Confirmation (film)

Last updated
Confirmation
Confirmation poster.jpg
Television release poster
Written by Susannah Grant
Directed by Rick Famuyiwa
Starring
Theme music composer Harry Gregson-Williams
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerDarren M. Demetre
Cinematography Rachel Morrison
EditorDirk Westervelt
Running time110 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network HBO
ReleaseApril 16, 2016 (2016-04-16)

Confirmation is a 2016 American television political thriller film, directed by Rick Famuyiwa and written by Susannah Grant. It is about Clarence Thomas's Supreme Court nomination hearings, and the controversy that unfolded when Anita Hill alleged she was sexually harassed by Thomas. It stars Kerry Washington as Hill and Wendell Pierce as Clarence Thomas, with Erika Christensen, Jennifer Hudson, Greg Kinnear, Jeffrey Wright, Bill Irwin, and Eric Stonestreet in supporting roles. The film aired on HBO on April 16, 2016. [1]

Contents

Plot

Anita Hill, a law professor at the University of Oklahoma, is contacted and questioned about Clarence Thomas. Hill, a former employee of Thomas, is prompted to speak about his workplace treatment. Anita Hill tells the Senate Judiciary Committee that, inter alia, Clarence Thomas had spoken to her about pornographic movies and actors such as Long Dong Silver. A psychologist tells a U.S. senator that Anita Hill has erotomania.

A hearing takes place at which Anita tells the Senate Judiciary Committee that, inter alia, Clarence Thomas sexually harassed her 10 years prior. From there, a slew of events unfolds as the Committee tries to determine who is telling the truth, with the world watching. The subpoena to Angela Wright, another accuser of Thomas, is withdrawn.

Cast

Production

Casting

On March 12, 2015, it was announced that Kerry Washington would star as Anita Hill in an HBO television film. [3] Washington's role on ABC Network's hit television show Scandal was loosely based on Judy Smith, who appears as a character in the film. On April 28, Wendell Pierce was cast as Clarence Thomas. [4] On May 12, Eric Stonestreet joined as Kenneth Duberstein. [5] Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Hudson, and Jeffrey Wright were reported to have joined the cast as Joe Biden, Angela Wright, and Charles Ogletree, respectively, on May 29. [6] On June 5, Bill Irwin and Treat Williams were added, to respectively portray John Danforth and Ted Kennedy. [7] Later that same day, Erika Christensen, Cobie Smulders, Dylan Baker, and Grace Gummer were announced as cast as Shirley Wiegand, Biden aide Harriet Grant, Orrin Hatch, and Ricki Seidman, respectively. [8] On June 16, Kimberly Elise, Kristen Ariza, and Malcolm Gets joined the cast, as Sonia Jarvis, Judy Smith, and Arlen Specter, respectively. [9] On July 2, Daniel Sauli was cast as Mark Paoletta. [10] On July 9, it was reported that Smulders had exited the film due to breaking her leg; Zoe Lister-Jones replaced her in the Harriet Grant role (a composite of aides to Biden). [11] [12]

Filming

Principal photography began in Atlanta, Georgia on June 14, 2015, and was completed on July 24. [13]

Actual news footage taped by CNN of United States Senate staff during the lead-up to the hearings was used, to give the film a more realistic tone.

Reception

Confirmation received mostly positive reviews from critics, who praised Washington's performance as Hill and the film's depiction of its subject matter. The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes gave the film an approval rating of 79%, based on 39 reviews, with an average rating of 6.7/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Stellar performances and gripping subject matter help Confirmation overcome production values that occasionally feel as dated as the infamous real-life case it covers." [14] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 72 out of 100, based on 25 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
2016
 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Movie Made for Television or Limited Series Nominated [15]
Best Actress in a Movie Made for Television or Limited Series Kerry Washington Nominated
Online Film & Television Association AwardsBest Motion PictureNominated [16]
Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Limited SeriesKerry WashingtonNominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Television Movie Michael London, Janice Williams, Kerry Washington,
Susannah Grant, and Darren M. Demetre		Nominated [17]
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Kerry WashingtonNominated
2017
 Black Reel Awards Outstanding TV Movie or Mini-Series Darren M. DemetreNominated [18]
Outstanding Actor, TV Movie or Mini-Series Wendell Pierce Nominated
Outstanding Actress, TV Movie or Mini-Series Kerry WashingtonWon
Golden Globe Awards Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Nominated [19]
NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special Nominated [20]
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special Jeffrey Wright Nominated
Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special Kerry WashingtonNominated
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Television) Rick Famuyiwa Won
Satellite Awards Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Nominated [21]
Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television Wendell PierceNominated
Best Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television Kerry WashingtonNominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries Nominated [22]
Writers Guild of America Awards Long Form – Original Susannah GrantWon [23]
[24]
Paul Selvin Award Won

Credits

During the film credits, the onscreen text states that as a result of Hill's accusation of sexual harassment, more women were elected to public office in 1992 than previous periods, official sexual harassment complaints doubled, and an important workplace discrimination law was passed (referring to the Civil Rights Act of 1991). [25]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anita Hill</span> American law professor and accuser of Clarence Thomas

Anita Faye Hill is an American lawyer, educator and author. She is a professor of social policy, law, and women's studies at Brandeis University and a faculty member of the university's Heller School for Social Policy and Management. She became a national figure in 1991 when she accused U.S. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas, her supervisor at the United States Department of Education and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, of sexual harassment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Kinnear</span> American actor (born 1963)

Gregory Buck Kinnear is an American actor and former talk show host. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in As Good as It Gets (1997).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cobie Smulders</span> Canadian actress (born 1982)

Jacoba Francisca Maria "Cobie" Smulders is a Canadian actress. She is known for her starring role as Robin Scherbatsky in the CBS series How I Met Your Mother (2005–2014) and as S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Maria Hill in the Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero franchise, starting with the film The Avengers (2012).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination</span> United States Supreme Court nomination

On July 1, 1991, President George H. W. Bush nominated Clarence Thomas for the Supreme Court of the United States to replace Thurgood Marshall, who had announced his retirement. At the time of his nomination, Thomas was a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit; President Bush had appointed him to that position in March 1990.

<i>Zoo</i> (American TV series) American drama television series

Zoo is an American drama television series based on the 2012 novel of the same name by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge, the former also serving as an executive producer for the series, which stars James Wolk, Kristen Connolly, Nonso Anozie, Nora Arnezeder and Billy Burke as a group of varied professionals who investigate a mysterious outbreak of violent animal attacks upon humans all over the world. Zoo premiered on June 30, 2015, on CBS. CBS renewed the series for a third season in August 2016, which aired between June 29 and September 21, 2017. On October 23, 2017, CBS announced the series had been cancelled after three seasons.

Alison Wright is an English actress. She is best known for her starring role as Martha Hanson on the FX period spy drama series The Americans (2013–2017), for which she received critical acclaim and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 2017. She has also acted in the Ryan Murphy limited series Feud: Bette and Joan (2017) and Hollywood (2020).

Big Little Lies is an American black comedy drama television series based on the 2014 novel by Liane Moriarty. Created and written by David E. Kelley, it aired on HBO from February 19, 2017, to July 21, 2019, encompassing 14 episodes and two seasons. Originally billed as a miniseries, Jean-Marc Vallée directed the first season, while Andrea Arnold directed the second season. In November 2023, Nicole Kidman stated a third season would be made.

<i>Graves</i> (TV series) American comedy television series

Graves is an American comedy television series, created by Joshua Michael Stern, that premiered on October 16, 2016, on Epix. The series stars Nick Nolte as the eponymous Richard Graves, a former President of the United States attempting to make amends for the mistakes he made in office. After two seasons, it was cancelled by Epix in 2017.

<i>All the Way</i> (2016 film) 2016 television film directed by Jay Roach

All the Way is a 2016 American biographical drama television film based on events during the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson. Directed by Jay Roach and adapted by Robert Schenkkan from his 2012 play All the Way, the film stars Bryan Cranston, who reprises his role as Johnson from the play's 2014 Broadway production, opposite Melissa Leo as First Lady Lady Bird Johnson; Anthony Mackie as Civil Rights Movement leader Martin Luther King Jr.; and Frank Langella as U.S. Senator Richard Russell Jr. from Georgia.

<i>Here and Now</i> (2018 TV series) 2018 American TV series or program

Here and Now is an American drama television series created by Alan Ball. The series consists of 10 episodes and premiered on HBO on February 11, 2018. Starring Holly Hunter and Tim Robbins, the series focuses on a contemporary multiracial family in the Portland area. The show's plot involves many issues including race, identity, and mental illness.

American Princess is an American comedy-drama television series created by Jamie Denbo that premiered on June 2, 2019, on Lifetime. Denbo wrote for the series and executive produced alongside Jenji Kohan and Tara Herrmann. On August 29, 2019, Lifetime canceled the series after one season.

Utopia is an American science fiction drama television series created by Gillian Flynn based on the 2013 British original series of the same name. It was released on September 25, 2020, on the Amazon Prime Video streaming service.

<i>The Time Travelers Wife</i> (TV series) 2022 science fiction romantic drama TV series

The Time Traveler's Wife is a science fiction romantic drama television series based on the 2003 novel of the same name by Audrey Niffenegger. The series was developed and written by Steven Moffat, who had previously taken inspiration from Niffenegger's novel for his work on the science fiction series Doctor Who. It was directed by David Nutter, stars Rose Leslie and Theo James, and premiered on HBO on May 15, 2022. The series was canceled after one season in July 2022. The fans of the show started a petition to save the series by approaching other streaming platforms to pick it up for renewal. It was removed from HBO Max in December 2022.

Ricki Lynn Seidman is an American political adviser, government official, and Democratic Party activist. Seidman is known for her involvement in the Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Robert Bork, Clarence Thomas, Sonia Sotomayor, and Brett Kavanaugh.

For extended information about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the American television industry, see Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television in the United States.

<i>P-Valley</i> 2020 American drama television series

P-Valley is an American drama television series created by Katori Hall. The series is an adaptation of Hall's play Pussy Valley, and follows primarily African-American women working at The Pynk strip club in the Mississippi Delta under the femme non-binary proprietor Uncle Clifford Sayles. P-Valley stars Brandee Evans, Nicco Annan, J. Alphonse Nicholson, and Elarica Johnson. It premiered on Starz on July 12, 2020, and was renewed for a second season two weeks after its premiere. The second season premiered on June 3, 2022. In October 2022, the series was renewed for a third season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hoorae Media</span> American media production company

Hoorae Media, also known as Hoorae, is an American independent media production company formed in September 2020 by Issa Rae. Formerly known as Issa Rae Productions, Hoorae launched as an umbrella banner to consolidate her various film, television, and digital content companies. Insecure, A Black Lady Sketch Show, and Rap Sh!t, were produced by Hoorae with HBO. Upcoming productions include the television adaptation of the novel The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett, and the film Sinkhole, produced with Monkeypaw Productions and Universal Pictures.

Damon Joseph Dayoub is an American actor.

References

  1. ↑ Petski, Denise (February 2, 2016). "'Confirmation' Premiere Date Set By HBO". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 1, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Leadership".
  3. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (March 12, 2015). "Kerry Washington to Star as Anita Hill in HBO Movie 'Confirmation' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter .
  4. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (April 28, 2015). "Wendell Pierce Set as Clarence Thomas in HBO's 'Confirmation' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter .
  5. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (May 12, 2015). "Eric Stonestreet to Co-Star in HBO's Anita Hill Pic, 'Confirmation' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter .
  6. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (May 29, 2015). "Jennifer Hudson, Greg Kinnear, Jeffrey Wright Join HBO's 'Confirmation'". The Hollywood Reporter .
  7. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley; Stanhope, Kate (June 5, 2015). "Treat Williams, Bill Irwin Join HBO's 'Confirmation' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter .
  8. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (June 5, 2015). "Erika Christensen, Cobie Smulders, Dylan Baker & Grace Gummer Join HBO Movie 'Confirmation'". Deadline Hollywood.
  9. ↑ Petski, Denise (June 16, 2015). "Kimberly Elise, Kristen Ariza & Malcolm Gets Join HBO Movie 'Confirmation'". Deadline Hollywood.
  10. ↑ Petski, Denise (July 2, 2015). "Daniel Sauli Joins HBO Movie 'Confirmation'; Jonathan Whitesell In ABC Family Pilot 'Beyond'". Deadline Hollywood.
  11. ↑ Herzog, Kenny (April 16, 2016). "Fact-Checking HBO's Confirmation". Vulture. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  12. ↑ Petski, Denise (July 9, 2015). "Zoe Lister-Jones Joins HBO Movie 'Confirmation' In Recasting". Deadline Hollywood.
  13. ↑ "Confirmation - Production Listing". Backstage . Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Confirmation". Rotten Tomatoes.
  15. ↑ Lincoln, Ross A. (November 14, 2016). "Critics' Choice TV Nominations Unveiled". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved November 15, 2016.
  16. ↑ "20th Annual TV Awards (2015-16)". Online Film & Television Association. Retrieved May 15, 2021.[ permanent dead link ]
  17. ↑ "Confirmation". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences . Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Black Reel Awards – Past Winners". Black Reel Awards . Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Confirmation – Golden Globes". HFPA . Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  20. ↑ Washington, Arlene; Lewis, Hilary (10 February 2017). "Hidden Figures, Loving, and Queen of Katwe nominated". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  21. ↑ "2016 Winners & Nominees". Satellite Awards . International Press Academy . Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  22. ↑ "The 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". Screen Actors Guild Awards . Retrieved May 21, 2016.
  23. ↑ Petski, Denise (5 December 2016). "WGA TV Nominations: 'The Americans', 'Stranger Things', 'Westworld', 'This Is Us' Among Nominees". Deadline. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  24. ↑ "The Paul Selvin Award". Writers Guild Awards. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  25. ↑ HBO’s series about the Anita Hill–Clarence Thomas hearings proves that scandal plus time equals riveting TV Slate April 15, 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.