Review of Network (1976) by Dave J — 22 Sep 2014

Monday, September 22, 2014.

(1976) Network.

DRAMA/ SOCIAL COMMENTARY.

A no plot movie with a ton of dialogue but a careful display about how television works. Now, while the movie acknowledges other stations such as NBC, ABC and CBS, it focuses on this one particular network- a fictitious TV station called U.B.S.. Max Schumacher (William Holden) is the narrator, and as it starts with an announcement that a long time faithful employee, by the name of Howard Beale played by Albert Finney is going to be fired from his news casts since it has very low ratings in comparison to other news networks. The person who was supposed to break the news to him was his long time friend and producer of the news network is Max. Once Howard gets informed about his dismissal or his firing from his news post, he decides to speak out his mind on his very last day on the air. And then once the ratings went up, UBS managers, lead by Frank Hackett (Robert Duvall) and Diana Christensen (Faye Dunaway) wanted to milk this for what it's worth by giving Howard Keel his very own syndicated television show. What happens next is a mirror image how networks work, reminiscent of the talk show hosts circuit work between ex-talk show host Jay Leno, Conan O' Brian and David Letterman. It also reminds me how executives are able to dictate the kind of information that is coming out, such as Rupert Murdock who owns Fox News employing well known affiliates to pass out Republican rhetoric- Bill O'Reily is a prime example of this which is paying someone enough money to say and do whatever it wants.

Some of the things I was wondering about as I was watching it, is whether Howard Keal had a contract with UBS, and what was that like. And one thing "Network" didn't address is that as soon as Keal had his very first show, where was the people who were supposed to dictate on him on what he can and cannot say for viewers are almost completely oblivious what he does off hours.

3 out of 4 stars.