Broadcast News (1987)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Lenny M

  
  Network in the 80's without the RAGE!

• Daniel P

  
  A solid but imperfect love triangle set amidst the ever-declining journalistic standard of info-tainment, Broadcast News rides an excellent performance by Holly Hunter the whole way through. Her charcter, Jane, is a spunky and viciously talented editor in the newsroom, for whom… More
  A solid but imperfect love triangle set amidst the ever-declining journalistic standard of info-tainment, Broadcast News rides an excellent performance by Holly Hunter the whole way through. Her charcter, Jane, is a spunky and viciously talented editor in the newsroom, for whom nothing but the best will do - but when the dim, pretty-boy anchorman Tom (William Hurt) turns up, she can't resist him. Even if he hasn't a fraction of the ethics of her long-time friend and sometime lover, Aaron, who's made into the ideal loveable loser by Albert Brooks. By times funny, deadly serious, and romantic, Broadcast News is a great film, but as with other James L. Brooks films I've seen, it's a little schmaltzy, and it runs on too long. The movie ended three times before it ended. Great performance by a great cast, however, with Jack Nicholson and a wonderfully 80s "big-haired" Joan Cusack in supporting roles. A fine film that's valuable as much for the point it makes as it is for the story it tells. If you're a fan of Neil Postman's books, this film is one of your favourites. (Side note: in some shots, I thought Hunter and Hurt looked like Zooey Deschanel and Aaron Eckhart. Remake, anyone?)

• Jennifer X

  
  I adore Broadcast News, though it did go on a little too long. But there's so much about it that I love: Holly Hunters sweet little Southern accent, the love triangle, Joan Cusack's breathless trip into the newsroom, the implicit, tense competition between all of them.… More
  I adore Broadcast News, though it did go on a little too long. But there's so much about it that I love: Holly Hunters sweet little Southern accent, the love triangle, Joan Cusack's breathless trip into the newsroom, the implicit, tense competition between all of them. It's enough to make one want to go into the broadcast biz.

• Aaron N

  
  Aaron Altman: If anything happens to me, you tell every woman I've ever gone out with I was talking about her at the end. That way they'll have to reevaluate me. I don't like to add my own baggage to these reviews, as it's generally all about the movies for me,… More
  Aaron Altman: If anything happens to me, you tell every woman I've ever gone out with I was talking about her at the end. That way they'll have to reevaluate me. I don't like to add my own baggage to these reviews, as it's generally all about the movies for me, but I have to say something about this seemingly random review. Lately I've been busier with other aspects of this movie biz, but I managed to obtain the Criterion Collection Blu-Ray of Broadcast News, and not having seen it in a very long time, I can easily say that this is a fantastic movie that deserves to be revisited. It has been harder for me to be able to review everything I see due to time, but this movie deserves some extra attention, as it is brilliantly written and acted. Holly Hunter, Albert Brooks, and William Hurt star in this smartly written romantic comedy about a basket case, a pretty boy, and a nervous talent who all work for a news station in Washington. Hunter plays Jane Craig, the news producer who is amazing at her job, but also needs to desperately work on having her work habits restrain themselves when trying to deal with her relationships. William Hurt plays Tom Grunnick, a new network anchor who has a pretty face, but doesn't have the intelligence to back it up, a quality he is very aware of. Finally, Albert Brooks plays Aaron Altman, a true talent who unfortunately doesn't have the presence for being an anchor. There is not much of a big story that involves the actual news room, beyond a few scenes concerning some big stories. Instead, the film focuses on the relationships between these characters. Jane and Tom go through the motions of liking each other, but Jane has problems with Tom's representation of entertainment news taking stage over substance. Tom is interested in Jane, but also intimidated by her. Aaron has a warm relationship with Jane, but is also secretly in love with her; he also despises Tom and all he represents. Paul Moore: It must be nice to always believe you know better, to always think you're the smartest person in the room. Jane Craig: No. It's awful. Read more at thecodeiszeek.blogspot.com

• AJ V

  
  I barely remember this movie, I saw it a long while ago on TV, and probably didn't watch the whole thing. So, I'll just say I want to re-watch this one.

• Steven C

  
  James L. Brooks' "Broadcast News" is a cultural touchstone for the 1980s. It perfectly captures what the media, and it's cohorts, were like in that decade. Sure, it's wrapped up in Brooks' signature blend of real life romantic comedy and drama, which some… More
  James L. Brooks' "Broadcast News" is a cultural touchstone for the 1980s. It perfectly captures what the media, and it's cohorts, were like in that decade. Sure, it's wrapped up in Brooks' signature blend of real life romantic comedy and drama, which some may scoff at, but for me, it enhances the picture and it's themes. You also get a trio of first rate performances from Holly Hunter (in one her greatest roles), William Hurt and Albert Brooks. The film may be as chaotic and emotional as it's three leads, but it's also zippy, witty and real. "Broadcast News" is just one example out of many that proves that James L. Brooks is the master.

• Thomas B

  
  You're not gonna find a film much closer to perfection than this. Full review later.

• Cassie H

  
  A pretty good movie but in my opinion I thought that it could of been better.

• First L

  
  If Broadcast News had been made in the forties, William Hurt's role would've been played by Gary Cooper and Holly Hunter's role would've been played by Barbara Stanwyck, and of course the whole thing would've ended alot differently. Written, produced, and… More
  If Broadcast News had been made in the forties, William Hurt's role would've been played by Gary Cooper and Holly Hunter's role would've been played by Barbara Stanwyck, and of course the whole thing would've ended alot differently. Written, produced, and directed by James L. Brooks, "Broadcast News" plays like a classic hollywood film filtered through the angry perspective of one who was picked on alot by good-looking jocks in school. Jane Craig (Holly Hunter) has to choose between her heart and her intellect, that is, until a big twist at the end torpedoes any dilemma she had and cheats her (and us) out of having to make an unbiased decision. It's odd, and not to get into revealing too many spoilers, but she seems to have no problem forgiving Aaron (Albert Brooks) for being a rotten person but finds Tom's (William Hurt) lack of ethics (in an area he has no emotion invested in to begin with) to be unforgiveable. Tom told her time and again he really wasn't cut out for journalism and that it was just a job for him, something that he lucked into. It's an unsatisfying ending and seems out of character for Hurt's character. Or does it? In the beginning, we see Hurt even as a child is a natural born salesman, conning his dad out of doling out punishment when he brings home a bad report card. Tom recognizes his good looks are a tool to use in getting ahead. Brooks' character is the opposite, he hates the jocks and bullies that tortured him in high school, but never leaves that teenage mentality behind, never matures. He carries that bitter grudge throughout adulthood and seeks to strike back at those who are similar to his tormentors. Things are an absolute moral black and white with him, but only HIS morals and values count, everyone else is either a fraud or "evil". Jane makes a career out of obsessively managing her life down to telling the taxi drivers which route to take during the day. She starts everyday weeping, weeping under the pressure she puts upon herself. These three characters are really well written and they make up a unique and interesting love triangle. True, there is a moral dilemma at the end that feels sort of wrong, but that's just to distract you from the moral dilemma that's been taking place throughout the entire movie.

• xGary X

  
  This film is apparently critically acclaimed. I found it unbelievably bland and middle of the road. If you are going to do satire, don't pull your punches or it's a waste of time.

• Dean M

  
  Awesome satire on the world of television news with Holly Hunter, the tough producer who has to choose between Albert Brooks, the unphotogenic reporter who's a good friend and William Hurt, the new anchorman.

• Byron B

  
  Hard news vs. Soft news! This didn't impress me as much as Network.

• Jake B

  
  Although it lacks the emotional punch of Brooks's debut feature, (Terms of Endearment) Broadcast News is a superlative film, with exceptional performances from each of the three leads and a script that feels as genuine and well-researched as a hard-hitting news report. Let it be… More
  Although it lacks the emotional punch of Brooks's debut feature, (Terms of Endearment) Broadcast News is a superlative film, with exceptional performances from each of the three leads and a script that feels as genuine and well-researched as a hard-hitting news report. Let it be jknown, this is a character film first and foremost and a satire second. In my mind it succeds on both levels on its own terms. The film's characters are given suprising depth and dimension , while the satire remains sly and never bitter. Comparisons to Network are unnecesarry because the films have two completely separate goals and attitudes. While also a great film, Network is a cynical and weary work; in other words, its mad as hell abnd fed up with the state of television. Network's style of satire feels more extreme and guerilla. In contrast, the characters populatuing the news rooms of Broadcast News love and live for their jobs (sometimes to the detrement of their love lives.) They derive pleasure from the stresses and satisfactions of news reporting, just as the audience derives pleasure from wating this sweet and romantically realistic masterpeice.

• Joey N

  
  Holly Hunter does great things with this role and Albert Brooks makes a great sidekick.

• Dimitris S

  
  Sweet film,accusatory of the many backgrounds of reporters and their affiliation with the job/social purposes.Humorous and overtly serious,the fact Brooks' films don't have anything important to say (Spanglish,Terms of Endearment,As Good as it Gets),Broadcast News with the… More
  Sweet film,accusatory of the many backgrounds of reporters and their affiliation with the job/social purposes.Humorous and overtly serious,the fact Brooks' films don't have anything important to say (Spanglish,Terms of Endearment,As Good as it Gets),Broadcast News with the joyous tone and the jumpy mood,along with a striking duo (Hunter/Hurt) is perhaps his best picture.

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