Network Tagged Articles at Cinematical

All this week we'll be highlighting some of our favorite scenes from Oscar-winning films and performances leading up to this year's Academy Awards on Sunday night.

The Republicans were voted out of office after eight traumatic years, the incoming Democratic administration was offering the nation change -- and along comes a movie that says it's all bulls***. Sidney Lumet's Network was released in late November 1976 and tried to rile up a country that was celebrating its bicentennial after being worn down by Watergate, a gasoline shortage, and raging inflation.

I didn't see Network during its initial theatrical release, but I certainly heard about the scene I've embedded below. Kids at school were quoting variations on its most memorable line ("I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!"), which became an enduring catchphrase. Since then I've watched the movie at least a dozen times, and Peter Finch's stirring delivery of this speech, as newscaster Howard Beale, never fails to electrify me.

It's the context of the speech, though, that touches me now, and provides some evidence why Finch won Best Actor over his fellow nominees: Robert DeNiro in Taxi Driver, Sylvester Stallone in Rocky, Giancarlo Giannini in Seven Beauties, and William Holden. (Finch, who died on January 14, 1977, was the first individual in Academy history to be honored posthumously with both a nomination and a win.) Holden appears briefly in the scene, expressing his dismay because he knows his friend Howard is suffering from a mental breakdown. Faye Dunaway, who won the Oscar for Best Actress, shows up, too, oozing odious charm as a ratings-hungry exec.

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Could it be that Sidney Lumet is back? I'm a cynic, and a snobby '70s movie fan, and I've been hesitant about seeing Before the Devil Knows You're Dead -- I know I'm terrible; the movie is supposedly really, really good; I'm just being lazy -- so I can't offer that statement. Besides, there are people who don't think he was ever gone to begin with. Still, his latest is his best reviewed film in many years. Our own Erik Davis called it "captivating" and pointed out that Lumet took an otherwise forgettable story and made it "exceptional in every way -- from its execution to its acting" (OK, I really need to see this already). Well, it seems that Funky Buddha Group, which financed Devil, is happy enough with Lumet's work on that film; the company has just agreed to collaborate with the filmmaker on two more movies, with an option for a third.

So what is Lumet's next project, and will it be a disappointment after the greatness of Devil? (a cynic never stops doubting). According to Variety, it's called Getting Out, and it involves a prison break. Written by Lumet himself (and not adapted from anything this time, either), the script deals with, "a man desperate to regain his freedom while entangled in deadly head games with his prison psychiatrist and the woman he desires." Honestly, it doesn't sound too exciting, or interesting. But then, I like Lumet's The Wiz, so maybe you shouldn't listen to me (don't worry, it's not one of my favorites, like Dog Day Afternoon, 12 Angry Men and especially Network all are). But who should you listen to? People like our own Jeff Anderson, an obvious Lumet fan, who called Devil one of, "the year's best American films," or do you listen to our own Ryan Stewart, who referred to Lumet as a "non-master" and called Devil, "a pointless and annoying timeline-pretzel ... only to arrive at a Greek tragedy climax that has a plot hole so large you could drive a Hummer through it." You can see why I've been hesitant and cynical, now, can't you?

After 22 hours of flying on planes, waiting on security lines and sitting in airport food courts, I've finally returned home from my two-week trip in Australia. (And get this -- not one politician came on to me in the airport bathroom! Drats!) Did you miss me? Did you even know I was gone? Do you even know who I am? Anyway, apart from bringing home some art and some severe jetlag, I also brought with me some cool Aussie slang. For example, I promised my Aussie friends I'd start using the word 'Brekki' in replace of 'Breakfast.' Instead of greeting someone with "Hey, how ya doing?," I've decided to start using the primary Aussie greeting (no, not G'day Mate) -- "How ya going, Mate?" Oh, and I've brought home a Koala to hang out with my dog. But don't worry, it's just a doll.

And is there a better time to return home than on Labor Day Weekend? It's been absolutely beautiful here in New York the past three days, and since my car is still in the shop, I've spent all of it inside, in bed and in front of the television. After all, two weeks running around on the other side of the world can kind of knock you out. Labor Day is a funny holiday because, while we're supposed to be taking a day off to celebrate all the hard work we've accomplished, all we think about all day is how summer has ended -- goodbye beach vacations; hello work and school. For a day off, you have to admit it's sort of depressing. But if you're looking for a good way to celebrate Labor Day by utilizing your home DVD player, there are plenty of work-related films to check out.

Since I spent most of my years in a cubicle, there's no other film like Office Space to show you the comedic side of corporate life. After doing a stint in the world of television production, I'm also quite found of both Network and Broadcast News. For sexy and seductive, go with Secretary. For some funny rise-to-the-top stuff, go with Working Girl, The Devil Wears Prada or (one of my personal favorites), The Hudsucker Proxy. Crazy teens doing crazy things in the workplace? Empire Records. Jaded twenty-somethings hating life? Clerks. No matter what you're in the mood for, there's definitely something for everyone. Which film will you be watching tonight?

Network was re-released on DVD this week in a special two-disc edition with all the trimmings. The last time I saw the movie was on a videotape I'd made from a TV broadcast of the 1976 film, so perhaps it's time to rent (or even buy) that DVD and treat myself to another viewing.

Network is a great film even if you watch it on a crappy videotape. The famous "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take this any more!" speech has fallen into popular use even among people who have no idea what it's from, or who haven't seen the whole movie. The film won four Oscars: Peter Finch for Best Actor, Faye Dunaway for Best Actress, Beatrice Straight for Best Supporting Actress, and Paddy Chayefsky for Best Original Screenplay. Sadly, Finch died before he was even nominated for the award, and became the first actor to win an Oscar posthumously. (FYI, Rocky took home Best Picture/Director that year.)

It's Finch I tend to remember most vividly from Network, despite a top-notch cast: Dunaway, William Holden, Robert Duvall, and Ned Beatty among others. It's full of witty lines that we've forgotten in the wake of the big memorable one. And as a journalist, I find that the type of news show that is lambasted in the film for being ratings driven and frivolous is terribly tame and unsurprising today. However, the film doesn't date; in fact, sometimes it seems more relevant than ever.

The Weblogs, Inc. network features over 100 independent, unfiltered bloggers producing over 1,000 blog posts a week across over 75 industry-leading blogs. Each week we ask our bloggers to choose their top posts, which we bring to you in one easy-to-read weekly post. You’ll find links to the hottest posts from the past week after the jump including a Macromedia MAX ticket for next to nothing, the Charles Bronson farm and the Nintendo Revolution controller. Plus, when your done with the full listing after the jump check out the Open Source Weblog for a special live blogging event today (September 17) only.

The Weblogs, Inc. network features over 100 independent, unfiltered bloggers producing over 1,000 blog posts a week across over 75 industry-leading blogs. Each week we ask our bloggers to choose their top posts, which we bring to you in one easy-to-read weekly post. You’ll find links to the hottest posts from the past week after the jump including a special review contest, celebrity virginity, and even the best Windows emulator for Mac. Enjoy!

Hackaday's Eliot Phillips warns you not to immolate yourself with a DIY flamethrower and encourages you to install Linux on your 2G Ipod mini while new contributor Fabienne Serriere shows how-to add a headphone jack to a Nokia phone.

HD Beat's Kevin C. Tofel explains why the nation won't see ABC in HD next week, tells you about a new HDTV technology called SED, and then finds an HDTV antenna that doubles as a picture frame.