I am not really a fan of biopics. In most of the ones I've seen, time is a distraction from the drama, mostly because the film endeavors to make use of a great amount of material in a short format. But in the hands of talented writers and filmmakers, biopics can rise above by having purpose - a reason to exist beyond telling the story of some recognizable figure. 'Talk to Me' is one of those films. Being only "inspired by a true story," there is some dramatic license at work here.
This take on the story exists as a relationship drama between Petey Greene (Don Cheadle) and Dewey Hughes (Chiwetel Ejiofor). Dewey works for a Washington D.C. R&B station struggling to keep up with the times. Petey has been serving time in prison, but has found his calling as a disc jockey, "telling it like it is" to the prison crowds between records. Freshly sprung from jail, Petey scoops up his girlfriend (Taraji P. Henson) and barges into the radio station looking for a job. For a brief period, the film plays like a variation on the Howard Stern film, 'Private Parts,' but Greene's battles against authority carry much more weight, as they come across as a struggle to put a voice to the disenfranchised audience.
But the meat of the film involves Greene's rise to prominence and how his relationship with Hughes changes. Instead of being singularly concerned with telling Petey Greene's story, the drama is structured around the friendship between Petey and Dewey. This begins to take the film down a sentimental road in the final moments, but for the majority of the time, the story is smartly built on the idea that these two men have a distinct need for each other that blossoms into friendship.
At the center of the film are two fine performances by Cheadle and Ejiofor. On one hand, Cheadle has never had such a great showcase to be outrageous, but Greene is also a nuanced, flawed figure. Ejiofor is similarly gifted for nuance, infusing his Dewey with intelligence and vulnerability. The film's supporting cast is pretty strong as well. Henson's role as Greene's loyal girlfriend is flashy and fun, but ultimately pivotal to the story. Martin Sheen brings a lot of authority in his role as the station's manager, but it calls for different shades perhaps once or twice in the whole film. Cedric the Entertainer is, well, rather entertaining in a small role as another of the station's show hosts. The soundtrack is yet another notable supporting player, with dozens of classic R&B tunes that (pardon the cliche) had my toes tapping in the aisles.
It's interesting to note that the film does a solid job as a period piece, effectively mixing vintage and recreated news footage in some cases. One scene presents a fascinating recreation of a James Brown live performance from the late '60s. The film also includes one scene that I'm a total sucker for - they recreate a broadcast of 'The Tonight Show' using video footage of an actual program and having actors appear in the out-of-focus background, giving the impression it's actually happening. But all the period bells and whistles are merely in service of the "true story" aspects of the film. The heart of the story - the relationships - could be transposed to present day and be no less effective.