network (lumet, 1976)

maybe it's the media studies wannabe-scholar in me, or simply my status as a true televisionphile (did i make that one up?), but network is the only movie that has given my long-time favorite a run for its money since i first saw the sandlot in 1993. apart from two abysmally acted scenes (one that happens to be the first of the movie, the other--diana's speech at the gala), the movie has all near-flawless performances, perfect direction, and two of the greatest monologues of all time (the boardroom scene, and beale's speech a few before that where he urges viewers to turn off their tvs). the film is accurate, prophetic, foreboding, and self aware and meta all at the same time. pure brilliance.

classics scale: 10/10

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074958/