Review of Broadcast News (1987) by Eric H — 05 Sep 2007

Albert Brooks is amazing in this. I discovered that he was nominated for the supporting oscar that year and I think he deserved it. Everybody should be able to identify with at least a part of character and he plays it so flawlessly - throwing out witty line after line all while being openly heartbroken and defeated throughout. William Hurt is good also, but I like his later work so much more. it seems that he is taking more chances these days and was playing it safe back then. But it was still a good performance. Holly Hunter (who will always be H.I.'s wife to me) is good but ultimately annoying. She is just too neurotic to be funny or even sad. It's some bastard mix of the two that left a bad taste in my mouth after it was over.

The story is great and funny. A look at the state of network news in the 80's that is funny most times and depressing at others. The type of news reported and the process of it mirrors life in this and has a lot to do with superficial society. Albert Brooks is the voice of reason as Hunter quickly falls into this world and you root with him throughout.

My only complaint is the length. I felt that it could have been about twenty minutes shorter, but I cannot give a specific example of what to cut out...