Review of Talk Radio (1988) by Joseph J — 21 Mar 2009

Claustrophobic, relentless, and blunt, this appears to be one of the more underrated gems of the 80s, courtesy of a restrained, but no less wound-up and passionate, Oliver Stone. Eric Bogosian plays an awesome Howard Stern clone, shock-jocking his way through Dallas' airwaves, facing the endless streams of stupidity, bigotry, and madness that calls him up every night on the air with a sly, knowing grin.

The scenes inside the studio during his "Night Talk" show are the most effective and thrilling, documenting this assault on the host's sanity, with phone call after shocking phone call. Bogosian's character pushes hard against his audience for something to stop him in his tracks, and the audience ends up pushing back harder. Watching Bogosan take on the unwashed masses is like watching some sort of battle, a one-man stand against a mob of angry rednecks. When he cuts to commercial, it's really a 30-second rest between rounds as Bogosian retreats to his corner, licks his wounds, gets yelled at by his figurative manager (Alec Baldwin) and trainers (John C. McGinley & Leslie Hope) before going in for another round of abuse.

The gut-punch in the movie is when Bogosian breaks down, lashing out at the audience he provoked and asserting his position once and for all in an unspeakably intense monologue. It has to be seen to be believed. Don't let this one pass you by.