Talk Radio (1988)

In its original stage version, Eric Bogosian's Talk Radio seemed like a series of well-composed rants, ultimately cohering into something deeper and more telling. For the film, Bogosian and director/co-screenwriter Oliver Stone give us more background on talk radio host Barry Champlain (Bogosian) and increase the prominence of the threats on his life, inspired by the assassination of Denver radio commentator Alan Berg. With more characters upon whom to vent his spleen, notably Ellen Greene as his wife and Michael Wincott as a hapless studio visitor, Bogosian gives an engrossing, take-no-prisoners performance as a man with plenty to say, even if it's not always well-considered. Though Stone and Bogosian open up the story a bit, most of Talk Radio still occurs in one room, with Champlain doing most of the talking; but Stone's constantly moving camera and Bogosian's wit, venom, and dark charisma keep the film as interesting to look at as to listen to, even if it occasionally overplays its hand in trying to make the story "significant." ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide