222. Network

Network (1976)

Director: Sidney Lumet

Starring: Faye Dunaway

Peter Finch

William Holden

Robert Duvall

IMDb Rating: 8

My Rating: 8.5

"I want you to get up right now and go to the window. Open it, and stick your head out and yell I'M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!"

Howard Beale (Peter Finch),evening news anchorman for television station UBS, is fired for his contribution to the station's declining ratings. He then goes on the air and announces that he is going to kill himself live on air. Overnight Beale's ratings soar and the station decides to keep him on the air. Through the influence of Communications Corporation Association (CCA) producer Diana Christensen (Faye Dunaway), and Beale's own mad rantings, it isn't long before Beale finds himself hosting the highest rated show on television. Beale then starts to use his new found status to make surprising allegations about the CCA that sends shock waves through the company.

With networks like Fox News and CNN both having their own number of "shock jocks", the themes and message of Network are still apparent today. Now I never want this blog to become political, or a statement on my beliefs. It's about movies, and I intend to keep it that way. That being said, I found myself comparing the character of Howard Beale to a few of today's more popular on-air television personalities. The film just has so many similarities to the way news shows are ran now, that it plays like an omen for the future generations of television viewers. The film is just as relevant, if not more, than the day of it's first release. This quality is hard to find in film, but thirty years later, we are still talking about the brilliance of Network.

Peter Finch and Faye Dunaway lead an exceptional ensemble in Network. Finch's performance boarder lines on insane, but never actually goes too over the top. His maddened demenoir is darkly satirical and is really what drives the film. Dunaway turns in a strong female character, in a film about a profession that was mostly dominated by men. I believe that Dunaway's Diana Christense is one of the most underrated female characters in film. She did win an Academy Award for her role, although there isn't much discussion of her anymore. These two bold and raw performances are just a couple of the fantastic performances that make Network such a powerful film.

We live in a very informed world. With more than ten news stations on my cable right now, I have many outlets and opinions to choose from. It's unclear if this film was a bold prediction for the future, or did television aspire to be like Network. What is clear is that a film like Network was really before it's time. It stands stronger today than it did during it's initial release. It's excellent story coupled with top caliber acting brings this film into the class of "classic". If you enjoy dark satires, then this film is definitely geared towards you.