Review of Network (1976) by Danny R — 26 Oct 2016
Sidney Lumet brilliantly directs Paddy Chayefsky's searing, perceptive, prophetic satire about a fourth rate television network UBS; and its news anchorman Howard Beale who's has gone insane, magnificently played by the late great Peter Finch, who won a richly deserved Academy Award for Best Actor for his mesmerizing performance, he became the first actor ever to win a posthumous Oscar.
The avaricious UBS network bastards who capitalize on his madness, along with a heartless, ambitious programing executive named Diana Christensen, played brilliantly by Faye Dunaway, in her Academy Award winning performance, who cares only about ratings, she builds an entire show around the maniacal newscaster as the "Mad Prophet of the Airwaves" who wants all us to become "Mad as Hell!," Beal's show becomes the number one show on television.
Chayefsky won a richly deserved Oscar for his amazing screenplay. The entire cast is amazing particularly the late William Holden, who truly delivers a wonderfully dramatic Academy Award nominated performance as Max Schumacher, the head of the news department and Beale's concerned best friend, it is one of the finest performances of Holden's career.
Impressive supporting performances by Robert Duvall as Frank Hackett the network hatchet man, Ned Beatty who received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his striking turn as Arthur Jensen, the evangelistical chairman of the board of the television network, and Beatrice Straight's powerfully moving Academy Award winning performance, as Holden's embittered wife Louise Schumacher.
Innovative cinematography by Owen Roizman, with razor-sharp editing by Alan Heim. This film is more relevant today than when it was originally released, it predicted today's rash of trash television, shock-laden news broadcast and low-brow reality shows.
A frighteningly funny American cultural landmark classic. Winner of 4 Academy Awards including Best Actor: Peter Finch, Best Actress: Faye Dunaway, Best Supporting Actress: Beatrice Straight, Best Screenplay: Paddy Chayefsky.
"Network" is number 64, on the American Film Institute's list of the 100 greatest films ever made. Highly recommended.
This review of Network (1976) was written by Danny R on 26 Oct 2016.
Network has generally received very positive reviews.
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