Plot: What’s it about?
While in prison, Ralph Waldo “Petey” Greene, Jr. (Don Cheadle) happened to cross paths with radio programmer Dewey Hughes (Chiwetel Ejiofor). Dewey was there to visit his brother, but Petey approached him to ask for a job at the radio station and Dewey agreed. Of course, Dewey never expected to see Petey again, but when he was released from prison, Petey went right to WOL-AM to meet with his new boss. At first Dewey is hesitant, but Petey winds up on the air and he is quickly a hit, raising ratings and being a voice for the African American listeners. After his radio show proves to be a success, he is offered a television show and there, he continues his bold, controversial style. But with success comes the potential to backslide, so can Petey avoid the trappings or will he fall to temptations?
I always go into biopics with trepidation, as most tend to eschew the real life events in favor of dramatic license, while also using heavy handed tactics to drive home certain elements. But when I saw Kasi Lemmons was at the helm of Talk to Me, most of my concerns drifted off. As it turns out, this is a more than solid movie and Don Cheadle turns in a terrific performance that drives the picture. Cheadle has been racking up notable performances for a good while now, so it is no surprise he is good here, though I would not call this one of his best efforts. The movie traverses two decades in two hours, but has a good flow and of course some elements were passed over, but that is the nature of the beast in these kind of projects. Talk to Me isn’t a great movie, but it is a good one and if you’re interested, it is well worth a rental.
Video: How does it look?
Talk to Me is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. I saw some minor debris on the print, but just small nicks and such. I know we expect pristine prints on new releases, but a few specks aren’t reason enough for rebellion. You’ll also see some jagged edges, but outside of those flaws, this is a solid visual effort. The colors are bold and rich, even in darker scenes, while flesh tones remain warm and natural. No issues with contrast either, thanks to some spot on black levels that never disappoint. So while this isn’t a flawless presentation, it is a great one and is sure to satisfy all audiences.
Audio: How does it sound?
This is a dialogue driven movie and as such, the included 5.1 surround track isn’t worked too hard. I did notice that the music sounds very good in this mix, which is good since it compliments the film well. The bulk of the sound effects are subtle or background noises, so don’t expect much range or power from this one. I do like how nothing is forced through, which maintains a natural, fluid overall sound for this track. The main element is dialogue, which comes across in crisp fashion in this mix. I never had any trouble with clarity or volume, this is an effective and appropriate audio treatment. This disc also includes subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes some deleted scenes, as well as two brief, promotional featurettes.
