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| Super Fly AM |
Reviewed by James Ryder
Billed as an ensemble radio dramady, Talk to Me turns out to be not exactly about radio or have too much comedy. In fact, it becomes quickly apparent that Talk to Me doesn't know what kind of film it is. Is it the tale about a flamboyant ex-con DJ who gains popularity by "telling it like it is?" Or is it the story about how an ex-con uses the radio to discuss issues from a Black point of view in the turbulent 1960s? Perhaps it's the heartfelt drama about how radio program director Dewey Hughes (Chiwetel Ejiofor) attempts to fill the void left by his brother by helping out a similar ex-con DJ. Maybe it could be a rise and fall epic about an ex-con who conquers radio, cable TV and stand up comedy, only to be plagued by concerns over artistic integrity, womanizing and alcoholism.
The only thing the audience knows for sure about radio DJ Petey Greene (Don Cheadle, Brooklyn's Finest) is that he was indeed an ex-con. Its all anyone in the film has to say about him.
Yes all of aforementioned storylines are in the film, and all of them are glossed over as the film randomly shifts between them. One only needs to look to the lush production design to further illustrate the point of superficiality. The film is gorgeous. On a set design level, it recreates not only a James Brown concert and an episode of the Tonight Show, but also a full blown riot on the eve of a political assassination. On a pure technical level, this is all fantastic. Even the acting is superb in any given scene, particularly during the billiard games between Greene and Hughes. The problem is the film doesn't bother to answer "why" all of these things are necessary components of the story being told.
Since the film isn't sure what it wants to say about the principals, there really isn't anything for the secondaries to "support." Thus superb talented is wasted. Martin Sheen plays the radio's manager and does what he can with the material, but he can only make "watch you language" speeches interesting one or two times. Taraji P. Henson is good as Greene's girlfriend, though in scenes with Cheadle, the duo has a tendency to border on parody. Cedric the Entertainer plays one of those pillow-talk DJs, but isn't really given anything interesting to do other than existing.
If director Kasi Lemmons had spent the same amount of time with the screenwriters Michael Genet and Rick Famuyiwa that she did with the production designers, this film could have would have benefited greatly. Even if all they came up with was a voice over, it might have helped put the film into a greater context rather than slapping scenes together haphazardly. In fact, due to third act developments, Talk to Me isn't even sure it's protagonist is Petey Greene or Dewey Hughes. Sure this glaring oversight of fundamental storytelling could have been an attempt to create a "false protagonist," but I have my hunches...
It is a shame that this movie isn't better considering the intriguing premise. It has a fascinating time period, real life source material, an extremely talented cast and even a wealth of fantastic 60s music to draw from. It's the type of film that you want to like more than you do. Since it fails in storytelling fundamentals, you can't.
Folks interested in showbiz dramas or 1960s political upheaval might be able to salvage some enjoyment out of this film, everyone else can steer clear.
© 2011 beyond the films
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