“The Big Chill” (1983) is an interesting setup and a great ending sandwiched around entirely too much tiresome baby boomer midlife crisis self-analysis. That’s why, as a film, this movie is no longer relevant to anyone other than those baby boomers who see themselves in the movie’s characters (with all due respect). However, it remains hugely significant in that its soundtrack of familiar hit songs helped change how music and movies interacted (and were marketed). And the incredibly positive audience response to said music helped inspire a radio format concept (classic rock) that maintains popularity 40 years after the film.
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It’s amazing how relevant “Broadcast News” remains nearly 20 years after its release. It’s a witty menage a trois with id-ego-superego undertones played against the backdrop of an existential crisis within journalism. Although the Internet (the word “blog” didn’t exist in 1987) now drives the argument, journalism continues to struggle with the issue of style versus substance. (They shouldn’t have to be mutually exclusive. By accepting the argument as binary, we perpetuate it.) When it came out, I was a too-cynical-for-his-years broadcasting student on his way to a short-lived career in TV news. “Broadcast News” still hits close to home.
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