Review of Broadcast News (1987) by Jake B — 11 Aug 2009

Although it lacks the emotional punch of Brooks's debut feature, (Terms of Endearment) Broadcast News is a superlative film, with exceptional performances from each of the three leads and a script that feels as genuine and well-researched as a hard-hitting news report.

Let it be jknown, this is a character film first and foremost and a satire second. In my mind it succeds on both levels on its own terms. The film's characters are given suprising depth and dimension , while the satire remains sly and never bitter. Comparisons to Network are unnecesarry because the films have two completely separate goals and attitudes. While also a great film, Network is a cynical and weary work; in other words, its mad as hell abnd fed up with the state of television. Network's style of satire feels more extreme and guerilla. In contrast, the characters populatuing the news rooms of Broadcast News love and live for their jobs (sometimes to the detrement of their love lives.) They derive pleasure from the stresses and satisfactions of news reporting, just as the audience derives pleasure from wating this sweet and romantically realistic masterpeice.