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Talk Radio

Talk Radio

Drama · 1988

A rude, contemptuous talk show host becomes overwhelmed by the hatred that surrounds his program just before it goes national.

Movie details

Talk Radio

“The last neighborhood in America.”

1988 Drama 1h 49m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.1 / 10

Community rating

A rude, contemptuous talk show host becomes overwhelmed by the hatred that surrounds his program just before it goes national.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Talk Radio?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Richard Jewell

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Quiz Show

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Oliver Stone

Written by

Oliver Stone · Eric Bogosian

Eric Bogosian

Eric Bogosian

Barry Champlain

Ellen Greene

Ellen Greene

Ellen

Leslie Hope

Leslie Hope

Laura

John C. McGinley

John C. McGinley

Stu

Alec Baldwin

Alec Baldwin

Dan

John Pankow

John Pankow

Dietz

Michael Wincott

Michael Wincott

Kent / Michael / Joe

Court is in session

Put Talk Radio on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.