Talk to Me (2007)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Kasi Lemmons

Writers (WGA):

Michael Genet (screenplay) and
Rick Famuyiwa (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

3 August 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History

Tagline:

Inspired by a true story

Plot:

The story of Washington D.C. radio personality Ralph "Petey" Greene, an ex-con who became a popular talk show host and community activist in the 1960s.

Plot Keywords:

Radio | 1960s | Washington D.C. | Prison | Friendship

Awards:

4 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Don Cheadle	...	Petey Greene
Chiwetel Ejiofor	...	Dewey Hughes
Bruce McFee	...	Prison Sign-In Guard
Mike Epps	...	Milo Hughes
Peter MacNeill	...	Warden Cecil Smithers
Adam Gaudreau	...	Escorting Guard
Taraji P. Henson	...	Vernell Watson
Cedric the Entertainer	...	'Nighthawk' Bob Terry
Martin Sheen	...	E.G. Sonderling
J. Miles Dale	...	Program Director
Sean MacMahon	...	Ronnie Simmons
Richard Chevolleau	...	Poochie Braxton
Martin Randez	...	Hadley
Todd Schroeder	...	Guard Captain (as Todd William Schroeder)
Vondie Curtis-Hall	...	Sunny Jim Kelsey (as Vondie Curtis Hall)

Also Known As:

Petey Greene's Washington (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive language and some sexual content.

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:R | Ireland:15A | Netherlands:6 | Germany:12 | South Korea:15 | UK:15 | Singapore:M18

Filming Locations:

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Sidney Kimmel Entertainment

Trivia:

An earlier version of this film was in development in June 2000. It was to be titled "Petey Greene's Washington" and star Martin Lawrence. Greene's biographer Lurma Rackley was to write the script but contract negotiations broke down.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In a scene set in 1966, Petey Greene repeatedly calls Dewey Hughes "Mr. Tibbs" as a disparaging comparison to Sidney Poitier's buttoned-down character in the film In the Heat of the Night (1967); however, that film was not released until August 1967. However, the reference could be to the novel by John Ball, which was released in 1965. In another scene set in the same period, Greene makes a reference to Muhammad Ali being stripped of his boxing title due to refusing induction into the army; however, Ali's title was not revoked until April 1967.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Petey Greene: Wake up, goddammit!

Movie Connections:

Features "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" (1962)

Soundtrack:

Knock on Wood

Great performances, great evolution...

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!