Network with Simon

Aussie and the Scotsman talk movies

This week we are talking about the1976 American comedy drama film Network directed by Sidney Lumet and written by Paddy Chayefsky.

It depicts a television network struggling with poor ratings until the nightly live broadcast of its longtime news anchor Howard Beale (Peter Finch) inadvertently showcases his breakdown into increasingly psychotic behaviour, which makes his show a surprise hit.

Alongside Finch (in his final role), the film stars Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Robert Duvall, Wesley Addy, Ned Beatty, and Beatrice Straight

Sophisticated, talented, artistic, thoughtful and brilliantly creative are words unfamiliar to the Aussie and the Scotsman but well suited to long time friend and guest of the podcast Simon from Perth.

As a student of movies Simon articulates and walks us through why this is such an important movie. Why and how scenes work.

Our conversation kicks off with the Aussie telling us a story about chocolate.

The Scotsman thinks this movie is more relevant today that it has ever been he is impassioned and shouts it from the top of his lungs:

"I'm mad as hell and i'm not going to take it anymore!!"

As the Aussie says this one "hit's the pulse of the people" then and now.

This is a 5/5 movie from the Scotsman - we haven't seen him this animated for while. It's a must watch.

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