Network (1976)

News Accountable to Network, Sold to the Highest Bidder According to Ratings
A refreshingly cynical film about the fallout occuring from transitioning the business of journalism to a commoditized commercial interest. A peak experience movie that captures the business of marketing anger, as enabled by the ambitious personalities beholden to nothing but competitive advantage.

The conflict is a struggle of principles for prominence, one that serves the sense of an individual free will against the "forces of nature" argued as capitalism. The prophet for the humanistic cause makes his choices and the captivated public echoes him enthusiastically whatever his position happens to be. Why? The business of amusement doesn't serve any great human design, only the ceremonious murder of boredom.

There is also a love story, that serves as an excellent compatibility experiment between the old and new. William Holden, our objective old school news executive is loyal to the news and the traditional values, and we see his transformation upon realizations of whether falling for the seductive charms of a mercenary agent of entertainment are really worth the conversion. And what is to be said of this new mercenary, how would she fare having to face the responsibility for genuine human experience? Who, needed whom?

I think my favorite part had to be the legal terms and conditions negotiations between the ecumenical liberation army and the network attorneys over the Mao Tse Tung Hour.

I am amazed at the extent to which the makers of this film demonstrated lucid self awareness with vivid and meaningful representations of the competing ideologies at work. I wonder to what extent the hippy celebrations for the dawning of the age of aquarious mantras had something to do with this film's themes, given its timing and central arguments against the hypocrisy inherent in the new order of things. Many have wondered if the hippy generations really added anything to the American Experience. Perhaps this film could be argued in favor of the cause to expand American awareness through creative license.

I think my review is only about 32 years overdue, however, I just discovered this film a couple of months ago, and to be honest, I was very young when it came out, more captivated by Sesame Street at that point in time.

Altogether a fascinating and intriguing story with brillint dialog, direction, performances and an outstanding story in general. I wonder how the people of Fox News would comment on this film given their current criticims.

One of a kind movie for the patient viewer
Intense viewing experience. This movie certainly is not for everyone. If you are looking for a very intelligent and rewarding viewing experience, this is a movie for you. With a warning - it is a slow moving vehicle, with some fantastic scenes no doubt, but not the kind of action people are used to these days.

This film takes a little (or a lot depending the person) patience as a viewer. Beyond the pacing, I couldn't believe how on-point this movie was. Not simply about television and media, but about life. Wow, what a message this movie delivers to those who are listening. And this was 1976 to boot!

There are a few monologues from Howard that are fabulous and packed with emotion and words that may shake you, if only slightly. There Is a particular scene, when Howard is in the office talking to Max and Max tells him they are taking him off the air. Listen carefully to Howard's monologue about energy and purpose and oneness of life. Wow.

Peter Finch is fantastic, but all main players do excellent. He won the Oscar for best actor and it was certainly deserved. This move is worth seeing for his performance alone.

This movie should definitely find an audience in today's new age spiritual movement and those questioning the veils of society. It gets five stars from me. Highly recommended for the patient viewer.

NETWORK ON THE FRITS
Finch won a well deserved Oscar for his portrayal of Howard Beall, a highly disturbed news anchorman, whom the network uses to increase its ratings.Holden, his supposed best friend, has too many problems of his own to urge Finch to receive the psychiatric help he needs. Chief among Holden's problems is Dunaway, a power hungry runaway train who's been directly responsible for his firing. Nevertheless, Holden has an affair going with her, a relationship that has no rational sense. Then, we have Duvall in his prime, convincingly portraying a man who's just staged a coup d'etat. All goes reasonably well until Beall's ratings begin to drop. Enter corporate chair Arthur Jensen, giving Beall one of Hollywood's great all time lambastings. When ratings continue to drop, it's Dunaway who indirectly delivers the bad news. This movie will always stand up because its main themes of money, power, and sex are timeless. It's about time you saw it.