AniInterview
Sorry, this movie sucks
Philippa
All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.
Josephina
Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.
grantss
Interesting social commentary, adapted from a play by Eric Bogosian. Plot is good, and insightful. Solid direction from Oliver Stone, in a more low-key movie that is better than many of his more well-known offerings.However, the movie maybe feels too much like a play: long speeches, basic set. In addition, the social commentary is pretty much rammed down your throat. There is hardly a likable character in the movie. A bit more subtlety and shades of gray would have been good.This said, it makes a good point, and the performances are solid. Eric Bogosian reprises his role in the play to great effect.
itamarscomix
Talk Radio is a heavy-handed treatment of Eric Bogosian's superb stage play; Oliver Stone has never been famous for his subtlety or minimalism and he's having a hard time dealing with it, adding dramatic camera angles and lighting effects that don't always compliment the dialog. But it's still understated compared to Stone's other films, and his over-the-top touches aren't enough to really detract from the excellent text or from Bogosian's brilliant performance, that makes every expression and every facial twitch count, although they do spoil the ending. The film's great moments are its smallest, the ones where Bogosian is alone with his microphone, and in those moments it's truly a disturbing pleasure. With a more fitting director - maybe Scorsese, maybe Jarmusch or Lumet - it could have been a masterpiece, instead it's a solid and effective film that has stood the test of time surprisingly well and still packs a punch.
Michael O'Keefe
TALK RADIO is directed by Oliver Stone and based on the play created by its star Eric Bogosian and Tad Savinar. The movie takes place in 1988 at KGAB radio where Barry Champlain(Bogosian)rules the Dallas-Ft. Worth area airways with his late night acerbic venom talk-show insulting any and everyone that gets in the way of his caustic humor and controversial political views...political correctness has yet to be theorized let alone be honored. Champlain's antics have already started wearing thin with his chain-smoking engineer Stu(John C. McGinley). His producer girl friend Ellen(Ellen Greene)is but a doormat to the ego-swollen and pompous shock jock. His love is deflating his many callers daring to be cut down before being hung up on. The self-loving and larger-than-life air personality starts to spiral out of control when he finds out with practically no forewarned notice that "his" show it to go national after the weekend. Hiding his insecurity he phones his ex-wife(Leslie Hope)and wants her by his side as a crutch. Barry re-enters his control room to the sounds of his theme song "Bad To The Bone" by George Thorogood and begins to amp up his anger filled rants to further fearlessly irritate ethnic groups and listeners in general. Parts of this film is based on the assassination of talk radio host Alan Berg in 1984.Bogosian appears flawless in his characterization. Also in the cast are: Alec Baldwin, John Pankow and Zach Grenier. Caller voices are provided by the likes of: Alan Corduner, Michael Wincott, Park Overall, Earl Hindman, William De Acutis, Frederica Meister, Michelle Mariana and Rockets Redglare, who plays a pivotal role in the finale. Being in radio once myself for several years, I admit to several twinges of jealousy. It wasn't long lived. Every time I watch this movie I find something new.
tieman64
More fast talking macho pyrotechnics from "Oliver Stone", a director whose love for alpha men borders on the homo-erotic."Talk Radio" revolves around Barry Champlain, a self loathing radio host who molests his callers through a microphone. Though he spends the entire film seated at a desk, Barry exudes pure sonic physicality, using his alpha dog swagger to simultaneously masturbate his listeners and cut them apart like a radio DJ rapist. In between these acts of audio sex, Barry indulges in doing what Oliver Stone's filmography does best; ranting about political and social corruption in the most didactic and obvious ways possible."Radio" is fast, fun and gripping, the audience watching as Barry explodes, implodes, yells and reveals – rarely – glimpses of his own wounded psyche. Like the stage play upon which it is based, "Radio" then launches into a subplot about 1960s styled social passion being repackaged for 80s styled profit. Barry is himself your typical hippie truth teller, albeit one who has been seduced by power, adopting ridiculously cartoonish (and wholly constructed) personas in order to both connect to viewers and convey an illusion of potency. But this potency, and Barry's very identity, is based on self-delusion, the film drawing parallels between Barry's alienation, cynicism, impotency, hypocrisy and anger, and the very bigots who call and listen to his show.As it was based on a stage play (by Eric Bogosian), it's no surprise that "Radio" takes place at one location and unfolds on a fairly small, single set. Still, Stone keeps the pace fast. Though at times goofy, he, like Barry, inserts enough energy and muscular trickery to keep us entertained.8/10 – Stone's films tend to age badly, but "Talk Radio" has held up very well. Whilst most of his films are overproduced and self-important, this one is sparse and self-depreciating. It's also Stone's most autobiographical film, though perhaps unintentionally so. Worth two viewings.
