Broadcast News
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJames L. Brooks
Written byJames L. Brooks
Produced byJames L. Brooks
Starring
CinematographyMichael Ballhaus
Edited byRichard Marks
Music byBill Conti
Production
company
Distributed by20th Century Fox
Release date
  • December 16, 1987 (1987-12-16)
Running time
133 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$15 million[1]
Box office$67.3 million

Broadcast News is a 1987 American romantic comedy-drama film written, produced and directed by James L. Brooks. The film concerns a virtuoso television news producer (Holly Hunter) who has daily emotional breakdowns, a brilliant yet prickly reporter (Albert Brooks), and the latter's charismatic but far less seasoned rival (William Hurt). It also stars Robert Prosky, Lois Chiles, Joan Cusack, and Jack Nicholson.

The film was acclaimed by critics and at the 60th Academy Awards received seven nominations, including Best Picture. In 2018, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."[2][3][4]

Plot

Jane Craig is a talented but intense news producer whose life revolves around her work. She is passionate about reporting, and abhors the trend towards soft news in news broadcasts. Her best friend and collaborator, Aaron Altman, is a gifted writer and reporter, but is lacking in many social skills. The two work in the Washington, D.C. bureau of a national TV network. The bureau hires Tom Grunick, a local news anchorman who started his career in sports. Tom is tall, handsome, likable, and telegenic, but lacks news experience and isn't especially bright. He constantly seeks help from Jane to assist him with his reporting, who resents his lack of qualifications, but finds herself attracted to him. Tom is also attracted to Jane, but is intimidated by her skills and intensity.

Aaron and Jane go to Nicaragua to report on the Sandinista rebels there and get caught up in a shooting battle between them and the contras but remain unscathed and bring home footage that wins the approval of their national anchorman. At an office party, news arrives of a Libyan plane having bombed a U.S. military base in Italy. The network chief decides to air a special report, with Tom as anchor and Jane as executive producer. Aaron, who is at the party and has extensive knowledge about the subject, is devastated at Tom's selection. Jane argues that Tom lacks the skills to handle the responsibility of the report, but is overruled by the network chief. Watching from his home, Aaron calls Jane with pertinent information, which she feeds to Tom through his earpiece. With the combination of Tom's on-camera poise and Jane's hard news skills, the report is a great success. Their teamwork also intensifies their mutual attraction. When Jane returns for drinks with colleagues later in the evening, she meets Tom as he is leaving with co-worker Jennifer. Jane later selects Jennifer for an extended assignment in Alaska so that Tom and Jennifer will not be able to pursue a relationship with each other.

Wanting to complete a story without outside assistance, Tom creates a piece on date rape; the piece includes an extended interview with a rape victim, where Tom is shown tearing up in reaction to her story. Aaron and Jane are unimpressed with the story, but Jane finds it affecting nonetheless. In the face of potential layoffs, Aaron receives an opportunity to anchor the weekend news due to most of his colleagues going to the White House Correspondents' Dinner. He seeks advice from Tom, who encourages Aaron to be more salesman-like in his approach. Aaron writes high-quality copy and takes Tom's advice, but during the broadcast begins sweating uncontrollably, resulting in a disastrous broadcast. Meanwhile, Jane and Tom begin to progress romantically at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. But before things get more involved, Jane leaves to console Aaron. The two have a heated argument, where Aaron tells Jane that Tom represents everything Jane hates about the direction of news media. Aaron also tells Jane that he is in love with her.

The forewarned layoffs hit the network, resulting in many colleagues losing their jobs. Tom is moved to the London office, indicating that he is being groomed for a national anchor position; Jane is promoted to bureau chief. Tom and Jane agree to take a romantic getaway together before starting their new jobs. Aaron tenders his resignation and tells Jane he plans to take a job at a local television station in Portland, Oregon. Before he leaves, he tells Jane that Tom's tears during his date rape piece were staged; reviewing the footage, Jane realizes that Aaron is correct. Jane angrily confronts him at the airport, saying that his actions were a breach of journalistic ethics and that she cannot in good conscience become involved with him. Tom argues with her, but eventually relents, leaving Jane behind.

The three meet again seven years later. Tom has taken over as national anchorman, Aaron has a wife and child, and Jane has a new boyfriend. Jane reveals she plans to take a managing editor role for the network in New York, working with Tom again. Tom leaves after Jane declines a dinner invitation with him and his fiancée, while she and Aaron sit on a bench and catch up on their respective lives.

Cast

Production

The score was by Bill Conti. Emmy Award-winning composers Glen Roven and Marc Shaiman make cameo appearances as a dorky musician team who have composed a theme for the news program in the film.

The character of Jane Craig was based on journalist and news producer Susan Zirinsky. She served as associate producer and technical advisor for the film.[5] The female lead was originally written for Debra Winger, who worked with James L. Brooks in Terms of Endearment. However, Winger became pregnant and was replaced by Holly Hunter just two days before filming began. Sigourney Weaver, Dianne Wiest, Jessica Lange, Elizabeth Perkins, and Mary Beth Hurt were also considered for the role.[6] Brooks originally wrote the role of Aaron Altman specifically for his longtime friend Albert Brooks in mind. Principal photography began in Washington, D.C. on February 2, 1987, officially wrapping in April 1987 after filming several scenes in Florida.[7]

Reception

Box office

Broadcast News was given a limited release on December 16, 1987, in seven theaters and managed to gross USD $197,542 on its opening weekend.[8] It went into wide release in the United States on December 25, 1987, in 677 theaters, grossing $5.5 million on its opening weekend. The film went on to make $51.3 million in North America and $16.1 million in the rest of the world for a worldwide total of $67.3 million.[9]

Critical response

Film critic Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film four out of four stars and praised the film for being as "knowledgeable about the TV news-gathering process as any movie ever made, but it also has insights into the more personal matter of how people use high-pressure jobs as a way of avoiding time alone with themselves".[10] In his review for The New York Times, Vincent Canby wrote, "As the fast-talking Aaron, Albert Brooks comes very close to stealing Broadcast News. Mr. Brooks ... is more or less the conscience of Broadcast News".[11] Jonathan Rosenbaum, in his review for the Chicago Reader, praised Holly Hunter's performance as "something of a revelation: her short, feisty, socially gauche, aggressive-compulsive character may be the most intricately layered portrait of a career woman that contemporary Hollywood has given us".[12]

Hal Hinson, in his review for The Washington Post, wrote, "[James] Brooks is excellent at taking us inside the world of television, but not terribly good at analyzing it. He has a facile, too-pat approach to dealing with issues; there's still too much of the sitcom mentality at work".[13] In his review for Time, Richard Corliss praised William Hurt's performance: "Hurt is neat too, never standing safely outside his character, always allowing Tom to find the humor in his too-rapid success, locating a dimness behind his eyes when Tom is asked a tough question -- and for Tom, poor soulless sensation-to-be, all questions are tough ones".[14] The magazine also ranked Broadcast News as one of the best films of the year.[15] The film garnered a 98% rating at Rotten Tomatoes from 52 critics. The site's consensus states: "Blockbuster dramatist James L. Brooks delivers with Broadcast News, fully entertaining with deft, deep characterization."[16] The film has an 84/100 average score at Metacritic, based on 16 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[17]

Broadcast News was placed on 61 "ten-best" lists, making it the most acclaimed film of 1987.[18]

Accolades

Award Category Nominee(s) Result
Academy Awards[19] Best Picture James L. Brooks Nominated
Best Actor William Hurt Nominated
Best Actress Holly Hunter Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Albert Brooks Nominated
Best Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen James L. Brooks Nominated
Best Cinematography Michael Ballhaus Nominated
Best Film Editing Richard Marks Nominated
American Cinema Editors Awards Best Edited Feature Film Nominated
American Comedy Awards Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) Holly Hunter Nominated
Funniest Supporting Male Performer – Motion Picture or TV Albert Brooks Won
Artios Awards[20] Outstanding Achievement in Feature Film Casting – Comedy Ellen Chenoweth Nominated
Berlin International Film Festival[21] Golden Bear James L. Brooks Nominated
Best Actress Holly Hunter Won
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards[22] Best Actor Albert Brooks Won
Best Actress Holly Hunter Won
Best Screenplay James L. Brooks Won
Directors Guild of America Awards[23] Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures James L. Brooks Nominated
Golden Globe Awards[24] Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Nominated
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy William Hurt Nominated
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Holly Hunter Nominated
Best Director – Motion Picture James L. Brooks Nominated
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture Nominated
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards[25] Best Director Nominated
Best Actress Holly Hunter Won[lower-alpha 1]
National Board of Review Awards[26] Top Ten Films 3rd Place
Best Actress Holly Hunter Won[lower-alpha 2]
National Film Preservation Board National Film Registry Inducted
National Society of Film Critics Awards[27] Best Actor Albert Brooks 2nd Place
Best Actress Holly Hunter 3rd Place
Best Supporting Actor Albert Brooks 3rd Place
New York Film Critics Circle Awards[28] Best Film Won
Best Director James L. Brooks Won
Best Actor William Hurt Nominated
Jack Nicholson Won
Best Actress Holly Hunter Won
Best Screenplay James L. Brooks Won
Writers Guild of America Awards[29] Best Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen Nominated

Also, the film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists:

Home media

A digitally restored version of the film was released on DVD and Blu-ray by The Criterion Collection. The release includes new audio commentary featuring Brooks and Marks, James L. Brooks—A Singular Voice, a documentary on Brooks's career in television and film, an alternative ending and deleted scenes with commentary by Brooks, an interview with veteran CBS news producer Susan Zirinsky, and a featurette containing on-set footage and interviews with Brooks, Hunter, and actor Albert Brooks. There is also a booklet featuring an essay by film critic Carrie Rickey.[34]

References

  1. ↑ Box Office Information for Broadcast News. Archived 2016-10-09 at the Wayback Machine The Wrap. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  2. ↑ "'Jurassic Park,' 'The Shining,' And 23 Other Movies Added To National Film Registry". NPR.org. Retrieved 2019-08-14.
  3. ↑ "Complete National Film Registry Listing". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
  4. ↑ "National Film Registry Turns 30". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
  5. ↑ "Susan Zirinsky", American University
  6. ↑ Worrell, Denise (December 21, 1987). "Holly Hunter Takes Hollywood". Time. Archived from the original on December 23, 2007. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
  7. ↑ "AFI Catalog - Broadcast News (1987)". American Film Institute. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Weekend Box Office : Appealing to All 'Generations'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-06-05.
  9. ↑ "Broadcast News". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
  10. ↑ Ebert, Roger (December 16, 1987). "Broadcast News". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
  11. ↑ Canby, Vincent (December 16, 1987). "Broadcast News". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
  12. ↑ Rosenbaum, Jonathan (1987). "Broadcast News". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
  13. ↑ Hinson, Hal (December 25, 1987). "Broadcast News". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
  14. ↑ Corliss, Richard (December 14, 1987). "A Season Of Flash And Greed". Time. Archived from the original on February 3, 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
  15. ↑ "Best of '87". Time. January 4, 1988. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
  16. ↑ "Broadcast News". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
  17. ↑ "Broadcast News Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More". Metacritic. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
  18. ↑ "Film Critics Agree: 1987 Was a Good, Bad Year". Los Angeles Times. January 24, 1988.
  19. ↑ "The 60th Academy Awards (1988) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
  20. ↑ "Nominees/Winners". Casting Society of America. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  21. ↑ "Berlinale: 1988 Prize Winners". berlinale.de. Archived from the original on 2014-01-01. Retrieved 2011-03-06.
  22. ↑ "BSFC Winners: 1980s". Boston Society of Film Critics. 27 July 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  23. ↑ "40th DGA Awards". Directors Guild of America Awards. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Broadcast News – Golden Globes". HFPA. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  25. ↑ "The 13th Annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards". Los Angeles Film Critics Association. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  26. ↑ "1987 Award Winners". National Board of Review. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  27. ↑ "Past Awards". National Society of Film Critics. 19 December 2009. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  28. ↑ "1987 New York Film Critics Circle Awards". Mubi. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  29. ↑ "Awards Winners". wga.org. Writers Guild of America. Archived from the original on 2012-12-05. Retrieved 2010-06-06.
  30. ↑ "AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies Nominees" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-08-20.
  31. ↑ "AFI's 100 Years...100 Laughs" (PDF). American Film Institute. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
  32. ↑ "AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes Nominees" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-08-20.
  33. ↑ "AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies Nominees (10th Anniversary Edition)" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-08-20.
  34. ↑ "Broadcast News". The Criterion Collection.
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