Network
Thinking about it, “Network” is the only film which was disappointing lately. I really liked “Weekend” and I also really enjoyed “The Dark Knight Rises”. Considering that, it seems like the badness of “Network” was perfectly enough for me to feel very meh about films these days. It took me awhile to finally write a blogposting about it, and it strongly made me wonder if I want to see a movie at all these days. I feel about “Network” in as similar way as I did about “Nashville”. A part of me really enjoyed the craziness of it, another part of me absolutely does not understand what it all is about. In my review about “Weekend”, I have recently lamented about how nothing I watch has heart, and “Network” is a perfect example of it. It has no heart whatsoever, which is unfortunate because it is built upon a very.
I have recently started watching “The Newsroom” (though it also heavily disappointed me at episode 4), and I can easily see how “Network” influenced the show. Unlike “Network” however, “The Newsroom” has real idealism behind it (unfortunately depicted in a very lame and explicit way) and almost every character on the show is truly likable. “The Newsroom” is ultimately trying to make a show about humans in the strong belief that people are smart, whereas “Network” is a show which ultimately makes fun of humans in the strong belief that people are stupid. I have absolutely no idea how Aaron Sorkin drew his inspiration out of the “Network” film, and I probably never will. I still find it unfortunate that the great premise and some great scenes turned into chaotic rants showcasing how literally all the characters are workaholic idiots (or one of the two).
Oh by the way, “Network” had its funny moments, but unfortunately it was not funny enough. Someone else who watched the film with us also fell asleep twice. We stopped the film to watch it the next day… and she fell asleep again.