Network, 1976 - ★★★★★

Network, 1976 - ★★★★★
REVIEWED

"I just ran out of bullshit"

Howard Beale (Peter Finch)

This corporate satire is director Sidney Lumet's (with the aid of writer Paddy Chayefsky) supremely sharp and articulate masterpiece. Plot follows a soon to be put to pasture news anchorman Howard Beale. Out of shock and his own self emptiness he suffers a mental breakdown and tells his dwindling viewer base hes going to kill himself live on air. His outburst sparks a ratings surge, so much the execs at his TV Network, decide to capitalize on Howard's new found public popularity for their own benefit.

Story plays out like an allegory for Illuminati styled faceless elites in power, and how global corporations have become bigger than countries & religions. Though the central theme is clearly manipulation, like how television media manipulates its viewers and also those who work in it.

The actings superb, its Peter Finch who steals the film, but both William Holden & Faye Dunaway give brilliant powerhouse performances. So do both Robert Duvall and Ned Beatty.

[PRFR: Personal Reasons For Remembering]

Its 70's chic at its very best, Holden

Originally taken from Letterboxd

Godspeed You! Black Emperor, 1976 - ★★★★

Godspeed You! Black Emperor, 1976 - ★★★★
REVIEWED

"I didn't quit school, I've never been to school."

A juvenile delinquent

Viewed as part of my *Beware the Docs of March Marathon 1.Legendary cult b&w documentary following the rise in rebellious youth bikers in 70's Tokyo, Japan. Its still fascinating close to 40 years later.

Not perfect (captured far too much home life and just sitting around for me), and one the cool movie hipsters have overrated (you know the types who daringly see Eraserhead and let you know about it), but 'Godspeed You! Black Emperor' aka 'Goddo supiido yuu! Burakku emparaa' still ranks as one of the most interesting film documents on a youth movement, thats ever been made. It packs enough energy and cool to fill 10 docs. Visually its extremely gritty very new wave cinema feeling, best segments are just watching the teens riding around, or being shy chatting with or about girls. My favorite segment was when one of the boys bought a new bike for the first time, a fun scene with bonkers j-music.

Theres some truly amazing b&w photography used as well, like the sight of a lone bike in-front of a lights flashing police car or the various goofy kids sporting penned on swastikas (I'm all for rebellion, so long as it washes off for my studies or office job tomorrow).

* I did make one rule with my doc theme month, not to list anything I'd seen previously, though I'd seen segments of this before (hard not to have done being a fan of the band GSYB, I was bound to be interested how they got their name). But I'd not previously seen it in its entireity, honest l; )

Originally taken from Letterboxd