'Network' | Critics' Picks | The New York Times

A. O. Scott looks at Sidney Lumet's 1976 satire.
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'Network' | Critics' Picks | The New York Times
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[@CorneliaAmiri]

Wow. To me this is a must see film. It’s more relevant now than when it was made. The ending is so strong and moving. I love it.

[@over07ful]

I watched paddy cheyfsky on the old Dina shore show. She asked him why this movie? He said i wanted to ask the question how do you remain human in an inhuman world. Cinema of this caliber will never be duplicated. paddy taught me something. He showed me what to avoid_ the humanoid behavior exhibited by our society. It's everywhere all the time. He made me ask what is it to be human, why are we here. I owe this guy a debt of gratitude. He made me think. R.i.p. P. Chevfskey

[@pjangels609]

Still relevant today as ever.

[@collt0916]

Even more so now

[@pjangels609]

@@collt0916 They are opening CORRUPT. See the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012, then look at it in 1947

[@m.e.d.7997]

They were all awesome in this movie!!! And the lines and writing were awesome!

[@anthonycbrown1952]

if one movie can change your outlook on life, this is it. The movie and pace are chilling and remains fresh in 2021. Faye Dunaway was worth her asking price and more.

[@scottmanduzy]

Chayefsky was a prophet in writing of this script.

[@Vesnicie]

No wonder poor Finchy had a real heart attack after that performance!

[@jarrethendrickson2203]

“...a manifestly irresponsible man on television. Nowadays it can be hard to find anything else...” This takes on a whole new meaning after 2016.

[@patr70]

Trump is a Master compared to that fumbling trainwreck Biden.

[@jacksonmares4453]

one of my all time favorite movies.

[@davedvlaries7764]

_Network_ was made in an age when considerably more intelligence was presumed on the part of its audience. In the years since, what with chairs thrown on _Geraldo_, hair weaves pulled out on _Springer_, and _Maury_ testing multiple numbers of punks for paternity, and the public raising the same to hits, it's understandable that effort such as shown in this film is so much more rare. I wish I could credit who said it, regarding the state of things since: "The fewer number of words it takes to describe what your movie's about, the better the chance it'll get made." Whoopi Goldberg hides out in a convent. "Let's do it."

[@fadhilramadhani1847]

Faye Dunaway is just incredible in this film.

[@LordGreystoke]

So were Peter Finch, William Holden, Beatrice Straight, Robert Duvall...pretty much the entire cast were incredible

[@fadhilramadhani1847]

Byron Gordon Duvall should have been nominated for this film.

[@vanillagodzilla420]

Ned Beatty!!!

[@robertordonez9242]

Everyone was incredible in this film

[@Deeplycloseted435]

Oscars for Network in 1976: Best Actor: Peter Finch Best Actress: Faye Dunaway Best Supporting Actor: Ned Beaty (nominated) Best Supporting Actress: Beatrice Straight They almost swept the entire acting categories. Straight and Beaty were barely in the film for five or six minutes. Robert Duvall is also excellent in this movie. If you look at the actual reviews for this movie on release, most critics and especially network executives panned the film as being over the top or ridiculous, saying things like, “...this would never happen.” There was an arrogance that they were above this kind of thing. Sadly, the film was prophetic and not in a good way. The American form of propaganda has to be extremely elegant and crafty as we live in an alleged free society where free speech of the press is considered almost a religion. Its the first amendment to the constitution as it was realized the importance of the media to hold politicians accountable. Unfortunately the authors of the Bill of Rights never foresaw the intermingling of corporate America and government. The owners of the networks and most newspapers and radio are also the owners of massive conglomerates that are connected to weapons contractors, the steel and oil industry, retail stores both physical and online.....on and on and on. They cannot be relied on to provide accurate information as there is a significant conflict of interest. So here we are. We have a billionaire and former reality tv game show host as POTUS, and his followers actually believe he cares about them. Why? Because they saw it on the television.

[@geoffreypiltz271]

I saw this movie at the time of release and came out saying that Beatrice Straight deserved an academy award. She got it.

[@maxheadrom3088]

This is one of those movies I haven't seen yet because I need a proper setting to do it - or the chance to watch it in the theater. From is what matters of, like that Canadian said: "The Medium is the Message" - since the medium is what dictates the best form to fit it. How many one line comments on this video? How many of them were typed on a cell phone? I would put some money on "nearly 100%" because typing a comment like this one is much easier on a good PC keyboard than on a cell phone.

[@ricardodsavant2965]

Network is critique of the NYT.

[@anthonyscully2998]

way ahead of its time

[@NortonsNestMonthly]

Genius and catharsis in every line...

[@Whysosadams]

Anyone else seen the National Theatre play with Cranston?

[@lynnturman8157]

no but I saw him in breaking bad

[@musicalgenius02]

Lynn Turman bruh smh 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@JamesCimino]

I did! Cranston’s version was more dark and updated to the Trump era. He was brilliant, but the other actors not so much.

[@tomloft2000]

at that time this was considered a satire of TV.that was then,this is now.

[@frankchukwumah9477]

I still think that Christine chubbuck incident two years before had an impact on the film.

[@barttanner8162]

One of the best movies produced about mass media.

[@johnboy32064]

Duanaway at the top of her game. I wish it could've lasted.

[@Madbandit77]

No, but some of the people who run it have no souls.

[@bannedheretic2971]

Turn off your television sets now

[@robertbates6249]

this is one of the largest 2 hours wasted in my life =(

[@MichaelCorleone654]

Kirk Bates a brain transplant ought to fix you

[@robertbates6249]

@@MichaelCorleone654 longest I mean

[@MichaelCorleone654]

Kirk Bates I was referring to you not liking the movie.

[@robertbates6249]

@@MichaelCorleone654 I just don't understand it. I mean is it an early version of the hunger games which I haven't watched

[@MichaelCorleone654]

Kirk Bates No

[@storyiseverything2219]

I just watched this on Netflix. It bored me from beginning to end.

[@carterburkhart4336]

StoryIsEverything it’s not even on Netflix

[@storyiseverything2219]

Maybe you have a different version of Netflix.

[@linkbiff1054]

If Peter Finch didn't electrify you, you need some more caffeine and be more awake.

[@johnedwards1321]

Oh........

[@andrewbaumann2661]

It's OK, it isn't for everyone. Maybe try something a bit simpler next time. Maybe Sponge Bob Squarepants?

[@CaptainSpalding72]

More relevant today than ever. What once was seen as satirical prophecy is now fact.