Network

When preparing to watch movies (especially those films that are older than I am), I like to review their Oscar standings. In regards to this film, I discovered that it was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and won 4 (Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Writing of a Screenplay written directly for the screen). It was nominated for Best Picture, but lost to Rocky. Another big contender from 1976 was All the President's Men (a very suspenseful thriller starring Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford).

This film follows a television network as it attempts to achieve top ratings by exploiting an angry anchorman who is on the verge of being fired and decides to tell the world the truth about network. The film is meant to be shocking and to warn of the potential danger of television networks who are willing to do anything to be the best. I found the movie to be very funny, having seen where the television world is at today and the depths that the networks currently go for top ratings. Although the end of the film is tragic, I do not feel that this network went any further than our current networks with the reality shows and the game shows that are completely ridiculous and exploit the general population, as opposed to simply exploiting a man who is very familiar with the ups and downs of the industry. This film was thought provoking and groundbreaking for the time period that it was made. But as a current "must see"...I'm giving it 2 1/2 pigs.