Confirmation (HBO)

About Confirmation (HBO)

Confirmation is a compelling drama film directed by Rick Famuyiwa and released by HBO in 2016. The movie dramatizes the controversial 1991 Supreme Court nomination hearings where nominee Judge Clarence Thomas was accused of sexual harassment by his former employee, Anita Hill. The movie sifts through the intricate layers of power, politics, gender, and race surrounding the scandal, leaving the audience to draw their own conclusions.

Making / Production

The movie is produced by Michael London and Janice Williams along with executive producers Susannah Grant, Kerry Washington, and others. The screenplay of Confirmation was written by Susannah Grant who attempted to faithfully recreate the tension-filled hearings and the culture of the period.

Actors

• Kerry Washington plays the role of Anita Hill, providing a nuanced performance that presents Hill as a woman caught in the crossfire of politics and laden with the huge task of standing up against a powerful figure.
• Wendell Pierce portrays Judge Clarence Thomas, delivering an intense performance that showcases both the dignified and the distraught sides of the character in the eye of a storm.
• Greg Kinnear plays the role of Joe Biden who was the Senate Judiciary Committee's chairman during the hearings. He manages to bring forth the complexities and dilemmas facing Biden at the time.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film is set in 1991 and provides a vivid flashback to the political and social climate of the time.
• In preparation for her role, Kerry Washington spent hours watching footage of Anita Hill's testimony and met with her in person.
• Despite the movie's controversial subject, it received largely positive reviews for its balanced portrayal.

Awards

Kerry Washington was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for her performance in Confirmation.

Quotes

• "It's not going to do any good to keep quiet any longer." - Anita Hill
• "This is a circus. It's a national disgrace." - Clarence Thomas

Music, Soundtrack

• The score was composed by Harry Gregson-Williams, who has been praised for his dramatic and evocative compositions.
• The soundtrack complements the intense drama, and effectively elevates the viewers' experience.