Talk Radio

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W.L. C @WayneCampbell 3d I only knew of 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘙𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘰 because I tripped over the final monologue nearly 30 years ago at Colin's Movie Monologue page (which is amazingly still online) while looking for a solo piece for drama class. It took until last night to finally get around to it. I feared it would be outdated, hokey even. But what I got was a story that could easily be transposed for the digital age. Bogosian's writing chops and razor tongue still cut. Narcissism, racism, bigotry, and violence pervade all social media spaces, much like talk radio did in the '80s and '90s. The epilogue runs like the comments of a post on social media. Of course, the most disturbing part of this is that Talk Radio was released in 1988, an adaptation of Bogosian's award-winning 1987 stage play; nearly 40 years, and we still fall victim to the same narcissism, racism, bigotry, and violence—but now it's instantaneous, it's 24/7/365...and there's no way to stop it. If you have the opportunity, catch 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘙𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘰. See more Mitchell C @Mitchellandback Aug 16 If you think you're unshockable, see this film and then see what you think. See more Blu B @RT43513976 Jul 11 A Classic Drama Thriller. This is such a unique fillm and I have a lot to say about it just like the film does and most of it is high praise. Eric Bogosian is incredible in this with an Oscar worthy performance. His intensity and delivery is first rate and you can't turn away. Another big part of that is Stone's direction, camerawork, and framing is just masterful. Anyone wanting to learn how to create a claustrophobic setting for a small film should take notes on this. The supporting cast also is first rate including the voiceovers for the callers which are insanely intense. And that's the best way to describe the pacing overall: INTENSE. The opening 28 minute scene is masterfull where we learn so much about Barry and set the tone is just sizzling. You can't look away when Barry is on the mic. The acting in general thanks to the incredible dialouge and cinematography due to Stone's first rate intimate and intense direction is masterful. The biggest letdown ironically is the music which is good but it's not that memorable or used much. Which is crazy given it's Stewart Copeland behind this. That's probably the weakest area but that says alot. Everything else is really good. This is ALMOST Stone's best film because man when it works it soars and stands with the best things he's ever done. The problem is the narrative outside of the opening half hour and final 30-40 minute show is very weak. It establishes Barry during downtime and further devlopment but there really isn't much story there. It really is about the show, the callers, the culture, and the messed up symbitoic Batman Joker type of relationship the two have together. It's a character study of Barry, his viewers, and in a Jerry Springer America over the airwaves. I honestly don't know how you fix the narrative issue but what is here is so good. It's a unique mixture of drama, thriller elements, and pschological horror even. This owes a lot to films before it like Ace in the Hole and Network. It's very intense, has lots to say despite not having a strong traditional story narrative, and something anyone who is a fan of Stone, any actors in this, political films, character studies, or thrillersshould check out. I struggle to see traditional drama fans getting into this though because of that narrative issue though a bit. See more Steve D @RT35616104 03/02/2023 Not as smart as it thinks it is. See more Shioka O @RT54204327 12/04/2022 Strong performance and direction made this film watchable from start to beginning. It reminds me Network by Sidney Lumet. Serious and disturbing, satiric at the same time. Maybe I would like to have the whole set in the radio booth, to make it more intense. See more Ben D @RT87620530 05/04/2022 I'd lose my shit too if the dregs of society (the racists, the anti-Semites, the homophobes, the pitiful) were calling me every day. But Barry (Eric Bogosian), a Jewish shock-jock in Dallas, has made a career out of it. From suit salesman to nationally syndicated talk radio host, Barry is both loved and hated in the Dallas metro. He's a cheat who uses and manipulates women as much as he uses and manipulates white supremacists on the air. While most of the film takes part over one day and night, the plot is spliced with flashbacks detailing Barry's career and rise to prominence and also his failed marriage to Ellen (Ellen Greene) — Ellen Greene always seems to play the most endearing characters. Armed with the perfect voice for radio and paired with quick wit, Bogosian plays our protag as a flawed, but lovable, character. Kent (Michael Wincott) was my favorite character, as the prankster-turned-guest on Barry's show. I definitely could've gone for more Kent. I also loved some of the shots, especially close-ups of Barry's mouth to the mic, his profile with a character in the background — gazing inside his glass cage like he's a beautiful, suffering animal at the zoo — and the rotating, climactic "breakdown" shot. The story, originally an off-Broadway play — a script that lends itself to this venue­­ — is based on the real, tragic case of Alan Berg. Talk Radio definitely has a lot to say about free speech, even if that means Barry is a crusader (and martyr) for the right to express it. See more Read all reviews

Talk Radio

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