TALK RADIO is directed by Oliver Stone and based on the play created by its star Eric Bogosian and Tad Savinar. The movie takes place in 1988 at KGAB radio where Barry Champlain(Bogosian)rules the Dallas-Ft. Worth area airways with his late night acerbic venom talk-show insulting any and everyone that gets in the way of his caustic humor and controversial political views...political correctness has yet to be theorized let alone be honored. Champlain's antics have already started wearing thin with his chain-smoking engineer Stu(John C. McGinley). His producer girl friend Ellen(Ellen Greene)is but a doormat to the ego-swollen and pompous shock jock. His love is deflating his many callers daring to be cut down before being hung up on. The self-loving and larger-than-life air personality starts to spiral out of control when he finds out with practically no forewarned notice that "his" show it to go national after the weekend. Hiding his insecurity he phones his ex-wife(Leslie Hope)and wants her by his side as a crutch. Barry re-enters his control room to the sounds of his theme song "Bad To The Bone" by George Thorogood and begins to amp up his anger filled rants to further fearlessly irritate ethnic groups and listeners in general. Parts of this film is based on the assassination of talk radio host Alan Berg in 1984.
Bogosian appears flawless in his characterization. Also in the cast are: Alec Baldwin, John Pankow and Zach Grenier. Caller voices are provided by the likes of: Alan Corduner, Michael Wincott, Park Overall, Earl Hindman, William De Acutis, Frederica Meister, Michelle Mariana and Rockets Redglare, who plays a pivotal role in the finale. Being in radio once myself for several years, I admit to several twinges of jealousy. It wasn't long lived. Every time I watch this movie I find something new.
Bogosian appears flawless in his characterization. Also in the cast are: Alec Baldwin, John Pankow and Zach Grenier. Caller voices are provided by the likes of: Alan Corduner, Michael Wincott, Park Overall, Earl Hindman, William De Acutis, Frederica Meister, Michelle Mariana and Rockets Redglare, who plays a pivotal role in the finale. Being in radio once myself for several years, I admit to several twinges of jealousy. It wasn't long lived. Every time I watch this movie I find something new.