Network

Rating:
Summary: 20 years ahead of its time
Review: Although frequently listed as a "drama," don't be fooled. A few minutes into "Network" and you will see this is a brilliant comedy. By taking you through Howard Beale's nervous breakdown, and his rise as a national phenomenon and the film's climactic ending, the movie presents too many ideas that would have seemed radical yet have become a reality. The focus on profits in broadcast news, the unlikely idea of having an audience for the news, conglomerates merging together so that a tiny handful controls what millions can see on television----these are all things that have become fact. Howard Beale's rantings in 1976 about an entire generation that doesn't know anything but what it's seen on television are even truer today, but said of three generations. A very funny satire. But the sad thing is.....so much of what seemed absurd has in fact become the truth.

Rating:
Summary: A solid classic
Review: This movie is wonderful, and a must-have for all Faye Dunaway fans. Faye Dunaway gives an Oscar-winning performance as the crazed, manic Diana Christensen, the programming director at a fourth-ranked national television station, and she is only one of several leading, great characters, including Peter Finch and William Holden. A great, fabulous script, great direction, and an awesome cast. Shockingly funny at times about what a network will do to boost its ratings, but turns out to be largely true today. This movie is somewhat dated, but its messages are clear and have largely turned out to be correct today.

Rating:
Summary: A Must See
Review: Wow! What an inspiring film. After watching, the film's themes will resonate in your body very loudly. The acting is absolutely superb. Faye Dunaway plays her character with just the right amount of "nothings going to stop me", and vulnerability. Peter Finch takes on a complicated role but plays it wonderfully.(You totally believe him.) William Holden also adds another dimension with his "right-on" characterization. This movie has a very raw quality and moves you to raw emotions. Watch for the scene where Faye Dunaway and Peter Holden are going to sleep together. It is brilliant! If you are an actor, writer, direcotor, or just enjoy movies, this one is for you.

Rating:
Summary: Broadcast News.
Review: There are very few films that discuss the politics of network news and the people in it as well as Network did. Fantastic is the only word I can think of. The story is very good, the acting is excellent, the directing is excellent. This, and Broadcast News are two of the best in films in this genre. This is a must have for any film collector.

Rating:
Summary: "I have seen the face of God"
Review: Movie buffs should own this DVD... some classic scenes in this one, and smart, filthy dialogue. My favorite part is when Beale is in the Valhalla room with the network president.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Story Plus Superb Performances Equals Masterpiece
Review: This might just be the best film I've ever seen. Peter Finch does a magnificent job portraying Howard Beale, "the mad prophet of the aire waves." The rest of the stellar cast turns in the type of performances that would make even a poor plot seem bearable. The fact that this film's story and themes are also outstanding assures its status as a classic. One of the most amazing aspects of the film is the fact that it is more relevant today than in 1976 when it was made. Ever since the whole O.J. fiasco, the television industy has thrived on sensationalistic stories that have a lot of shock value, but contain very little relevant substance. Network is a biting satire that every television executive on the planet should be forced to watch. The film challenges the T.V. industry to return to respectability and stop feeding us so much garbage. All at once, this movie is hilarious, dismal, intriguing, and remarkably profound. I have nothing left to say.

Rating:
Summary: Now more than ever...
Review: If someone were to break down my door, put a gun to my head and force me to make a negative comment about Cheyevsky and Lumet's NETWORK I would only be able to say that's it's a shame that this film isn't re-released nationwide like the Star War movies were... maybe people today could recieve a stern message for there eight (nine-fifty in NYC) bucks. Better than The Truman Show and all the other cautionary 'real TV' movies that will ever be if for no other reason than because it dares us at the same time it warns us and insults us. I'm young (born the year this film was made) but feel fortunate to experienced Network.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant, complex, too good to be true
Review: If anything, this satire is too rich, too perfect for ordinary mortals to witness. As quick and sharp as the Marx Brothers and as dark as Ingmar Bergman, the words and acting have sly, wry, and furiously ernest character that bears repeated examination. The casting is also too good: Holden, Dunaway, Duvall, and Finch bring out wonderfully the sheer black madness of the television industry. This is a quintessential 70's movie.

I've seen no discrepancy between video and audio on the DVD, though my copy has a brief hiccup in one of the first few scenes.

For an outstanding-though not as intellectual-satire of the movie industry, see "S.O.B.", also starring William Holden.

Rating:
Summary: excellent film; DVD quality problems?
Review: I ordered this DVD and noticed that some of the soundtrack may be out of sync with the picture. However, I'm not sure if that's due to an inherent error in the disc or something wrong with my DVD player. I'm not sure.

Rating:
Summary: A plausible depiction of the behind-the-scenes world of TV
Review: A well-made film about what executives at the television networks can and could do just to draw bigger audiences and better ratings. This is one film that not only entertains, but also informs us about life in an extremely competitive environment such as the television industry. Excellent performances are rendered by the entire cast of this film although Robert Duvall is a little underutilized. What ever happened to Beatrice Straight?