There are films you are supposed to like or, at least, appreciate, but when you see them, they leave you strangely indifferent. The author of this review had one such experience with Broadcast News, 1987 drama written, produced and directed by James L. Brooks.
Brooks wrote the script inspired by his experiences his early career as an employee of CBS television network. Three main characters are employees of Washington bureau for unnamed television network. Jane Craig (played by Holly Hunter) is talented workaholic news producer who has dedicated herself to a career at the expense of her private life. Aaron Altman (played by Albert Brooks) is equally talented news reporter who admires Jane and has developed romantic feelings for her that would remain unrequited. Into their world comes Tom Grunick (played by William Hurt), sports reporter from local television station who, by his own admission, lacks education and proper journalistic qualities, but wins over the network bosses with his telegenic looks. Jane is displeased with such shallow and unqualified person winning the coveted news anchor position over Aaron, but also, much to her horror, realises that she is physically attracted to Tom. The situation gets further complicated with network announcing massive budget cuts that would inevitably results with many of the staff getting fired.
The main asset of the Broadcast News is the cast, which features three actors in some of the most demanding and interesting roles of their careers. Holly Hunter, which was relatively unknown at the time, proudly uses her Southern twang that would become her trademark, and delivers incredibly strong and believable performance playing the woman who is both consummate professional and someone who wears emotions on her sleeve. Comedian Albert Brooks is also quite convincing as the man who shares Jane’s professionalism and ethical standards, but can’t compensate for the lack of physical attractiveness and tendency not to keep his mouth when he should have. Finally, William Hurt, which was at the zenith of his career in 1980s, plays very interesting character who would have been clear villain in most other Hollywood films, but whose brutal honesty and charm seduces both Jane and the audience. Broadcast News, made by someone with intimate knowledge of network television’s inner workings, also tried to point fingers at some disturbing trends in television industry that would become the norm – emphasis on “cool”, attractive visual packaging at the expense of serious and important content. Broadcast News after the premiere won the critics and even had more than decent box office success. It was also nominated for nine “Oscars”, but failed to win a single one.
There are some major problems with this film. First one is generational. Brodacast News was made by the Boomers about Boomers for the Boomers. Its plot described media world revolving around few television networks with anchors with inflated clout, especially in post-Watergate world. As such, this film would be hardly comprehensible to generations that use TikTok videos as main source of information about the world. The other, more generic, problem is Brooks’ failure to find proper balance between serious drama and satirical comedy. Although Broadcast News is sometimes advertised as comedy, most jokes fall flat or are simply not funny enough. Another major issue, which would also plague Brooks’ much more successful film As Good As It Gets, is pacing. The film is simply overlong and has characters that aren’t actually necessary. Impression is further worsened by Brooks showing epilogue set years after the general plot, and which makes film additionally confusing. While watchable, Broadcast News should be recommended mostly to the fans of its three main stars.
RATING: 4/10 (+)
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