February 23, 2010 -- This film is one of the best journalistic comedies ever, comparable to the classics “The Front Page,” “His Girl Friday” and “Teacher's Pet.” In fact, it sure looks like Writer-director James Brooks borrowed a lot of material from those three movies. This film is often billed as a romantic comedy, but it is actually a non-romantic comedy. In this way it is similar to “500 Days of Summer,” which correctly includes a very specific denial that it is a romance. That is why my colleague Patrick Ivers likes this film, while he tends to dislike films with real romance. He likes non-romantic or faux-romantic films of this sort. I like romantic films, but I also liked this film. It is one of my favorites, so Patrick and I agree on this one.

The film starts out with some flashback scenes showing the three main characters as children. The three main characters are Jane Craig (played by Holly Hunter in her finest career performance) Aaron Altman (Albert Brooks of “Out of Sight”) and Tom Grunick (William Hurt of “Body Heat”). They form an unhappy romantic triangle in this film. There is a lot of conflict between these three characters. Jane is an obsessive-compulsive reporter driven to excellence and high, idealistic ethical standards. She is also an emotional basket case. Aaron Altman is an intelligent journalist who wants to be a high-paid, high-profile anchorman, but is doomed to labor in relative obscurity as a writer of news copy read on the air by pretty and shallow news readers. Tom is an unflappable charismatic charmer with good looks, loose ethics and a knack for always looking cool on camera, even in tense situations.

Tom represents everything that Jane is worried about in modern journalism, a news reader who is not a journalist, who is uninformed, poorly educated, none to bright, possessing loose ethics and poor news judgement. Jane is nevertheless attracted to Tom, even though Aaron would be a much better match for her. Aaron is in love with Jane, but can never make it to first base with her. He is deeply troubled by Tom, not only because he is a clear threat to the future of journalism, but because Jane is attracted to him. In one scene, he calls Tom “the devil.”

The film covers some important aspects of journalism, including the decline and fall of the great network news organizations, which this film foretold in 1987. The decline has been even worse since then, much like the current decline of newspapers. The film shows a decline in journalistic ethics, coupled with massive staff reductions in the network news bureaus. Today, the network news organizations are mere shadows of what they once were. Recently, there has been a similar decline among the great newspapers. This film recounts the beginning of the end of broadcast journalism. It was the beginning of the transformation of news from journalism to entertainment. As Aaron states in the movie, “This is one story they won't cover” as he is surrounded by friends and colleagues losing their jobs.

The film gives a melancholy depiction of both romance and journalism, yet it is also very funny, displaying a savage, sarcastic wit. News executive Paul Moore, brilliantly played by Peter Hackes, is busy laying off people, pretending to be sympathetic, but actually concerned only with his own job security. One of those getting the axe is Martin Klein (Robert Katims of “Mulholland Drive”) who says he is just old enough to be flattered by the term “early retirement.” When Moore very insincerely asks if there is anything he can do for Klein. Klein replies, “I certainly hope you'll die soon” and walks away laughing. In another scene where Aaron makes Blair Litton (Joan Cusack) angry with a cutting remark, she says, “and for a while there I was attracted to you.” Aaron replies “Well, wait a minute, that changes everything!” Talking to Jane on the phone, Aaron says wistfully, “Wouldn't this be a great world if insecurity and desperation made us more attractive? If 'needy' were a turn-on?” Alas, that is not the case. People often behave foolishly in matters of love and just about everything else. That can lead to heartache and tragedy, but that same foolishness can also be very funny to watch, as it is here. This film rates an A.

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in digital formats, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Copyright © 2010 Robert Roten. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

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