Talk to Me (2007)

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Directed by Kasi Lemmons.

Starring Don Cheadle, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Martin Sheen, Mike Epps, Cedric the Entertainer, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Taraji P. Henson.

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Don Cheadle stars as outspoken ex-convict and iconic radio personality Ralph Waldo "Petey" Greene in a powerful biopic detailing the life and career of a media figure whose voice instilled the black community with hope during the turbulent 1960s. After talking his way onto the Washington, D.C. airwaves in the era of free love, a man emboldened by the inspirational soul music and rapidly-expanding social consciousness that defined the decade openly courts controversy as his put-upon producer Dewey Hughes (Chiwetel Ejiofor) runs interference. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

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Reviews and discussions

Talk Up this!
by dj4our in dj4our Blog

loved it.

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"TALK TO ME (2007) ***1/2R for pervasive language and some sexual content.1 hr. 58 min.written by: Rick Famuyiwa & Michael Genetproduced by: Joe Fries, Mark R. Gordon, Sidney Kimmel & Josh McLaughlindirected by: Kasi LemmonsI first noticed writer and director Kasi Lemmons for her acting work, playing Jodie Foster's fellow FBI trainee/student in Jonathan Demme's "Silence of the Lambs". It wasn't a standout performance but the movie left such an indelible mark that I found myself remembering almost everyone in it. She went on to build a reputable enough filmography as an actress but the next time her name caught my attention was for the 1997 film, "Eve's Bayou", her directorial debut starring Lynn Whitfield and Samuel L. Jackson. A critically lauded film set in 1960's Louisiana about a secret that tears apart a well-to-do family. I didn't see her 2001 follow-up film (also with Jackson) "The Caveman's Valentine" but it&# ... " [More]

my 2007 movie lists
by wonga in wonga's filmblog

loved it.

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"i have a wonderful picture of all my movie ticket stubs from this year in a pile but i can’t get it transferred to my filmblog (yes, i save my ticket stubs and scrapbook them at the end of the year…i know, it’s sad really)! armed with discount movie coupons, i saw 118 movies this year at the theater and, as usual, it was really hard to narrow them down but here’s my list, for what it’s worth. some are from 2006 that i didn’t see until later. my 15 favorite movies at the theater in 2007the assassination of jesse james by the coward robert fordthe diving bell and the butterflythe lives of othersjunothe painted veilonceno country for old menthe darjeeling limitedwaitressstarting out in the eveningsunshinefirst snow zodiacin the shadow of the moonacross the universehonorable mention (alphabetically)2 days in paris 3:10 to yuma51 birch streetdirty dancing (20th anniversary)dreamgirlshairspra yinto the wildthe jane austen book clubkiller of sheepknock ... " [More]

talk to me
by wonga in wonga's filmblog

loved it.

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"this is one of my favorite movies so far this year. i'd never heard of "Petey" Greene, and the typical biopic rise-and-fall story was overly familiar, but Don Cheadle was again awesome. i can definitely see him receiving awards/recognition for this role. the movie was fun, moving, and totally involving. i also thought the girlfriend (Taraji P. Henson) was pretty great and a total scene stealer (great hair)! " [More]

Cheadle Gives Great 'Talk'
by minerwerks in minerwerks Blog

liked it.

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"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 ... " [More]

Talk to Me
by MovieBabe in MovieBabe Blog

hasn't rated it.

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"By Tricia Olszewski In Talk to Me, a fast-talking, foul-mouthed black ex-convict puts on his best red-velvet suit and struts into the offices of WOL-AM, a D.C. radio station, in the 1960s. He’s making noise in the reception area as he tries to claim a DJ job he thinks was promised to him—he met the station’s new programmer while in jail—when the white manager steps in and says something that temporarily shuts him up: “What in the blue blazes is going on out here?” The programmer is Dewey Hughes (Chiwetel Ejiofor), and he’s infuriated by the commotion being caused by Ralph Waldo “Petey” Greene Jr. (Don Cheadle). Hughes doesn’t want anything to do with the felon; then again, the Chocolate City station is being managed by a guy who says “blue blazes,” and the low ratings reflect that. So he hires him. Kasi Lemmons’ entertaining biopic (written by Michael Genet, redeeming himself for writing the execrable Sh ... " [More]

Cheadle Talks As Smoothly As He ...
by erico_77375 in erico_77375 Blog

loved it.

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"Radio is a lonely format; the disc jockeys and radio personalities are a combination of priest and trusted friend to the masses that listen. Whether you wished to relax, reflect, or retaliate, they are the ringleaders, the host, and the instigator that pulls you in. Ralph Waldo “Petey” Greene was a man who didn’t demand your attention with his voice, but made you listen all the same. During the late 60s and 70s, Green took to the airwaves and brought Washington D.C. a cold bucket of hard truths about race and taste using his roguish charisma and quick tongue.In Talk To Me, Kasi Lemmons’ new film is focused around the undeniable force known as Petey Greene, but the bonds of his friendship with producer and conspirator Dewey Hughes. Hughes (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is introduced to Greene when he goes to visit his brother in prison, played by Mike Epps. Greene is the prison DJ, waxing prison philosophy with the records. On passing, Greene asks for a job at the radio ... " [More]

Fun Fun Fun
by laraemeadows in laraemeadows Blog

liked it.

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"Talk to Me is a high energy comedy with disheartening sadness and wild laughter. A great cast, tons of laughs, truly human behavior and the spin of it being based on a true story made Talk to Me a joy to watch. Talk to Me is the story of Ralph “Petey” Greene, an ex-con turned Washington D.C. radio personality. When Dewey Huges (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Petey Greene (Don Cheadle) first meet, Petey is an inmate in jail who has his own show over the prison public address system. Disgusted by Greene, Huges sarcastically encourages him to visit him at work, a radio station, for a job, if he is ever released. Much to Huges’ chagrin, he is released. With all the pomp and circumstance an ex-con in the 60’s could muster, he and his girlfriend Vernaell (Taraji P. Henson) blow into the radio station and demand an interview. Much to everyone’s surprise, including Hughes, and with a little persuasion, Petey gets a job as a DJ. Using his dark and crazy past to ... " [More]

Tags: radio , race , salemcinema , august , washingtondc
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