the fresh films reviews

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Network (1976)

Director:
Sidney Lumet
COUNTRY
USA
GENRE
Drama
NORWEGIAN TITLE
?
RUNNING TIME
121 minutes
Producer:
Howard Gottfried
Screenwriter:
Paddy Chayefsky


Cast includes:

CHARACTER ACTOR/ACTRESS RATING
Diana Christensen Faye Dunaway
Max Schumacher William Holden
Howard Beale Peter Finch
Frank Hackett Robert Duvall
Nelson Chaney Wesley Addy
Arthur Jensen Ned Beatty
Great Ahmed Kahn Arthur Burghardt
Mary Ann Gifford Kathy Cronkite ½
Louise Schumacher Beatrice Straight ½

 

Review

Noisy and overdone satire on the unhealthiness of television culture and how it has (or will) change our entire emotional system – apparently. What might have seemed as a pinpointed catharsis in 1976, comes off as an unnuanced damnation today. There are interesting aspect and observations, but the film is filled with dubious politics and suggestions – such as letting the ambitious career women take the blame for the unchristian callousness of the modern society, while the old unfaithful men stand firm as the logical salubrity by their side. The unanimously hailed acting is uneven to say the least. The characters all take turns yelling at us, sometimes for no particular reason. If it were only funny. The best performance belongs to Beatrice Straight, who touches something genuine during her five minutes. She easily outshines the rather shallow work by Dunaway, Holden and Beatty, whereas Duvall and Finch at least convey a touching restrained vulnerability and a burst of energy, respectively.

Copyright © 21.11.2007 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang

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