VIDEO: Bryan Cranston looks great in Trumbo

Not so very many decades ago, the American government went on a terrifying witch hunt to weed out supposed Communist sympathisers in their ranks. And their wrath fell on all sectors of society, including Hollywood.

This led to the Blacklist - a lineup of people with no proven ties to the Reds but who nonetheless were blocked from working on any major productions, just because someone said so. One such man was Dalton Trumbo. And this is his story.

It's pretty incredible stuff and likely a tale that many people don't know a lot about. There's tie ins to Kirk Douglas' Spartacus are also fascinating, as is the way Trumbo managed to keep working despite being snubbed by the very studios who he helped to make millions.

The cast is also to die for - Helen Mirren, John Goodman, Diane Lane, Alan Tudyk and even Louis C.K. Director Jay Roach has some solid ground in political dramas and silly comedies like Meet the Fockers - here he's making something glossy and entertaining which might just manage to earn some real award attention.

Trumbo is in cinemas in January 2016.