A film
that seems more relevant as the years progress. Shockingly, some of
the programming decisions that were considered ridiculously over the
top back then seem almost within the realm of possibility in this age
of JERRY SPRINGER and his cohorts.
UBS, the fourth place network is struggling in the ratings department. In a stroke of desperation, the news department is seen as almost irrelevant until the anchor of the nightly news almost suffers a breakdown on the air when hearing of his firing. With nothing to lose, he begins to interject speeches in the form of tirades against the ills of today's society, which strikes a cord with the many viewers across the disenfranchised country, who are all "mad as hell and not going to take it anymore!" As a result, the ratings skyrocket, catapulting the anchorman to stardom and his own show where he speaks about the shabby state of society. The now flourishing network loves it, that is until he dicides to meddle in the companies internal politics and financial decisionmaking.
A
tour-de-force of acting and writing, by the highly touted
screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky. Finch deserved the posthumous Oscar he
recieved as newsman Howard Beale, and it remains one of the most
memorable performances in history. Lumet never falters in one of his
most exciting and ambitious films, accentuating the controversial
script with just the right notes at the right times. Underneath it
all is one of the most powerful commentaries on the sad state of the
media and television industries, and while the goings on are often
funny, there is also much truth to the knowing story. Outstanding
entertainment and one of the greatest satires in film history.
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