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Winchell -
Whether or not you can't get enough of what is now affectionally called "tea," this HBO biopic is worth seeking out. What it lacks in novelty, it mostly makes up for with its strong performances and interestingly told history lessons. For those of you who drew a blank when you read the title, Walter Winchell was a mid-20th century American journalist and radio show host whose true medium was gossip. His style always put him at odds with his employers, but Winchell really made them seethe when he started making it personal, such as famously warning the world about Hitler and infamously siding with Joseph McCarthy.
Veteran character actor Stanley Tucci takes the lead in this one for a change and he's more than up for the task. Besides nailing his New York accent and staccato delivery, I like how he conveys his strong work ethic, especially his unwillingness to compromise regardless of how many friends he loses in the process. One who managed to stick with him until the end is Herman Klurfeld, his ghostwriter, audience surrogate and the author of the book on which the movie is based, who's also played by a welcome sight: a young Paul Giamatti. I also approve of the period details from the historically accurate production design to Bill Conti's jazzy score. Unfortunately, the movie is too willing to settle for the biopic format's hoariest cliches from its rise and fall structure to showing the supposed moment during his childhood that made Winchell...well, Winchell. I at least approve that it begins with his childhood for how it makes the movie a study of the public's shift in preference from newsprint to radio to television. Even if you're also tired of biopics, you could do worse if you have a modicum of interest in Winchell, the history of gossip journalism, etc. Just don't be surprised if your desire to watch Walk Hard or Weird: The Al Yankovic Story spikes once it's over.
Whether or not you can't get enough of what is now affectionally called "tea," this HBO biopic is worth seeking out. What it lacks in novelty, it mostly makes up for with its strong performances and interestingly told history lessons. For those of you who drew a blank when you read the title, Walter Winchell was a mid-20th century American journalist and radio show host whose true medium was gossip. His style always put him at odds with his employers, but Winchell really made them seethe when he started making it personal, such as famously warning the world about Hitler and infamously siding with Joseph McCarthy.
Veteran character actor Stanley Tucci takes the lead in this one for a change and he's more than up for the task. Besides nailing his New York accent and staccato delivery, I like how he conveys his strong work ethic, especially his unwillingness to compromise regardless of how many friends he loses in the process. One who managed to stick with him until the end is Herman Klurfeld, his ghostwriter, audience surrogate and the author of the book on which the movie is based, who's also played by a welcome sight: a young Paul Giamatti. I also approve of the period details from the historically accurate production design to Bill Conti's jazzy score. Unfortunately, the movie is too willing to settle for the biopic format's hoariest cliches from its rise and fall structure to showing the supposed moment during his childhood that made Winchell...well, Winchell. I at least approve that it begins with his childhood for how it makes the movie a study of the public's shift in preference from newsprint to radio to television. Even if you're also tired of biopics, you could do worse if you have a modicum of interest in Winchell, the history of gossip journalism, etc. Just don't be surprised if your desire to watch Walk Hard or Weird: The Al Yankovic Story spikes once it's over.