ted Royer, Innocean CCO Eric Springer and Publicis Seattle CCO Andrew Christeau, among others, across the industry have been publicly outed and ousted, advocacy groups like Times Up Advertising have been created and ad agencies have routinely said that they want to root out sexual harassment. But inside agencies the day-to-day mood is still unsettled as some agency employees say that men and women don’t trust each other, that agencies don’t trust men and women to be alone together, that some women feel like they’re being excluded and that some men are now regularly cracking jokes about #MeToo.”
“@CNN reports that even though the shock has worn off #MeToo, the shock waves are critical. #Impact #YesWomenCan”
CNN reports that even though the shock has worn off #MeToo, the shock waves are critical.
“Now the dust has settled, #MeToo has moved from the front pages and Twitter feeds into courtrooms, company boards and legislative chambers. They may be happening below the radar, but experts say the shockwaves happening now are absolutely crucial—and just as important as the initial #MeToo scandal.”
Perhaps “Bombshell” will have a bigger digital life after it is gone from theaters proving it unfortunately has relevance to so many. Maybe they just didn’t want to go to the theaters to prove it.
“Perhaps #Bombshell will have a bigger digital life after it closes in theaters, proving it’s relevance to so many. Maybe they just didn’t want to go to the theaters to prove it. #MeToo”
