Review of Network (1976) by Kyle V — 23 Aug 2009

Here's a movie, made in 1976, about the sensationalism of the media. A film that is filled with social commentary and a film that has came to prophesy everything that is the world nowadays. We are a nation that is controlled by the media. A nation that is controlled by the big businesses. If anything, this movie speaks the truth like nothing else. It speaks to the American people, trying to warning the Television generations about the inevitable.

I personally hardly ever watch TV. I believe strongly against the media, I feel it is too sensational nowadays, more of a circus, which is EXACTLY what this film makes the media out to be. It was the battle against the generation who could live in the real world, because they grew up in a world in which there was no TV. There weren't any sitcoms that were around to seep into the brain's of the common public, making them become what the television is.

The film has a cast of characters who are all interesting in their own ways. From the "prophet" (or what becomes the "Profit" to the networks executives) Howard Beale, to the character of Diane, who's life is wrapped completely around ratings and the sucess of her job; who was born in fornt of the tube and now lives her life to see the tube succeed. To the Down-to-Earth Max Schumacher, part of the Old ways of running television, who's grown up witht his realist sense of things. Every character plays a key part in this satire of a failing TV network who strikes it big thanks to the outlandish antics of Howard Beale, a man who has "Seen the light" in his own mind, that the network exploits solely for the "Profit".

You got to give credit to both the screenwriters and the wonderful Sydney Lumet, who crafts a wonderful film, with some AMAZING cinematography and wonderful editing.

The acting is top par. Dialogue is key in this film, and the actors bring the dialogue and makes it natural and realistic when it needs to be and sensational and unbelievably insane when that is asked for as well.

The ending of this film is shocking. I can't go into detail but it's an ending that is cold, unemotional and made out to be just "another business decision". It shows the dehumanizing process that the quest for the american dream can have on those who seek it. It's unbelievable and left me not knowing what to think. it was done so matter-of-factly that it's almost like Sydney Lumet directed it to almost seem like a Made-For-TV movie from the same network he satirizes. It's souless, but it needs to be the bring the entire point of the film home. I'm still very shaken up from the blunt truthfulness of this film and it may be the single most gratifying experience i've had watching a film.

There's no doubt this is an instant favorite. I could definately watch this again and again and spot out new things, especially after seeing the transformation of the character from beginning to end.

This movie really has it all. Cinematography, Acting, Social Commentary that really is frightening in it's reality compared to the world we live in today.

You shouldn't pass this one up. It is a testament not only to the amazing work of Sydney Lumet, but a testament to the how well film can capture and predict things to come.

You should be mad as hell....and you shouldn't want to take it anymore.