The story of Washington D.C. radio personality Ralph "Petey" Greene, an ex-con who became a popular talk show host and community activist in the 1960s.
Director:
Kasi Lemmons
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Title: Talk to Me (2007)
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9 wins & 13 nominations.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Don Cheadle | ... | Petey Greene | |
| Chiwetel Ejiofor | ... | Dewey Hughes | |
 |
Bruce McFee | ... | Prison Sign-In Guard |
| Mike Epps | ... | Milo Hughes | |
| Peter MacNeill | ... | Warden Cecil Smithers | |
|
|
Adam Gaudreau | ... | Escorting Guard |
| Taraji P. Henson | ... | Vernell Watson | |
| Cedric the Entertainer | ... | 'Nighthawk' Bob Terry | |
| Martin Sheen | ... | E.G. Sonderling | |
| J. Miles Dale | ... | Program Director | |
|
|
Sean MacMahon | ... | Ronnie Simmons |
| Richard Chevolleau | ... | Poochie Braxton | |
| Martin Randez | ... | Hadley | |
| Todd Schroeder | ... | Guard Captain (as Todd William Schroeder) | |
| Vondie Curtis-Hall | ... | Sunny Jim Kelsey (as Vondie Curtis Hall) | |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
The true life story of Ralph Waldo "Petey" Greene Jr. 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, 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 brother Dewey Hughes. 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 and Sunny Jim. Combining biting humor with social commentary, Petey openly courts controversy for station owner E.G. Sonderling. Petey was ... Written by Focus Features
Plot Keywords:
cigarette smoking | radio host | radio show | radio | washington d.c. |Taglines:
Inspired by a true story See more »Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated R for pervasive language and some sexual content | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
3 August 2007 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Petey Greene's Washington See more »Edit
Box Office
Opening Weekend USA:
$391,000, 15 July 2007Gross USA:
$4,533,261Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$4,778,376Company Credits
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IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Color:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
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Written and Performed by Otis Redding
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Terrence Howard was briefly attached to star as Petey Greene. He recommended Taraji P. Henson for the part of Vernell while the two were filming Hustle & Flow (2005). See more »Goofs
When Petey says the telephone number of the radio station is 215-JK5-0199. The radio station is in Washington DC but the 215 area code is Philadelphia. See more »Soundtracks
I Can't Turn You LooseWritten and Performed by Otis Redding
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing
See more »
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As Ralph Waldo Petey Greene Jr., who became a one-man inner-city media explosion in Washington, D.C., starting in the late '60s, Don Cheadle is superb. Petey doesn't just say that word he means it. He wins over Dewey Hughes (Chiwetel Ejiofor), the slick, smart program director who is revealed to be a lot less of an stiff than he appears. Directed by Kasi Lemmons , Talk to Me digs into the relationship between Petey and Dewey, whose love/hate relationship is fascinating to watch. The two actors are marvelous. As crazy as he looks in those suits, Cheadle's never looks anything but cool. The rest of the cast is solid, but they mostly stay out of the way of the leads.