Stone's Best? - Talk Radio (1989) Discussion

[–] Deniro68 15 years ago

Platoon is easily my all-time favorite Stone movie. Close runners-up include Born On The Fourth Of July, JFK, Natural Born Killers, this one, Salvador and Wall Street. Slightly behind those are Any Given Sunday, Nixon, Heaven and Earth and The Doors. Alexander was a disaster although I do give him points for being too ambitious rather than not ambitious enough. World Trade Center wasn't a bad movie. But it came off weak compared to United 93. U-Turn was a weak Quentin Tarantino rip and W floundered as it tried to figure out what kind of movie it wanted to be.

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[–] suz-mal 14 years ago

Haven't seen this, but I'd so far consider Salvador his best work. If you agree on Salvador I might have to give this one a shot.

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[–] washbrook45 14 years ago

It's definitely one of the best, Stone is one of my favorite directors. My personal pick from him though has to be Salvador. Gripping story and probably James Woods' best performance. Other than those two I really enjoy most all of the others; I even enjoy U-turn, it's quite a fun movie. The only ones I feel were on the weaker side are Alexander and Born on the Fourth of July. The Doors is kinda weak as well but I'm a big Doors fan so I can watch it.

My DVD Collection: http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=8504358

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[–] Trp1985 13 years ago

It's one of his best. I can't believe this just has a 7.1 rating! Awesome movie.

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[–] PussyCrusher_Principal 12 years ago

I hadn't seen Talk Radio since it's initial cable run in '89 or '90 before tonight, had forgotten Stone directed it. Believe it or not I've never seen Salvador but have heard great things. Of the Stone films I've seen I can definitely narrow it down to Platoon at the top with Talk Radio and JFK close behind in a 2nd place tie.

I still think Platoon is the best of all those '80s Vietnam films (Full Metal Jacket included, even if I love that too), and I've always loved JFK, regardless of whether Garrison's findings and beliefs were wrong or not. It's still a great film.

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[–] Woodyanders 11 years ago

This is certainly one of Stone's most taut, gripping, and to the point films. It lays bare the fear, anger, confusion, ignorance, and instability existent in heartland America in an extremely disturbing, yet still fascinating and provocative manner.

I'm a totally bitchin' bio writer from Mars!

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[–] Doc110894 11 years ago

I haven't seen this in a long time. Probably 15 years. I want to watch it again.

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[–] dvdfreak66 10 years ago

I think Stone has stated this is his least favorite film he's made (do not know the validity of that). If it is a true statement I can see why. It isn't really his baby, it's Erics. Other than some of the actors cast in the film that Stone frequently uses, it really doesn't have a lot of his fingerprints on it. I've watched it probably 75-100 times and it always felt like Eric was driving and Oliver was just along for the ride, maybe telling him where to turn from time to time. Smtill an amazing picture.

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[–] Corpus_Vile 10 years ago

It's definitely up there and is one of my favorites of his, along with Salvador & JFK. I think JFK is probably his best film critically though.

"Hey, look at that! She's not crazy, she's being chased by a cheetah!"

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[–] southcatt 10 years ago

This was pretty much Bogosian's baby and from his Pulitzer Prize nominated play. Probably not enough Stone for Oliver Stone.

I LOVE it. Most excellent!

I also happen to think that Natural Born Killers with all its problems is a fabulous comedy and a great love story.

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[–] evildead2099 8 years ago

There's no way I'd call this Stone's best film. Of the ones I've seen, I think that honor goes to Platoon or Natural Born Killers.

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