Radio Lady Reviews: "Talk to Me" (Opens July 27, 2007)

[Radio_Lady]

http://movies.about.com/library/weekly/bltalktomeposter.htm

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/talk_to_me/gallery.php?page=16&size=lores&nopop=1

This movie is rated "A" on Ellen's Entertainment Report Card.
This is Ellen Kimball for Oregon Public Broadcasting's Accessible Information Network.

Academy Award nominee Don Cheadle portrays the one and only Ralph Waldo “Petey” Greene Jr. Petey’s story is funny, dramatic, inspiring – and real. In the mid-to-late 1960s, in Washington, D.C., vibrant soul music and exploding social consciousness were combining to unique and powerful effect. It was the place and time for Petey to fully express himself – sometimes to outrageous effect – and “tell it like it is.” With the support of his irrepressible and tempestuous girlfriend Vernell (Taraji P. Henson), the newly minted ex-con talks his way into an on-air radio gig.

He forges a friendship and a partnership with fellow prison inmate Milo’s (Mike Epps) brother Dewey Hughes (double Golden Globe Award nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor). From the first wild morning on the air, Petey relies on the more straight-laced Dewey to run interference at WOL-AM, where Dewey is the program director. At the station, Petey becomes an iconic radio personality, surpassing even the established popularity of his fellow disc jockeys, Nighthawk (Cedric The Entertainer) and Sunny Jim (Vondie Curtis Hall). Combining biting humor with social commentary, Petey openly courts controversy for station owner E.G. Sonderling (Emmy Award winner Martin Sheen). Petey was determined to make not just himself but his community heard during an exciting and turbulent period in American history.

As Petey’s voice, humor, and spirit surge across the airwaves with the vitality of the era, listeners tune in to hear not only incredible music but also a man speaking directly to them about race and power in America like few people ever have. Through the years, Petey’s “The truth just is” style -- on – and off-air – would redefine both Petey and Dewey, and empower each to become the man he would most like to be.

Movie information
Release Date (USA): 07-27-2007 (Wide)
Rating (USA): R
Director: Kasi Lemmons
Producer: Joe Fries, Mark Gordon, Sidney Kimmel, Josh McLaughlin
Studio: Focus Features
Writers: Michael Genet, Rick Famuyiwa, and Kasi Lemmons (revised screenplay)
Official Website: http://www.focusfeatures.com/talktome

Due to my August vacation and limited access to the Democratic Underground -- this review is posted from another on-line source.
The movie was reviewed ad lib on my audio program prior to my vacation.

Original source: http://movies.monstersandcritics.com/archive/moviearchive.php/Talk_to_Me/9790

[quiet.american]

1. Loved this one, too. n/t

[Radio_Lady]

7. Hello from San Rafael, California... yes, this was an excellent movie.

I really can't fault it in any way.

Sorry it won't get much business, I'm afraid. "The Bourne Ultimatum" made 70 million dollars this weekend. I have no idea until tomorrow (Monday) how TTM did.

Thanks for your comment, Quiet.American. I accidentally types "QUITE.American" and probably should leave it that way.

[quiet.american]

11. Lol! "Quite.American" -- yeah, that's okay, too. :)

I really do hope this movie doesn't sink into obscurity -- but it's been out about 3 wks. now, I think, and I don't know if it had a wider opening; it's already gone from the theater I saw it at -- hopefully, it'll do well internationally and in DVD sales....

I can't remember the last time I saw such a rock-solid starring cast -- can't say enough about it. Loved it!

[fortyfeetunder]

2. I can't wait to see it...

having grown up listening to Petey Greene on WOL-AM radio many years ago, I want to see how this is interpreted...

[Radio_Lady]

8. The cast is very impressive and I hope you do get to see it.

I'm on vacation and won't be able to view this thread later this week.

Appreciate you comments, FortyFeetUnder.

Nice to see you on the DU!

Sincerely,

Radio Lady (vacationing in San Rafael and San Francisco, CA)

[rainbow4321]

3. **Best** movie this summer...crappy advertising by movie brass.

BEST.
Saw it yesterday. And whoever decides on what movie previews are shown are idiots. I haven't seen a single preview in the theaters this summer about it. At all. Eight million previews of Bratz and other crappy movies and "blockbusters" but none on this one.
Maybe it will be one of those "word of mouth" movies that climb the movie charts as the weeks go on??

[Radio_Lady]

9. We saw the preview, but it was probably prior to one of the screenings we attend.

I decided to forget about "Bratz" since my nine-year-old granddaughter didn't want to see it on a Saturday.

Husband wants to drag me to "Ultimatum" but I'm fighting him.

The two movies I haven't seen are "Once" and "Evening." Have you seen those?

Have a wonderful week.

Best,

Radio Lady

[rainbow4321]

10. Haven't seen either of those

But my teen daughter saw Evening. Said the audience comments as they were all leaving the theater was very mixed. Some were in tears over the ending--saying how good the movie was, but that just as many people were saying they didn't like it.

It was good to see your thread/review on "Talk to Me". After seeing the movie I was kind of surprised not to see multiple threads about it here in any of the DU forums. The only other extensive post about it that I saw was archived from back in July!

[Radio_Lady]

12. Regrettably, many good movies bite the dust due to lack of support.

The only thing I can say is that BEFORE there were tapes and DVDs, a movie missed was truly a movie unseen... perhaps for decades!

[rainbow4321]

4. delete--dupe

[cathandler]

5. "Wake up, God dammit!"

Saw this movie one hour after seeing The Simpsons Movie. Now, who are the Simpsons again?

I betcha Cheadle gets an academy nomination for this movie -- and he just might win -- since he didn't win for HOTEL RWANDA.

Let me say, with this movie, "I laughed, I cried -- it became a part of me."

[Radio_Lady]

13. Interesting -- I had the same thought about Don Cheadle -- he should get a nomination!

Good minds think alike? I'd like to think so!

[deucemagnet]

6. It looks good!

I saw Cheadle on a late-night show, and he mentioned a YouTube clip of Petey talking about how to eat watermelon. If you've seen the movie, you'll love this. If you haven't seen the movie, you will after watching this clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-eitsutpOc

[Radio_Lady]

14. Great! Deucemagnet, thanks for adding this link! I do appreciate it.