Review of Network (1976) by Brian R — 06 Oct 2012
"Network" is one of Sidney Lumet's best films. Although Lumet directed this masterpiece, the real genius goes to Paddy Chayefsky's masterful screenplay.
The performances is what makes the movie work. There is absolutely not a bad performance in this picture. The performances that stuck out the most to me was a tossup between Faye Dunaway as Diana Christiansen, William Holden as Max Schumacher, Robert Duvall as a UBS executive, Beatrice Straight and Ned Beatty as a Teddy Rosevelt TV exec uttering the famous line "It's because you're on TV dummy".
The most famous performance goes to Peter Finch as Howard Beale. A news castor who is pressed by hard luck. He looses his job, rants out the words "Bullshit!", is a worn out alchoholic, and a man who goes stark raving mad on live TV. In a way, Finch's character is like a signal into where American media is heading towards years from now or at that time 1976. This is a great movie and while it's satrical, I didn't really laugh. I cringed because "Network" is telling the truth ten fold. My fav scenes would have to be the intimate scenes between Holden and Dunaway. First they're seen together, journey on this intriguing love affair, they're both seen as happy as ever, and finally a poignant destruction during their short lived relationship. As their relationship turns sour so does the UBS executives and their low ratings. In the picture's shocking closing segment, I was left with a hammerblowing experience. I guess it just goes to show that American TV is just in it for the big dollars and big deals.
NOTE: Lumet's DVD commentary to the picture is interesting to listen. Highly recommended.
This review of Network (1976) was written by Brian R on 06 Oct 2012.
Network has generally received very positive reviews.
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