Broadcast News (1987)

A rather self righteous perfectionist (Holly Hunter) works as a television news producer at a Washington D.C. station. When a handsome but inexperienced sports reporter (William Hurt) is hired to anchor the evening news because of his charisma and good looks, she bristles. But she cant' fight her attraction to him. James L. Brooks' follow up to his award winning directorial film debut TERMS OF ENDEARMENT is an ingenious, if at times glib, look at the behind the scenes of network news. There's not much depth to it really although it seems to think it's saying something substantial. Although it runs pass the two hour mark, the film speeds along like a Japanese shinkansen so that we never have time to catch our breath which is just as well. Otherwise, we might start examining it more closely than is good for it. The film is well acted. Albert Brooks (Oscar nominated for his work here) as a resentful TV reporter is good enough to make us forget what a prick his character really is and Hunter is a dynamo. But for me, it's Hurt's performance that stands out. He makes it seem so effortless and natural that he makes his co-stars, as good as they are, seem just a little bit fake. Also in the cast: Jack Nicholson, Lois Chiles, Joan Cusack and Robert Prosky.