Movie Review: Winchell

Stanley Tucci stars as the well known radio personality and gossip columnist Walter Winchell. Paul Giamatti plays Winchell’s ghost writer Herman Klurfeld who provided the words that helped make Winchell famous. Winchell’s life is told here entwined with the use of historic information. The film is well made, the acting excellent but the story is bit sparse here and there. I wanted to know more about Winchell the man but much like the known gossip columnist you learned more about who history thought he was. Tucci provides a view into the inner drive of what made Winchell tick. Giamatti is perfect as his hapless, under appreciated right arm man who helped elevate Winchell into history.

This is a well made movie with good direction, wonderful period costumes and settings, a great lead cast and solid supporting cast. If the storyline had been fleshed out more it would have a more fascinating movie.

1998. Directed by Paul Mazursky, book by Herman Klurfeld, teleplay by Scott Abbott. Starring Stanley Tucci, Paul Giamatti, Glenne Headly and Christopher Plummer.

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