Other Sellers on Amazon
97% positive over last 12 months
Image Unavailable
Color:
-
-
-
- Sorry, this item is not available in
- Image not available
- To view this video download Flash Player
Broadcast News (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]
Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
- Select the return method
- Ship it!
Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
- Select the return method
- Ship it!
Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
- Select the return method
- Ship it!
Additional Blu-ray options | Edition | Discs | Price | New from | Used from |
Watch Instantly with | Rent | Buy |
Broadcast News | — | — |
Purchase options and add-ons
Genre | Comedy |
Format | Dolby, NTSC, Blu-ray, Special Edition, Widescreen, DTS Surround Sound |
Contributor | Joan Cusack, James L. Brooks, William Hurt, Albert Brooks, Jack Nicholson, Robert Prosky, Holly Hunter See more |
Language | English |
Runtime | 2 hours and 12 minutes |
Frequently bought together
Similar items that may deliver to you quickly
- Defending Your Life (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]Albert BrooksBlu-rayFREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27
- Lost in America (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]Albert BrooksBlu-rayFREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27
- Modern RomanceAlbert BrooksBlu-rayFREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27
- Network [Blu-ray]Peter FinchBlu-rayFREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27
- After Hours (The Criterion Collection) [4K UHD]Griffin DunneBlu-rayFREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27
- Mean Streets (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]Robert De NiroBlu-rayFREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27
Product Description
In the 1970s, the name James L. Brooks (The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, Terms of Endearment, The Simpsons) was synonymous with intelligent television comedy—his shows were insightful about work and love and always tapped into the zeitgeist. With his transition to film in the 1980s, he became a master Hollywood storyteller, and none of his films was more quintessentially Brooks than Broadcast News. This caustic inside look at the Washington news media stars Holly Hunter (Raising Arizona, The Piano), in her breakout role, as a feisty television producer torn between an ambitious yet dim anchorman (William Hurt) and her closest confidant, a cynical veteran reporter (Albert Brooks). Brooks’s witty, gently prophetic entertainment is a captivating transmission from an era in which ideas on love and media were rapidly changing.
Product details
- Aspect Ratio : 1.77:1
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
- MPAA rating : R (Restricted)
- Product Dimensions : 6.75 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches; 3.52 ounces
- Item model number : CRRN1967BR
- Director : James L. Brooks
- Media Format : Dolby, NTSC, Blu-ray, Special Edition, Widescreen, DTS Surround Sound
- Run time : 2 hours and 12 minutes
- Release date : January 25, 2011
- Actors : William Hurt, Albert Brooks, Holly Hunter, Robert Prosky, Joan Cusack
- Studio : Criterion Collection
- ASIN : B0047P5FVS
- Country of Origin : USA
- Number of discs : 1
- Best Sellers Rank: #14,018 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
- #1,148 in Comedy (Movies & TV)
- Customer Reviews:
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon-
Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Broadcast News is a blend of comedy, drama and romance. When I first watched it over 20 years ago, I was disappointed. I didn't think it was interesting, funny or moving in any way. It's strange how our tastes can change over the years. I think I appreciate the film now because I know more about life and can relate to some of the events.
Two brief scenes at the start of the film introduce us to the characters of Tom and Jane. We learn that Tom doesn't mind being beaten up at school because he knows he will have a better career than any of the bullies he has to deal with. Jane shows us a glimpse of her character as she chastises her father for his imprecise use of words.
The story continues with the adult Jane (Hunter) giving a speech about news coverage. She's dismayed at how the networks dumb-down information to appease the audience. When she demonstrates her point with a mindless news article, her audience is more responsive than at any other point in her speech.The only person who admires her presentation is Tom (Hurt) and she asks him to dinner. He presents the news, but reveals that he knows very little about the stories he talks about. Despite that, his employers love what he does and pay him large sums of money.
Jane is obsessed with her job as a producer and can't respect people who are bad at their job. Any chance of romance is ended when she speaks her mind to Tom. She repels men. Hunter got the part which was intended for Debra Winger, but it's hard to imagine anyone else in the role. Her accent and the determination with which her character pursues her career reminds me of Jodie Foster's performance in The Silence of the Lambs.
How often do people succeed on charm or because the right look? The film explores that theme throughout as we see Tom take every opportunity that presents itself. In contrast, we see a gifted reporter, Aaron (Brooks), receive no recognition from anyone with the exception of Jane. The two have a deep friendship and confide in each other regularly.
James L. Brooks has a background in news and portrays the high-paced environment to good effect. There's an hilarious scene early in the film in which Jane edits a story just a few seconds before it is due to air, and her assistant (Joan Cusack) has to dodge all manner of unlikely obstacles to deliver the tape on time. Although it's a funny scene, it shows how much pressure is involved in the news business.
Another exceptional scene shows Tom anchoring the news for the first time. Jane knows that he is likely to stumble if he has to think up questions for himself, so she takes care of all the content. Aaron, who is at home getting drunk after being overlooked again, calls in with information which Jane feeds to Tom while he is on the air. The result is a professional broadcast in which Tom is made to look highly competent.
There are a lot of similar scenes which give us a real understanding of how the news business might work. We feel part of that world. However, the film shines because of the acting and the dark comedy. Brooks is the source of much of the humor, but Hurt and Hunter play their parts well. Jack Nicholson has a small role and pulls it off perfectly as you would expect.
There is a love triangle of sorts. Tom is successful, but superficial, and he is interested in Jane. Part of his interest appears to be driven by what she might do for his career. Aaron can see Tom's shortcomings and thinks that he's a more suitable partner for Jane. He clearly loves her as well as being her best friend. Jane is torn between Tom's looks and success, and Aaron's friendship and competence. I'll let you find out the resolution for yourself.
Criterion's Blu-ray presentation is excellent and the film looks better than it ever has. The special features include recent interviews with James L. Brooks and the cast. One of the most interesting features is an alternate ending with comments from Brooks.
Broadcast News is unusual in that it manages to make a technical job appear exciting. I wanted to see what would happen to the three main characters. It's funny throughout in an intelligent way and the romantic element will please some viewers. I can't believe that I failed to see its brilliance when I first watched it over 20 years ago.
and good looking anchormen and away from "hard" news.
The actors are all terrific. It’s not surprising that William Hurt and Holly Hunter as a pretty-boy TV news reporter and hard driver news producer are great. But Albert Brooks is a revelation. He’s funny (of course), but he hangs right in with Hunter and Hurt in the dramatic scenes, and for my money creates the best character of the film, and of his (terrific) career. The supporting cast is all strong (including Jack Nicholson in a cameo that makes sense and takes advantage of his star power).
The film also examines the eroding standards in journalism. That's not big news anymore, but was more fresh when the film was made.
(spoiler ahead!)
My only problem with the film – but it’s a big one – is that the big final twist where Hunter realizes Hurt is too shallow for her to be with, is based on an illogical contrivance. Any experienced TV news producer like Hunter's character would hardly be shocked that Hurt’s off camera reactions were filmed separately -- that's often how it’s done. And there’s never any sign that Hurt claims anything to the contrary. In a film full of great details, it drives me nuts that one of the very most important doesn’t come off as accurate. Not enough to kill the movie, but enough for me to dock it a half star.
There are some great moments regarding the growing shallowness of feature stories dominating television news as opposed to intelligent, well informed journalism; this message is even more prevalent today than when this film was made. All performances are solid, especially Holly Hunter and Albert Brookes who has an on air attack of nervous perspiration of biblical proportions.
At the risk of using a well worn cliche here, this is a “feel good movie”.
Top reviews from other countries
Les acteurs sont excellents.
Enfin un film sur les coulisses du JT.
Je le conseils