In HBO’s newest docudrama Confirmation, two of my current favorite actors- namely Kerry Washington and Wendell Pierce- come together in a film that offers some unique perspectives on one of the most contentious political and social debates of the past thirty years as well as some solid performances all around. Unfortunately, I think it lacks some of the visceral and emotional heft that was displayed in FX’s recent People vs. OJ Simpson, another drama that recaps an early 90’s racially charged national controversy. That’s not to say the movie is bad or even mediocre, but I’m not sure if it’ll have the lasting quality of more intense HBO originals like Recount, Game Change or last year’s excellent Show Me A Hero.
As law professor Anita Hill, Washington is (as usual) believable and compelling with hints of vulnerability when needed as she decides to publicly testify at a Senate hearing against Pierce’s Clarence Thomas, following leaks of her interviews with the FBI over his misconduct as head of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Hoping to replace Supreme Court pioneer Thurgood Marshall, Pierce portrays Thomas interestingly- not as a cackling villain, and yet certainly not an innocent victim either. The film is obviously on the side of Hill and her statements, but never cartoonishly so. We get to see both her and Thomas angst over the hearings and how they’ll impact their respective legacies, though more emphasis is placed on the public campaign from Thomas’s supporters to discredit her claims.
Most of the conflict stems more from the forces working on behalf of Thomas and Hill as opposed to their clients. Bill Irwin and Frank Hoyt Taylor are especially antagonistic as senators John Danforth and Strom Thurmond- the latter who comes off especially condescending during the hearings, showing no empathy whatsoever as Hill, quite visibly uncomfortable, recounts very graphic and embarrassing sexual conversations and approaches from Thomas during their EEOC work.
Hill’s primary ally throughout her ordeal is Charles Ogletree, played by Jeffrey Wright as hopeful and encouraging, yet realistic and mindful of just how underhanded Washington actually is. When Thomas is pressured by his camp to make a late evening rebuttal against Hill’s charges, be it because of emotion or political calculation, he frames the hearings as race related smears. Hill is outraged, while Ogletree is equally frustrated but unsurprised in a good bonding exchange between the two characters.
As then Senator Joe Biden, Greg Kinnear stands out with a well ranged performance that captures much of the affability and desire for middle ground the real life vice-president possess, but also subvertly critiques his role in the proceedings in regards to taking Hill’s allegations seriously. He doesn’t want Thomas to be confirmed any more than his other fellow Democrats, but here he’s clearly shown to lack the determination to properly frame Hill’s argument, something the movie gladly does from a feminist perspective.
Overall, Confirmation is well performed, tasteful and respectful towards the real individuals involved in its story, but it lacks any truly daring narrative choices or the sense of urgent pacing that made past HBO docudramas absolutely must sees. There’s nothing about it I’d consider problematic or troublesome, but in many ways writers Susannah Grant and director Rick Famuyiwa play the film a little too safe. I can’t say I didn’t enjoy parts of it, but I was hoping for something a bit more risky. Mildly recommended.