This powerful directorial and screenwriting debut of veteran producer Irwin Winkler vividly recreates the creative community's infamous "Blacklist Era." Robert De Niro plays Merrill, as an "A-list" director who can revive his stalled career by testifying against friends who are suspected communists. And Annette Benning is Merrill's ex-wife, sharing the whirlpool of scandal that draws the together...as his chance to ever make movies again slips further away.