December 11th: TALK RADIO (Oliver Stone, 1988)

A confrontational talk radio host wrestles with his more extreme callers as his show is on the brink of going nationwide.

New York native Oliver Stone taught students in Vietnam and later served in the combat infantry during the war, where he was decorated for heroism and with a Purple Heart. He then attended film school at New York University, studying under the school's recent graduate Martin Scorsese. Stone directed two small horror films before writing a screenplay for Alan Parker's Turkish prison drama Midnight Express, which earned him his first Academy Award, and the iconic Scarface for Brian DePalma. He capitalized on these successes with a self-directed film based on his war experiences, Platoon, which would go on to win Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director.

Playwright and actor Eric Bogosian, known primarily for his award-winning one man shows, partially based his play Talk Radio on Alan Berg, a controversial radio host. The production was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, and Stone's adaptation was co-written with Bogosian the year after its debut. While most of the story takes place inside a radio station, flashbacks were inserted to further flesh out main character Barry Champlain. Despite having already played the role on stage, Bogosian did further research before his film performance, studying the methods of talk radio legend Tom Leykis.

Appearing with Bogosian are Alec Baldwin, Ellen Greene (Little Shop Of Horrors), Leslie Hope (television show 24), chameleonic character actor Michael Wincott (The Doors, Strange Days, Basquiat), and Stone regular John C. McGinley (television show Scrubs). Behind the camera with Stone is multiple Oscar-winner Robert Richardson (their fourth of eleven collaborations), and the musical score was contributed by former Police drummer Stewart Copeland.

While the film was not successful at the box office, its critical response was positive. Bogosian won the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival for his performance. A revival of the play in 2007 garnered various Broadway nominations and awards, and Bogosian would continue his successful stage and screen career, his play subUrbia also made into a film.

Running time is approx. 1 hr, 45 min.