Talk to Me

My husband and I saw this movie the day it premiered in Los Angeles. The movie trailer and buzz, plus the music, attracted our attention. We love all music from the 60s and 70s, and especially anything by James Brown. We've always lived on the west coast, so neither of us had heard of Petey Greene (Don Cheadle) or his manager, Dewey Hughes (Chiwetel Ejiofor). We did a little internet searching when we got home to find out Greene had been married, had children, and worked all his life as an activist for social reform by reintegrating ex-convicts back into the community and getting them jobs. All that wasn't important to the film but was interesting to know about Greene's real life. Lends more credence to the reason for his story being told. TALK TO ME is a well-made biopic that I'd highly recommend to family and friends.

As a resident of Washington, from 1962 to 1975, I got to know Petey Greene's Washington very well. Any African American who lived in DC during the sixties, seventies and eighties should find something to like in this flick for sure. Movie was both informative and entertaining - which are the best kind to me. The picture's primary characters are Petey and Dewey Hughes, two totally different brothers. How their relationships grows and evolves is a wonderful thing to experience and is the essence of the movie in my opinion. Expect to have some good laughs and a intimate look into a very chaotic period of American History. Movie caused me to remember feelings that had long passed into the mental archives. For those of you old enough to recall, the sixties and seventies where a very special time in this country. Movie gives a good look at the different perspectives of the period.

Oh, and Don Cheadle is becoming a class unto himself.

I just had the opportunity to watch this movie at a very first preview in Los Angeles and therefore some things I've seen might be replaced. They told us, that this was the very first screening (the director and some actors were present, too) and they are still working on the final things.

However, I, as most of the audience did, enjoyed the movie very much. It has a great mixture of humor (especially the unbeatable Don Cheadle as Petey and his wife Vernell) combined with a very strong and breathtaking story of the time around the death of Martin Luther King Junior. Even if the story is really deep and not always funny, the director made it possible to view the life of Petey as a very special one, without losing the focus on his fascinating, humor-filled character.

Whenever this movie comes out: Go to the theaters and enjoy - I will definitely go again to laugh and think about this great, special guy! PS: Die spouse of the director, Vondie Curtis-Hall, has a (supporting) role as well, even if he is not listed in here (yet?) on IMDb.

Well done! This movie hooks you initially with its comedy, but then evolves into a serious look at not only race relations, but every individual's struggle to define him/herself. Don Cheadle is so spot-on that it's easy to think it was an effortless role for him, but that would be shortchanging the man for his talents. But the real bonus of the film for me was discovering the supporting actors -- I had never heard of Chiwetel Ejiofor or Taraji Henson before, but, boy, I'll be looking for them now. And if all else fails, the soundtrack for this movie was more than worth the ticket price! Kudos to Kasi Lemmons, the cast and crew!

I was not sure what to think when I started watching Talk to Me. It gave off an interesting style, but I wasn't sure it would amount to anything. Maybe I was afraid it would depend too much on the black rights subject matter. Immediate impressions aside, I soon found myself immersed in the movie. I was completely inside by the time of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination. From there until the end, I felt for the characters and enjoyed the ride. It reveals some things about our culture that other movies are afraid to show, but not in a manner where the whole movie depends on it.

The acting is phenomenal, especially from Don Cheadle as Petey Greene. He makes such a realistic, complex, radical-yet-modest radio talk show host. His emotions flow forth freely from the screen into the audience. Chiwetel Ejiofor also makes a notable appearance as Dewey Hughes, who becomes Greene's manager. The chemistry between these two main characters (and actors) is wonderful. The music editing is excellent and goes a long way to help put an emotional impact on viewers. There is plenty of comedy and equal amounts of tragedy. Towards the end, a point of reflection is achieved which sums up all the main ideas presented throughout the film. The plot itself has its ups and downs, but is ultimately satisfying.

Talk to Me has all the attributes necessary to be a great film. Its structure is original and successfully melds comedy, tragedy, and drama together. Highly recommended if you have the opportunity to see it.