Talk Radio *** (1988, Eric Bogosian, Alec Baldwin, Ellen Greene, Leslie Hope, John C McGinley, John Pankow, Michael Wincott) – Classic Movie Review 6685

Eric Bogosian’s one-set play transfers admirably to the screen for this sinister, emotionally charged 1988 drama, thanks to co-writer/ director Oliver Stone’s compelling handling, the flashy camerawork by Robert Richardson and the high-calibre acting of Bogosian, Greene, Alec Baldwin, Leslie Hope, John C McGinley, John Pankow and Michael Wincott. It is based on a book by Stephen Singular.

Eric Bogosian also co-writes and stars as acerbic late-night Dallas radio phone-in host Barry, who is such a hit with his abusive patter that a big company plans to syndicate his programme to a nationwide network of stations. But he is under pressure to alter the content of his show and he insists that he will not tone down his offensively rude and gratuitously contemptuous style and gets overwhelmed by the hatred that surrounds him, while he has enraged a neo-Nazi group.

There are bomb threats on air, and then he also is under pressure in his personal life after he invites his ex-wife Ellen (Ellen Greene) to the national launch night, upsetting his producer’s girlfriend.

It runs 110 minutes, is made by Ten-Four Productions and Cineplex-Odeon, is released by 20th Century Fox, is produced by Greg Strangis, Sam Strangis, Edward R Pressman and A Kitman, is scored by Stewart Copeland, and designed by Bruno Rubeo.

Also in the cast are Linda Atkinson, Robert Trebor, Zach Grenier, Tony Frank, Harlan Jordan, Pirie MacDonald and Allan Corduner.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6685

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