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Talk to Me

Talk to Me (2007)

July. 13,2007
|
7.3
|
R
| Drama

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.

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Reviews

ThiefHott
2007/07/13

Too much of everything

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BlazeLime
2007/07/14

Strong and Moving!

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Odelecol
2007/07/15

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

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Gutsycurene
2007/07/16

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

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Chrysanthepop
2007/07/17

Kasi Lemmons tells the story of the legendary radio show host Petey Greene. Set in the 60s, the director captures the essence of the time very well especially through funky colour fashion, hairstyle and language. A few of the scenes look staged but the compelling storytelling makes up for this very little flaw. Lemmons tackles various issues while at the same time he prevents the film from being solely issue-based. Additionally 'Talk To Me' is accompanied by a terrific soundtrack.The main focus of the film is the relationship between Greene and Hughes and this relationship is portrayed excellently by the writer, director and of course, the actors. Don Cheadle delivers another monumental performance as Greene. Chiwetel Ejiorfor is superbly restrained in an equally convincing performance. Taraji Henson acts naturally and Martin Sheen, an actor who in my opinion has never let me down where acting is concerned, is fantastic.It is the humour in 'Talk To Me' that makes it different from other rags-to-riches type biopics. Not only is this movie great entertainment but a brilliant reminder of the 60s glamour, history and culture and a story of a man who made a difference.

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Michael O'Keefe
2007/07/18

Some may want to argue accuracy; just enjoy this biopic of Ralph "Petey" Greene. Greene(Don Cheadle)went from ex-con to outspoken iconic radio personality that gave hope and instilled pride in the black community of Washington, D.C. when turbulent times were taking its toll. Friend and producer Dewey Hughes(Chiwetel Ejiofor), who also reached radio iconic status, ran interference trying to keep distance between "Petey" and E.G. Sondering(Martin Sheen), owner of radio station WOL. It was the 1960's and "Petey" Greene brought "T-Town" to D.C. with his no-holds-barred directness expanding social consciousness between doses of some of the greatest soul music in the land. Great soundtrack featuring the likes of: Otis Redding, James Brown, Sam & Dave, Barbara Lewis, Clarance Carter, Booker T. & The M.G.s and The Chamber Brothers.Also in the cast: Mike Epps, J. Miles Dale, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Cedric the Entertainer, Taraji P. Henson and Jeff Kassel. Kudos to director Kasi Lemmons.

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somehope
2007/07/19

Is Don Cheadle the greatest living actor? Pauline Kael once wrote that very sentence after seeing a actor named Morgan Freeman in "Street Smart." I don't know if Cheadle is or isn't, but as I got to know his character Petey Greene in this film, I was thinking he did a better job rounding out a character of a DJ than either Robin Williams ("Good Morning, Vietnam")or Eric Boogisan ("Talk Radio.") For an actor to live in a DJ booth during critical parts of the film, that's high praise.Yet, Petey/Don does go outside the booth more than anyone especially seeing his beloved Washington D.C. burning after the MLK assassination. I haven't seen all of Cheadle's work, especially the nominated "Hotel Rawanda," but in the characters I see him create from the big time movie "Boogie Nights" to the fantastic and fantastically under seen rape drama "Things Behind the Sun," (and I'm probably missing more), he is one of the best actors in America, bar none, for creating real characters. Petey is one of his best, because we get to see him as a convict to civic voice to 70's almost-but-not-quite national celebrity on Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show" and all stops in between. I have never heard of Greene ever before in my life, but Cheadle creates such a vivid character,you feel as though he was a girl-hopping, street-smart, articulate, friend.Cheadle couldn't have pulled off the fine acting without fine actors around him such as Martin Sheen as the radio station boss,Tarj P. Henson as his outspoken and wild girlfriend, and of course, Chitwel Ejofor as the man who becomes his friend and manager after hating his guts. (Long story and a little cliché; but Ejofor is just as brilliant as I'm telling you Cheadle is.) I'm writing this months after seeing the film so I may have missed some good and bad points. Nonetheless, this film is the real deal, and one of this great actor's best roles.

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Neil Turner
2007/07/20

I remember many of my experiences in the late 60's and 70's as sort of an over-the-top caricature of real life, and, basically, I find that a pretty valid description of Talk to Me. Just as my memories of those times are glossed over by fond and crazy memories so is this film, but that didn't keep me from really enjoying it.The film was advertised as a biopic of Washington, D.C., radio and television talk-show personality, Petey Greene. He grew up on the mean streets of D.C. and was eventually sent to prison. Greene was a master hustler and larger than life personality - the perfect persona for a talk-show host. During his time in prison, he gained experience as an incarcerated DJ and used that experience to break into radio talk after his release. He became a noted figure of social consciousness in D.C. during those turbulent times of civil unrest in the quest for civil rights for the everyday African American man and woman. He accomplished a great deal in his fifty-three years but was always haunted by demons of his past and his additions to drugs and alcohol.Don Cheadle is a joy to watch as Petey. He is an excellent actor and gives us a delightful taste of a man strutting through his world as a larger-than-life character all the while trying to suppress his deep feelings of insecurity.In reality, the film is actually more of a biography of Dewey Hughes who started working in lowly jobs in a D.C. radio station and went on to become a mover and shaker in both radio and television.Hughes is played by British actor, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and he does an amazing job at capturing the accent of the two sides of his character. In the film, Hughes is depicted as a Black man raised in poverty who has accomplished a great deal - extremely proper speech being one. During most of the film, Ejiofor speaks in that tongue, but there are times when his character expresses himself in a very believable way using the language of the streets - all of this from an actor with a British accent.Cheadle and Ejiofor give us an engrossing look at two talented men who spend most of their time at odds with one another all the while covering respect, envy, and love. Even though their relationship in the film is highly romanticized, it is still good, solid entertainment.Not to demean the excellent acting all around, it is the production that makes this film a great indulgence - especially for me. Most of it takes place during the 70's which was both a tragic and totally wacky decade of American history. This film is filled with great costumes and scenes that will bring bitter-sweet memories to anyone of my generation. It's a great treat.

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