Network

Network is a 1976 movie directed by Sidney Lumet.

WHAT HAPPENS?

A struggling television network profits off the ramblings of a mentally ill newscaster.

ONE LINE REVIEW

Network is a vicious satire that takes on media and commerce.

THE ACTORS

Terrific performances permeate Network, including Faye Dunaway as an executive driven to turn a stale news program into entertainment. Dunaway expresses an amazing range of emotion – she’s resolved, cutthroat and stoic regarding her vulnerabilities. Her Diana Christensen merges with William Holden’s veteran producer Max Schumaker, who struggles with his pending mortality. Holden is most intriguing in these scenes, as his aging character seeks emotional affirmation from Diana, who is incapable of satisfying his needs.

Of course, Network’s star is Peter Finch, who plays Howard Beale. Finch initially portrays Beale as a depressed, decaying news anchor before he emerges as a transcendent beacon of truth. His newscasts evolve into sermons, as Finch’s Beale is utterly possessed to reveal the truths of a declining society. His physical performance and elevated, pained expressions are enormous, as Finch dominates the screen.

THE DIRECTOR

Sidney Lumet crafts a tight structure around Paddy Chayefsky’s verbose script. The narrative effectively flows between scenes of dense dialogue and emotion. Lumet manages to balance these lengthy, heavy encounters with lighter moments. Similarly, the darkness and blinding stage lights used during Beale’s ascent are an impressive contrast.

THE BEST – The Dialogue

Chayefsky’s script is extraordinary – his warning of corporate greed bastardizing the public airwaves bifurcates with a nostalgic, romanticized nod towards the fading World War II generation ideals. Network’s actors are given a wealth of rich dialogue and in the case of Dunaway and Holden’s characters, some complex emotional depth. Finch’s elaborate, brutally honest sermons are the best pieces of a brilliant script.

THE BEST Part 2 – Ned Beatty and Beatrice Straight

To truly illustrate the depth of Network’s talent, Beatty and Straight combine for no more than ten minutes of screen time. However, each delivers a powerful performance. Straight’s Louise is magnificent after Holden’s Max admits to an affair with Diana. She conveys the desperation, anger and sadness of a woman who has suffered betrayal. Beatty’s Arthur Jensen confronts Finch’s Beale and gives a scathing, raw confessional regarding the power of commerce. His “college of corporations” tirade is a shockingly powerful and relevant statement.

THE BEST Part 3 – The Ecumenical Liberation Party Lawyers Up

Marlene Warfield’s Laureen Hobbs, a self-described “badass Commie n—” is given network time to create a show about left-wing revolutionaries. Hobbs’s passion morphs from open revolt of the masses to arguing about distribution points with network executives. Arthur Burghardt’s Great Ahmed Khan ends the discussion with a gun blast. It’s a hilarious aside and subversive commentary on the co-opting of an underground movement.

THE WORST – The Dialogue

Chayefsky is obviously talented – to the point that you sense the script is in love with itself. There are moments when even the wonderfully skilled actors lose their characters in the volume of words. Dunaway and Holden’s characters lose their sense of realism when their damaged relationship is compared to its own romantic script. It’s a sort of unintentional meta-moment that breaks the movie’s tone – especially when compared to the bleak, cynical ending.

THE WORST Part 2 – Network is a Documentary Today

This isn’t a worst regarding the production of the movie, which is mostly excellent. Rather, it’s a numb, depressing realization that the line between news, entertainment, opinion and commerce have been permanently blurred. While Howard Beale appeared a far-fetched character over 40 years ago, he’s simply a talking head or chief executive today.

FOX FORCE FIVE RATING – 4.25/5

Network is an outstanding satire filled with terrific performances. Dunaway and Finch are spectacular and the movie’s message is amazingly prescient. The script gets bulky at times but is extraordinarily unique and honest. A must watch.