Network (BD) [Blu-ray]

Yes, “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore” came from this film. Peter Finch and Faye Dunaway will draw you into this crazy-but-not-crazy film in which a laid off newscaster transforms into a “prophet” who catapults into fame. Finch as Howard Beale is mesmerizing as he rants and raves to the TV audience about their desperate reality, with Dunaway and her crew watching in disbelief and elation as Nielsen ratings skyrocket. The movie viewer feels like part of the TV audience, and the shocking ending seems natural in the twisted plot.Interactions between the characters are superficial and transient, proving that TV ratings rule over moral behavior. Schumacher (William Holden) insists that Beale needs psychiatric treatment, yet he watches Beale’s rise and fall without intervening. Schumacher and Dunaway have a brief affair which both acknowledge could never last. The network boss (Arthur Jensen played by Ned Beatty) is flat and predictable until a remarkable scene when he and Beale sit at opposite ends of the long board room table. Chameleon-like Jensen becomes the voice in Beale’s delusions that commands him to retract his on-air comments about a controversial business merger. Other than that, no one dares to disturb the madman because success is anything that the general public will watch.Viewers in 2017 will see a new truth in this movie, after a presidential election that demonstrated the unprecedented power of the media. As a teenager in 1976, I was too wrapped up in the movie Rocky to notice Network in the theaters. Very glad to have seen it over 40 years later when I can appreciate the strange and sad meaning.

One of the best movies we've seen in years. The acting was at the highest level by all; Faye Dunaway was magnificent. The plot was entirely believable and unbelievably prescient - it could be written today. It's rated R, presumably for language - but the language seems appropriate in context, and sex is only suggested - there is no nudity - and there is no violence; it really should be a PG-13, and teenagers could learn a lot from it. Highly recommended - and whoever does the ratings should change the rating to make it more widely available.

A movie from the 70’s that shows the evolution of media today. The movie follows the madness of one news announcer and the frantic race a network does to keep up with the circus of what used to be respectable news. This predicts the Jerry Springer era perfectly by people I should be humbled to watch.

This is an amazing film, I shall not spoil anything for anyone.but all the acting in this film is TOP NOTCH.the film's message is relevant even more so today in 2019 with the way media and news and TV shows and celebrities dictate peoples lives even to the point of co-opting and preaching politics and world views to others.i love this film and its politically neutral message about what america lost after the advent of the Television.Anyone who loves movies or politics should see this film9/10 would watch again and again and again

What a powerful film!It's also extremely cynical and may tempt you to completely give up on society because so many of the pointed commentaries on the media that you'll find in the film still apply today. Especially today!This is the story of Howard Beale (Peter Finch), the alcoholic, depressed evening news anchor for the struggling UBS Network. He goes off script one evening and announces he's going to kill himself next week on air. This stirs up an enormous amount of crap as you may imagine, but he is allowed back on the air and as his (obvious) mental illness progresses his ratings increase.This is a powerhouse showcase for all the actors involved, but Ned Beatty (as Arthur Jensen) blew me away. He is the epitome of corporate evil! I understand he did all his work on the film in just one day ... and that got him a well-deserved Oscar nomination. Faye Dunaway (as UBS programming director Diana Christensen) depicts a character so loathsome and devoid of -any- redeeming qualities that it must be seen to be believed. And William Holden (as former news director Max Schumacher) is the only character with any moral compass, but even he goes astray.There's also a lot of Meta commentary and self-referential bits involving scripts that the actors are themselves playing out even as they get snarky about it!And there's a hysterical scene involving a business meeting with a terrorist group that has it's own TV show (thanks to Diana)!It's darkly funny (as in pitch-black), enormously cynical, and riveting.HIGHLY Recommended!

I first discovered this film whilst watching the excellent Tony Benn: Will And Testament [DVD] which included an excerpt from the film which inspired me to purchase it.This is one of the best scripted films I have ever seen, it's very enlightening about the world in which we live and is hilarious at times. The film was awarded four Academy Awards including best actress for Faye Dunaway who delivers a superb performance.If you enjoy subversive films such as They Live [DVD] and Brazil [1985] [DVD] you will love Network! This is one of those films I will definitely watch again and again. Tony Benn: Will And Testament [DVDThey Live [DVDBrazil [1985] [DVD

I can't quite believe that this film is over 30 years old. It could have been made today as an accurate satire of modern society and the corporatocracy we live in. Sadly it seems the world the film foreshadowed didn't stop it becoming a rather too close to home reality. The films script has rightly won many awards as it contains many powerful messages and memorable quotes delivered by an excellent cast. The scene with Ned Beatty's corporate CEO 'Arthur Jensen' explaining to 'Howard Beale' how the world really works is a real stand out. Quote; "You get up on your little twenty-one inch screen and howl about America and democracy. There is no America. There is no democracy. There is only IBM, and ITT, and AT&T, and DuPont, Dow, Union Carbide, and Exxon. Those are the nations of the world today".Whatever the power of the corporate state in the mid 70's, and the influence of corporate media propaganda on the passively consuming masses, we can now multiply many times in modern day society. That's what makes this film even more pertinent today.A society driven by profit is a world lacking in love, as portrayed in the film by Faye Dunaway's character, and with a disregard for the sanctity of life, as represented by the films end.A clever, funny, sad, entertaining and timeless classic.

the main actor's in this film were brilliant if only Peter Finch had lived to see his award. there was something about the story ........I dont know exactly what, but I could only watch it once, which is a shame beacause I was so looking forward to seeing it.

Someone said it was too moralistic And dated, but to me it's One of lumet top movies And no, it's not got old at all. It's not just perfecty done, scrited And acted, but it gives you an apocalyptic view of The world as it was in The 70s And was going to be (even worse than that) in The Following decades. Now we have internet, maybe The problems are slightly different, but This is going to stay not just in The history of cinema And 20th century, but it still is And will still be a prophetic And powerful mirror of our society And our world

Sums up perfectly the news media #Fakenews and how it works. Some great lines included.

A stellar cast of actors and exceptional screenplay makes Network (1976) one of the best social critiques made about television news media and a multiple-watch film. The detail in the acting is amazing and it's a story well told.The acting in the film (the winner of four academy awards) is superb.The plot comes to a conclusion that is quite absurd but because the characters are so believable the film makes the audience feel like the conclusion was logical.They don't make films this good like this anymore. This film is sensational.

Absolutely brilliant, and just as relevant today as when it was made

Great film saw it last night. The picture quality on Blue Ray was excellent and sound was amazing. Before last night I hadn't seen the film for ages and ages.Strongly recommended one of the greats.

Somewhat caricatural, but what a blow to the business and com sectors

Good film worth a watch.

A most illuminating film

An important film with great scenes that still resonate today

A classic. Well worth having.

A wonderful performance by Peter Finch.

Truth hidden in satire. A real gem of a film.