Talk to Me is the life story of Petey Green, played by Don Cheadle.  Cheadle has electrified every character he has stepped into, from the token-african porn star in Boogie Nights (one of my favorites) to the courageous hotel owner in Hotel Rwanda.  Cheadle is a fantastic actor.  He embodies the heart and soul of Petey Green in this film.

Petey Green got started on the radio in the least likely of places, prison.  He served his sentence behind the microphone, lighting up prison dormatories with a special honest humor that made prisoners tell their friends on the outside.  Once Petey got out, he petitioned an inmate's brother for a job on a radio station in Washington, D.C.  Against all logic, he was given a chance at straight talk radio...and he did very well.

The Freak's Rating: B+ : Howard Stern is a staple in my life.  He goes with my morning coffee better than a doughnut.  Some people don't understand why.  Most say, "How can you listen to him?" or "He's disgusting".  Most have also never heard him, resorting to a critique based on his television show on the E channel.  To these people I would ask, "Do you watch R-rated movies?".  If so, there is no difference.  He is entertainment, bottom line.  If you ever listened to him you might be surprised how great he actually is.  The reason I bring up Howard is because of the similar subject of this film, Talk To Me.

Petey caused station ratings to skyrocket and became an honest voice of the people during one of the most emotionally trying times in history, the 60s.  Never has another decade generated so much hope and so much pain.  From Martin Luther King Jr. to John F Kennedy, many heroes were cut down and many Americans had their hearts broken because of it.  Petey became notorious for spitting out the truth and telling his feelings to his audience.  It is his truth and example that my favorite morning DJ follows.  It is actually part of the reason they all CAN do so.  Petey solidified reality talk radio as a viable format and radio stations stuck with it.

Talk To Me lags in a few spots, but is very entertaining.  Cheadle is at his best and puts in an Oscar-caliber performance as Petey Green.  Talk To Me is a historically-accurate look at one of our nation's best talk radio personalities, worthy of a see. 

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