Broadcast News (1987)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

James L. Brooks

Writer:

James L. Brooks (written by)

Release Date:

16 December 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

It's the story of their lives.

Plot:

Take two rival TV reporters: one handsome, one talented, both male. Add one producer, female. Mix well and watch the sparks fly.

Plot Keywords:

Producer | Reporter | Broadcasting | Journalist | Love Triangle

Awards:

Nominated for 7 Oscars. Another 13 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

William Hurt	...	Tom Grunick
Albert Brooks	...	Aaron Altman
Holly Hunter	...	Jane Craig
Robert Prosky	...	Ernie Merriman
Lois Chiles	...	Jennifer Mack
Joan Cusack	...	Blair Litton (as Joan Cusak)
Peter Hackes	...	Paul Moore
Christian Clemenson	...	Bobby
Jack Nicholson	...	Bill Rorich
Robert Katims	...	Martin Klein
Ed Wheeler	...	George Wein
Stephen Mendillo	...	Gerald Grunick
Kimber Shoop	...	Young Tom
Dwayne Markee	...	Young Aaron
Gennie James	...	Young Jane

Runtime:

133 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-10 | Netherlands:AL | Singapore:PG | Sweden:7 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Baltimore-Washington International Airport, Maryland, USA

Company:

Amercent Films

Trivia:

Jack Nicholson was not paid for his role, at his own request.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Tom and Jane return from their first dinner together, Tom is walking backwards and is just about to hit his head on a low archway, yet in the next shot he is still several feet away from it.

Quotes:

Aaron Altman: Sorry... sex, tears... this must be the news.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Simpsons: Fraudcast News (#15.22)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

L'Edition Speciale

Mildly clever comedy by James L. Brooks.

"Broadcast News" is directed by James L. Brooks (Terms of Endearment, As Good As It Gets) and has a great cast, including William Hurt, Albert Brooks, and Holly Hunter. Everyone gives a good performance, but they're all too unlikable to really care about them.

Some parts of the film are really brilliant, such as the prologue, and the short scenes with Jack Nicholson. The main reason it doesn't entirely work, is it's a film that relies on the characters being amusing rather than amusing things happening to them.

You could consider it nothing more than a drama, but it's often too silly to be successful there as well. Still, the script makes it worth a watch. Certainly not for everyone.

7.0 out of 10