MovieChat Forums > Talk Radio (1989) Discussion > Simply a great movie

Simply a great movie

posted 10 years ago by kurt7825
7 replies | jump to latest

just watched and i loved it. when i look back at all movies from the 80's, definitely this is number one for me.

so, i go to order the blu ray and there isn't one. seriously how can this be?

[–] nite_eternal 10 years ago

I saw this when I was growing up and then a few years later Howard Stern comes onto the scene and I just think that he totally ripped off this movie and book. Oddly enough he is still alive.

[–] TheHuronPhish 9 years ago

There was nothing to rip off. The book/film is based on Alan Berg, a Denver talk show host who really did get murdered. Stern was doing his own thing in DC/NY well before this movie. He probably never even heard of Berg.

[–] johndworkin65 9 years ago

Yup. Classic. I never looked for the Blu-Ray, but I did own the dvd of it once. If I remember right, i could only get it as part of an Oliver Stove Box Set. The Box wasn't very expensive and there were a couple other good movies in it, so I say worth it...

"Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana."

[–] !!!deleted!!! (63057267) 9 years ago

It's an outstanding film that hardly anyone saw in the theater. I would have paid to see it (the trailer was so cool) but it never came to my town. Its lousy box office performance is probably why there's no Blu-Ray, which I would greedily snatch up.

My only quibble about the movie: it was painfully obvious to me that it was the same three or four voice actors calling in as different characters, which broke the spell from time to time. Nevertheless, great filmmaking with a dynamite script and a terrific cast.

[–] moviefool09 9 years ago

My only quibble about the movie: it was painfully obvious to me that it was the same three or four voice actors calling in as different characters, which broke the spell from time to time.

If that's true, they did a good job of masking/changing their voices, because I never detected that.

This might be my favorite Oliver Stone film, though I think most of the film's impact is due to Bogosian and his amazing performance and screenplay from his own play. He is mesmerizing and really puts you in a kind of trance. The claustrophobic setting of the radio studio is so perfect also, and just enhances the feeling of paranoia pervasive throughout the film.

The cinematography is also brilliant in enhancing this effect.

"The future is tape, videotape, and NOT film?"

[–] dualeights-30916 9 years ago

I don't know what made me think of this flick and I don't really recall much about it. What I do remember is renting it on vhs way back in ?the day and being thoroughly riveted. I only saw it that one time and since then I have not heard even one person mention or reference it in any way. I loved this film. I recall being moved by it. why can't I remember squat about it? Was it really that good?

[–] moviefool09 9 years ago

Dual, I saw it again on satellite a few weeks back for the first time in years. It DEFINITELY retains its grip on you and is just as fascinating now as it was then.

"The future is tape, videotape, and NOT film?"