Network
I don’t think I’ve seen a movie more relevant to our times, and it’s turning 50 years old this year..
As I was watching I realized that so many problems we think are unique to our generation have actually been worries for decades. a lot of the things Howard is worried about in the movie are still some of our biggest concerns today, especially how we consume media. he mentions in the 70s that less than 3% of people read books, and less than 15% read the newspaper:
"The only truth you know is what you get over this tube” "Right now there’s a whole, an entire generation that never knew anything that didn’t come out of this tube."
I mean….come on it’s literally the world we live in right now. the movie understands that if people get their view of the world from the media, then the people controlling that media have an incredible amount of power. The characters in the movie are ready to do anything for ratings and success, which used to just apply to TV networks, but now feels like everyone on social media is chasing numbers. we reward clickbait and sensationalism, and it made me think about how Sidney Lumet would see that the “boredom killing business” isn’t just TV anymore, it’s basically everything now.
it’s easily my favorite watch of the year so far. i’m so obsessed with the screenplay. the writing and the pacing are so precise, it feels like no second or syllable is wasted. and the cast is so so good, it genuinely has one of the best ensembles ever. Max is such a great character, I find every character to be really interesting, but Max has a special place in my heart now.
"I just want you to love me, I just want you to love me primal doubts and all."
it’s probably the sweetest thing I’ve heard in a minute and it hits so much harder because the rest of the world around him is so heartless..
there are so many iconic scenes and perfect moments of dialogue in this movie!!!! i can’t believe it took me this long to watch it.
Lumet’s work always makes me reconsider what a great movie is. I love his films so much!!