Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Radio

This is topic Radio in forum Film Handlers' Movie Reviews at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 10-17-2003, 04:31 AM:

This year has brought us some very good memorable films such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Finding Nemo, Open Range and Holes.

This year has also brought us other memorable films in a more evil and horrifying sense, such as From Justin to Kelly, The Hulk, Spy Kids 3D, Gigli, etc...because they were soooooooooooo bad. I know the competition for the throne is really tough this year, but Radio may very well make my #1 spot as worst movie of 2003.

Radio tells the story of a retarded man, a football coach and a newbie director trying to win an Academy Award and to move people. Well, there was movement alright, but I don't think people's bowels was the kind these boys were trying to achieve.

There is one good performance in this film and that is Ed Harris, but it is by no means anything special. (Ed Harris always does a good job, but he has done better.) Cuba Gooding Jr. does a decent job at playing a retarded man, but really these guys aren't the problem here. The problem is the story, the screenplay and the director. This movie soooooooooo wants to be Hoosiers or Rudy, but it flat out fails over and over in every scene. Dialogue is corny and although the filmmakers are trying as hard as they can to shove pity for this fellow down the audience's throat, it just doesn't work. The question "how many more reels are left?" is the nagging issue throughout the film.

A friend of mine has a theory that the public doesn't want to see good movies, but will come out in droves to see pure crap. Well, if his theory holds up, this movie will do incredible business.

"We're not teaching Radio. He has been teaching us." Could we possibly cheeze the cliches up any more???

Avoid this piece of crap. It's been done many times before, and ALL of them were better. Instead, stay home and rent Rudy or Hoosiers and see a REAL movie. If you've already seen those movies too many times before, repeatedly smashing your head into a brick wall is almost certainly a better way to kill two hours of your life.

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 10-17-2003, 04:43 AM:

I liked it...

>>> Phil

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 10-17-2003, 04:44 AM:

LIAR! You haven't even seen it.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 10-17-2003, 04:47 AM:

Cuba Gooding Jr. will get an Oscar nomination for playing a retarded person. If his character had also been a druggie, it would be a sure bet that he'd win. If he had a haunted past, then don't even bother holding the awards because we know who the winners are.

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 10-17-2003, 05:40 AM:

Yes I did! I have a screener DVD! [Razz]

>>> Phil

Posted by Jim Leko (Member # 1287) on 10-17-2003, 06:11 AM:

I just got back from watching Radio. I liked it. It was better than I thought it would be.

Posted by Michael Gonzalez (Member # 593) on 10-17-2003, 12:53 PM:

When I first saw the preview for Radio, it reminded me of what Eddie Murphy's character says in Bow Finger about the only way a Black Man can win an Oscar. To paraphrase, they have to either play a slave or a retard. So he wanted to play a retarded slave.

Posted by Ron Yost (Member # 1850) on 10-18-2003, 01:31 AM:

We might even have -two- good seafaring films this year .. if "Master And Commander" turns out to be a good one. The trailer is good, but we all know how trailers are the best part of some films. [Big Grin]

Here's hoping.

Ron Yost

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 10-18-2003, 03:15 AM:

DANGER! DANGER! Diabetics Beware...do not see this film!

It has so much "sweetness" you will OD! YUK! What a POS!

They used EVERY single gimmick and heart-tugging trick to make this the sappiest movie I have ever seen next to "Glitter"!

(There Brad, happy?)

>>> Phil

Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 10-23-2003, 10:48 PM:

Damn Brad...

Phil, you're, quite simply, an ass kisser.... [eyes]

You're harsh. I thought this was, indeed, one of the better movies of the year. Then again, T.L. Hannah HS is a few hours away from me in upstate SC and the truth behind the film is what draws me in. Ed Harris was great, as he normally is, and Cuba Gooding Jr. was awesome as well, as he normally is.

This film had heart. It stirred emotions. It had a message. I found it to be much better than most of the [bs]

I've endured this year (and years past).

And the scene where he scribbles his name... The REAL Radio does the same.... he still is unable to write yut everyone knows him.. [Smile]

He gladly points out that he has a business card... shows you his name..a smiles the whole time..

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 10-24-2003, 12:35 AM:

Jason, the movie is formula, formula, formula. Every single trick and cliche in the book has been pulled out to try and force an emotional response to the film. If it worked on you, then I'm glad you enjoyed it, but like I said it has all been done before, and all of the previous attempts were much better. My comments are not harsh by any means. The film deserves every word of it.

I labeled my print "Radio For Help - This Movie Sucks", which I find to be a much more suitable title. [puke]

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 10-24-2003, 05:24 AM:

quote:
He gladly points out that he has a business card... shows you his name..a smiles the whole time..

I also have a business card and I smile a lot - does that mean that I am retarded too [Confused]

Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 10-24-2003, 04:54 PM:

Michael..

I've always heard... "If the shoe fits.."

[Cool]

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 10-24-2003, 06:23 PM:

Jason said:

quote:
Phil, you're, quite simply, an ass kisser....

Yeah Jason, so what's your point? Brad has lowered my $500.00/yr FT membership fees to $400 in exchange for my support... I have to pay in advance. [Razz]

My review stands on it's own merits. The film SUCKED!

Mike, you are always in a stupor, that's why you smile a lot...

I also have a biz card, and I never smile...I am a very serious person and I never see any humor in anything. I am retarded... Joe told me so.

(Note to self: Strike Jason from xmas card list.)

>>> Phil

Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 10-24-2003, 10:40 PM:

What's sad is that you naysayers are so oversaturated with this business, you can't possibly offer an opinion that compares favorably with reality. Professional critics are probably the only group that's worse. The average audience doesn't see nearly as much of this stuff as we do.

Yah... the film is full of formula. It also reminded me of Hoosiers, but not until I left the auditorium and thought about it for a while. The ending bit... I assume that's the real "Radio", is a classic rip-off of "A League Of Their Own", where they trot out some surviving members of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League.

It really is OK to go into a film knowing that you aren't going to be wowed by overdone CGI pizazz, or even a story that's so original and complex it would impress a critic from PBS. And who cares if the audience falls for a bit of "light entertainment"? Our jobs will all end soon if the baseline for decent theatrical entertainment is an original story and CGI that hasn't been used before.

Oh... I liked it. I wouldn't buy a ticket twice, but I didn't walk away feeling like I'd totally wasted my time, either.

(edit)... [Big Grin]

[ 10-25-2003, 12:17 PM: Message edited by: Jack Ondracek ]

Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 10-25-2003, 11:45 PM:

John,

Yes, that was, indeed, the real Radio. I spoke with an old aquantance last night who actually graduated from T.L. Hanna back in '84. SHe said that Radio was genuinely portrayed in the film.

Call me sappy, I thought the film was great, cliche's/formulas and all. I seem to always find that 'based on true story' films are better than the normal [bs]

Hollywood puts out. Then again, I spend a lot more time watching TLC, Discovery, A&E, and HGTV than I do the big three affiliates or other syndicated show channels. I prefer to see things that are more fact than fiction... Special effects are great, but htey don't mean a whole helluva lot when I step out of the booth and back into reality.. [Smile]

* Note to Phil.. If your cards show your bare naked ass like last years did, I'm THANKFUL you took me off the list.. [Eek!]

Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 10-26-2003, 07:31 PM:

I saw this one over the weekend. The film did overly play on the senses but that was not the point of the film. This is a true story about a man that was mentally challenged, retarded, what ever you wanted to call it. His life was stuck in one repedative mode. That being pushing a shopping cart around town collecting various things and being avoided by the town folk. What this film shows is the heart of a man who coaches a football team and is director of athletics at the local high school in a South Carolina comunity. During a time, mid 70's, when people were still trying to face the challenges of civil rights. All in all I think this is a good movie to see even if it does go overboard on the emotions at times. I give this one *** stars out of four.