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Network (1976)
A masterpiece worth watching
I am not a die-hard Sidney Lumet fan. I am not a die-hard Paddy Chayefsky fan. I am not a die-hard Fay Dunaway fan. Nonetheless, I loved this movie.
In my experience, I have heard quite a few complaints about this movie. I believe that these complaints are why Network is not on the Top 250 today (June 10, 2007; Network has a rating of 8.0/10 with 15,319 votes). These complaints include:
-the movie is too "slow"
-Chayefsky's monologues are unrealistic
-the film is irrelevant today
-you can't relate to such a movie
Well, in this comment, I would like to dispute such complaints.
I will admit that the movie is somewhat slow, but what do you expect? It is a movie about the corporate greed of the television network. It is not a "dumbed-down" Tom Cruise action movie. Besides, each scene matters to the plot. If someone tried editing this movie, they wouldn't find many parts they could edit. I find a certain intelligence in each scene.
People say that Chayefsky's monologues are unrealistic. They complain that "no one talks like that in real life". I beg to differ. I can think of many times where I went on and on in a monologue to strengthen and add support to my opinion. In fact, this whole comment is a monologue, written to debate and support my opinion, much like Chayefsky's monologues in the movie.
People also say that the movie is irrelevant today. This is the most outrageous complaint out of all of the complaints. This movie is more relevant today than it was in the 70s. Many very unsophisticated people gather ALL of their "information" (mostly propaganda) from the television. And the television networks today manipulate their audiences to think the way they want them to think.
Lastly, people complain that you cannot "relate" to such a movie. Well, I hope you can't relate to the movie. I hope that you are not a greedy, selfish television network manager. Unfortunately, in essence, you CAN relate. People may not be television network managers, but we have all felt greed and egoism. Think about The Godfather. You may like the movie, but how are you supposed to relate to a mob boss? That's not the point. You are comparing the mob's structure with society's structure; that is how you relate.
In conclusion, these complaints have no strong basis. At least rent the movie. Or, if you do not want to , check on channel TCM (Turner Classic Movies). They air Network on there at least 8 times a year (with absolutely no commercials).
Watch this movie at least once. I hope you won't regret it. 9/10.