Review of Network (1976) by Alex C — 19 Feb 2011
Screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky could only win one Oscar for his job penning this rapier-witted, dark, brooding satire...but boy, did he win the hell out of it.
The acting Oscars are well-deserved, although I'd have to the other competition for Best Supporting Actress that year--I'm not big on 8 minutes of screentime winning someone an award.
Network crackles and pops for two solid hours, skewering the news business, television (and, by extension, any media form that would propagandize tens of millions of people day after day), 1970s radical left politics (the contract negotiation scene might be the movie's funniest), and the cult of a deranged media personality like Howard Beale.
Not that loudmouthed, pontificating TV personalities could ever grab great TV ratings. That's why this is just satire.
Also...*Chris Griffin from Family Guy voice* ROBERT DUVALL!
This review of Network (1976) was written by Alex C on 19 Feb 2011.
Network has generally received very positive reviews.
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