Network: A Quick Review

First off "Network" is one my favorite films of all time.  It had an incredible cast including Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Peter Finch, and Robert Duvall.  It was directed by the incredibly talented Sidney Lumet, who also did another of my favorite films, 12 Angry Men.  The story revolves around the UBS television station.  The network has had low ratings and the crew will literally do whatever it takes to get more viewers, no matter how insane, immoral, and illegal the proposed solutions may be.  I won't go into this aspect anymore, in case people want to see the film, and I highly recommend that they do.  This film was a satire of the television industry and the ridiculous extremes that people go to to get ratings.  Over 30 years later and all of a sudden what happens in Network doesn't seem so farfetched.  Obviously, this film took it to the extreme.  However, taking a look at the news now, and how they often look for the most extreme, violent, or sexual story to get people's attention it becomes disconcerting, frightening, annoying, pick your favorite adjective.  Network also is incredibly character driven and it is one of the key reasons why it is so wonderful to watch.  Dunaway definitely earned her Oscar as Diana Christensen who is completely consumed by the false world of television, causing her not to have a firm grasp on reality.  This leads to a doomed affair with Max Schumacher (Holden) as well as her going mildly insane, along with Howard Beale (Finch), and others as they try to garner more ratings.  Finally this film won three acting Oscars, and one for its screenplay, but was nominated for many more and it is considered one of the best films of all time, according to the American Film Institute...in case that is a deciding factor for people wanting to check it out.  I'm really going to have to see it more times, twice just isn't enough.  Such a great story, although depressing and extremely serious, phenomenal actors, directing, cinematography, and everything else add up to a enjoyable, well paced 2 hours of film.

4 stars out of 4...and one last thing this film has one of the most famous lines in film history: "I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore." Yes, that line really is as wonderful as you all dreamed it would be.

-Joseph Sbrilli


Alternate Review:

I watched Network pretty recently as well. The movie won a bunch of Oscars and awards and everything like that. All the critics say it is a landmark film. I say that it has not aged well at all. The movie has some great ideas and themes that are fairly evident from the get go. Those are wonderful but the movie just feels old. All the characters break the most important rule of storytelling, show don't tell. Network does a lot of telling, in massive monologues that would make Shakespeare pass out. And Faye Dunaway makes me want to barf. I've seen squirrels act better for some trail mix. Don't tell me she deserved that Oscar she was awful and she looks like a female William Dafoe. It was like watching Sarah Jessica Parker only in the 70's. That should make a lot of people stay away from this one.