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Network
1976
With stunning prescience, Sidney Lumet's searing satire of television and the contemporary moment chronicles the media's imminent corruption and the public's wholesale purchase into the myths that it creates. With a verbose and visceral script from Paddy Chayefsky, NETWORK follows the doomed path of aging newsman Howard Beale (.. Read more
| Starring | Peter Finch, Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Robert Duvall |
|---|---|
| Director | Sidney Lumet |
| Genres | Drama |
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Network
With stunning prescience, Sidney Lumet's searing satire of television and the contemporary moment chronicles the media's imminent corruption and the public's wholesale purchase into the myths that it creates. With a verbose and visceral script from Paddy Chayefsky, NETWORK follows the doomed path of aging newsman Howard Beale (Peter Finch), who upon learning that he is to be fired after decades as a news anchor announces to millions of viewers that he will publicly commit suicide during his last broadcast. When the ratings consequently shoot up, razor-sharp executive in training Diana Christensen (Faye Dunaway) seizes the moment to exploit Beale's messianic nervous breakdown, turning his delusional exclamatory rage into the vehicle for the network's first number one show and a nationwide craze. Middle-aged and fading news department head Max Schumacher (William Holden) is the only thing that stands in Diana's way--and even then not for long after she casually seduces him and easily has him fired with the help of the savage new head of the network, Frank Hackett (Robert Duvall). The moral and spiritual turpitude delivered by the debilitating forces of television are rendered in sharp relief against a backdrop of crumbling humanity in what is regarded as one of the great satires in Hollywood history.
| Starring | Peter Finch, Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Robert Duvall, Wesley Addy, Ned Beatty, Beatrice Straight |
|---|---|
| Director | Sidney Lumet |
| Studio | MGM ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 57 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 17 Mar 2003 Production year: 1976 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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This was a thunderous, strangely eerie swan song for Peter Finch, who plays a bilious and increasingly demented TV anchorman, ranting on air against his powerlessness. It's a bravura performance from Finch — who was awarded a posthumous Oscar — given full flight by Paddy Chayefsky's daring, sumptuously satirical script, which throws a continuous hail of barbs at the electronic eye. Sidney Lumet directs with wild aplomb, allowing Finch free rein and keeping up a furious pace. Criticised by some at the time for a certain naivety and lack of subtlety, this remains one of the most devastating condemnations of the media's urge to exploit.
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A deliberately melodramatic satire on media corruption, it is passionate and compulsively watchable in its attack on demagoguery and in its depiction of the dangerous madness exploited by the mass media. What once seemed overheated satire has come, with t
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Most helpful member's review
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23 out of 26 people found this review helpful
One of the best American films put to the screen.
If you haven't seen this film and your reading the review, your probably wondering what this film is like. Image Fight Club, American Beauty and to a lesser extent Eddie Murphy's Holy Man all mixed together. The story is superub and although takes a few minutes to take off you are soon subjected a fantastic script and wonderful acting. The film mainly focuses on the opinon of the common man that has been screwed over by fat cat business bigshots. Fired after 30 years of working in news broadcasting he loses his mind and on live TV and becomes a sensation... becoming top of the broadcasting polls and gives the TV station it's highest ratings for years. More importantly, the film covers a range of issues such as the power of Televsion and the gullability of audiences that can become brainwashed through extreme opinion (Fight Club) The American Beauty elements of the film offers a feel good factor that one man can make a difference to the way people think. The acting is sensational and the direction is nothing short of unique, offering scenes that echo the Coen's early works. Most importantly the film reminds us that great works like this don't come around as often as they did in the 70's. A must see, rent it and if you really want to... buy it, it's well worth it.
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Most recent members' review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Exceptional
This is possibly one of the best films I've ever seen
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News and features
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Heath Ledger 'could win an Oscar for Joker'
- 27 Jun 2008
Heath Ledger could win a posthumous Oscar for his portrayal of The Joker in Batman sequel The Dark Knight. The Australian actor was found dead after overdosing on prescription drugs on January 22nd at just 28 years of age. However, his role at Batman's nemesis has won praise from many critics, several of whom think it is deserving of an Academy Award. Rolling Stone critic Peter Travers said: "I can only speak superlatives of Heath, who is mad-crazy-blazing brilliant as the Joker. "It's Read more
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