Broadcast News

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"It’s the story of their lives."
  • R
  • 1987
  • 2 hr 13 min
  • 7.2  (33,771)
  • 84

Broadcast News is a 1987 romantic comedy-drama directed, produced, and co-written by James L. Brooks. The film stars William Hurt, Albert Brooks, and Holly Hunter in the lead roles. It revolves around the complicated professional and personal relationships of three ambitious individuals who work in the fast-paced world of broadcast news in Washington D.C.

William Hurt plays the role of Tom Grunick, a handsome and charming news anchor who lacks journalistic integrity or depth. As a former sports anchor, he gets hired on merit of his looks, charm and on camera presence. Holly Hunter plays Jane Craig, a brilliant and neurotic television producer who is obsessed with news and has zero tolerance for incompetence. She is passionate about her work, but becomes disillusioned when she realizes that her network’s focus on ratings supersedes its commitment to ethical and accurate reporting.

On the other hand, Albert Brooks portrays the character of Aaron Altman, a brilliant yet average-looking reporter who excels in research and writing, covering world affairs with integrity and depth. Aaron is in love with Jane but doesn’t have the looks and charisma that Tom possesses, making him an odd man out in this love triangle.

The movie follows the dynamics between the three characters as they experience professional, personal and romantic highs and lows in their fast-paced world of broadcast news. The story deals with themes of workplace politics, journalistic ethics, love, jealousy and competition.

The film showcases authentic portrayals of the world of television news broadcasting of the 1980s. Broadcast News provides an insider look at how news stories are sourced, scripted, produced, and ultimately broadcasted in the fast-paced world of 24-hour news cycles. It also showcases the toils of the people who make it possible to put up a nightly news show.

One of the strengths of the film is its ability to mix humor with serious, hard-hitting subject matter. The interplay of the characters, with their subtexts of jealousy, romantic interests, and fear of failure is engrossing. The characters are dynamic and well-fleshed out, and the performances from Hurt, Hunter and Brooks are extraordinary, nuanced and captivating.

The romantic subplot is equally compelling as the rest of the story. While viewers will empathize with Jane, Tom and Aaron’s predicament, the ending remains ambiguous; viewers would be left wondering who among the three would end up together, hinting that real-life stories are indeed unpredictable.

This film has been consistently chosen as one of the best movies about journalism and broadcast media, and it's as relevant today as it was in 1987. Broadcast News is a timeless classic, entertaining, insightful and truthful about the workplace dynamic and the need for sacrifice to be in the top echelons of media. It is a must-watch for anyone who is interested in the intricacies behind TV News and what it takes to put up a great show that informs and entertains the viewers.

In conclusion, Broadcast News is a smart, well-made movie that combines drama, romance, and comedy to create a powerful and insightful look at the world of broadcast journalism. The film entertains at the same time, it is a critique of the news media and it's an exceptional piece of storytelling that has stood the test of time. Its sharp, witty, and intelligent presentation of complicated professional, personal and romantic themes leaves the viewer enriched and emotional. Broadcasting News is a film that will not disappoint.

Broadcast News is a 1987 comedy with a runtime of 2 hours and 13 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2 and a MetaScore of 84.

Broadcast News
Description
Where to Watch Broadcast News
Broadcast News is available to watch, stream, download and buy on demand at Hulu, Amazon Prime, Apple TV Channels, Starz, The Roku Channel, Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, YouTube VOD and Vudu. Some platforms allow you to rent Broadcast News for a limited time or purchase the movie and download it to your device.
  • Release Date
    1987
  • MPAA Rating
    R
  • Runtime
    2 hr 13 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    7.2  (33,771)
  • Metascore
    84
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