By Anthony Caruso
Rumours is one of those films that leaves you bewildered, yet strangely entertained, unsure whether you're laughing at the absurdity of it all or marveling at the audacity of its premise. It’s a weird movie, but it’s also an immensely enjoyable one. Directed with sharp wit and biting satire, Rumours is a wonderfully twisted commentary on global leadership, illustrating how, at the end of the day, the G7 world leaders are just as cliquey, immature, and childlike as the rest of us.
The atmosphere of Rumours is chaotic and electric, striking a balance between farce and tension. The film is set in a world on the brink of collapse—natural disasters, economic meltdowns, global unrest—and yet the focus remains on the petty squabbles, ridiculous antics, and interpersonal, dramatic relationships of the world’s most powerful leaders. There’s a constant sense of impending doom, but it’s undercut by the bizarre and humorous behavior of the G7, who seem more concerned with impressing one another than with saving the world. This juxtaposition creates an eerie, almost surreal atmosphere where the stakes are simultaneously high and laughably low. The apocalypse looms large, but it often feels like an afterthought to the childish games of our cast of leaders. The world is burning, but they're engaging in their own high school drama masquerading as global politics.
The ensemble cast is fantastic, with each actor bringing a distinct energy to their portrayal of a global leader. The performances here are what make the film as enjoyable as it is, with the actors fully leaning into the absurdity of their characters while also delivering moments of surprising emotional depth. Charles Dance plays the surprisingly underutilized aging President of the United States with a hilarious English accent for some reason, which is called out but never explained, while Cate Blanchett plays the aloof and horny Chancellor of Germany. Roy Dupuis' scandal-ridden Prime Minister of Canada has the most heroic and largest role of the bunch, while Rolando Ravello's Prime Minister of Italy is the surprisingly gentle soul and heart of the film - as well as the biggest source of comic relief. Nikki Amuka-Bird's Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is the "straight man" character of the movie and is the role with the most gravitas, but even she's fun in her own right - as are Denis Ménochet's President of France and Takehiro Hira's Prime Minister of Japan. There's not a weak link amongst the bunch, and their chemistry is out of this world - sufficiently real and awkward. It's truly a hilarious pleasure watching them try to navigate a dangerous landscape with only one another, sans any security or staff.
The screenplay by Gavin Maddin, Evan Johnson, and Galen Johnson - the same trio that directed the movie as well - is sharp, witty, and at times, downright ridiculous, but all in the best possible way. The dialogue crackles with tension, humor, and clever political commentary. The political satire is biting but nuanced, poking fun at the pomp and circumstance of global diplomacy while also making a poignant statement about the dangers of ego, narcissism, and incompetence in positions of power. There's also something to be said about the fact that no matter how ridiculous our world leaders are, people still turn to them for reassurance during times of crisis.
Our trio of directors does a phenomenal job in steering this wild, satirical ship. It’s a difficult task to balance apocalyptic stakes with over-the-top comedy, but they manage it with precision - downplaying the apocalyptic side of things, and merely giving us hints as to what's happening, which makes the movie stronger. The pacing is brisk, and the film never lingers too long on any one moment, keeping the energy high and the tension palpable. The direction enhances the farcical nature of the story, allowing it to slip into complete absurdity at points which is a wonderful dig at the state of world politics nowadays.
Visually, Rumours is striking. The cinematography is stylish, yet less than polished. There’s an almost dreamlike quality to some of the shots, particularly during the scenes where the film’s apocalyptic undertones creep to the surface. The camera work amplifies the relationships between the leaders, using tight close-ups and rapid cuts to heighten their sense of paranoia as the danger they're in begins to mount. The cinematography allows the absurdity to shine through, with playful framing and exaggerated angles that underscore the childishness of these leaders of the free world. It’s a visually engaging film that feels both stylish and purposeful, adding to the overall surreal tone of the story.
In the end, Rumours will definitely not be a film for everyone—its bizarre tone and offbeat humor may leave some viewers scratching their heads, as it did my friend who I saw this with tonight—but for those who appreciate a biting political satire with a large dose of sometimes nonsensical absurdity, Rumours is a must-watch. It’s a reminder that, at the end of the day, even world leaders are just as petty and childish as the rest of us—just with a bit more power at their fingertips.