Talk to Me (2007)
83%RT Audience Score: 77%
Awards & Nominations: NA
A riveting look at the life of legendary DJ “Petey” Greene, Talk to Me goes beyond the typical biopic with explosive performances from Don Cheadle and Chiwetal Ejiofor
Don Cheadle and Chiwetel Ejiofor bring the funk and the fury in Talk to Me, a biopic about the legendary Washington, D.C. DJ Petey Greene. While some critics found the film lacking in secondary characters and a strong screenplay, Cheadle’s performance as Greene is worth rooting for, even when his actions offend. The film’s soundtrack is also a standout, cranking up the funk alongside Greene’s flamboyance and finesse. Overall, Talk to Me is a human and lively portrait of a provocative figure, and a must-watch for fans of radio dramas and historical biopics.
Production Company(ies)
Zazen Produções
Distributor
Focus Features
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Calabria, Italy
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2007
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:2.39:1
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Runtime:1h 58m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 13, 2007 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 30, 2007
Genre(s)
Biography
Keyword(s)
starring Don Cheadle, Chiwetal Ejiofor, Taraji P Henson, Martin Sheen, Cedric the Entertainer, Peter MacNeill, directed by Kasi Lemmons, written by Michael Genet, Rick Famuyiwa, biography, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Richard Brody, Cliff Doerksen, Bob Mondello, George Palathingal, Derek Malcolm, Peter Bradshaw, Toni Vall, Kaleem Aftab, Brandy McDonnell, Nick Rogers, Tom Meek, Tony Macklin, R MPAA rating, DJ, radio station, civil rights movement, Washington D.C., Petey Greene, controversy, black movement, Don Cheadle performance, Chiwetal Ejiofor performance, sound track, Dolby SRD, DTS, Focus Features, Sidney Kimmel, Joe Fries, Mark Gordon, Josh McLaughlin
Worldwide gross: $12,901
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $12,901
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,134
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,407
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Chiwetel Ejiofor – Dewey Hughes
Taraji P. Henson – Vernell
Martin Sheen – E.G. Sonderling
Cedric the Entertainer – Waylon
Peter MacNeill – Warden Cecil Smithers
Director – Kasi Lemmons
Producers – Joe Fries, Mark Gordon, Sidney Kimmel, Josh McLaughlin
Writers – Michael Genet, Rick Famuyiwa
Director(s)
Kasi Lemmons
Writer(s)
Michael Genet, Rick Famuyiwa
Producer(s)
Joe Fries, Mark Gordon, Sidney Kimmel, Josh McLaughlin
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (132) | Top Critics (47) | Fresh (109) | Rotten (23)
Don Cheadle brings sharp humor and deep passion to his portrayal of the Washington, D.C., disk jockey and talk-show host Petey Greene in this historically vital and acute bio-pic…
April 27, 2020
Richard Brody
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
November 18, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Cliff Doerksen
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
In its wrenching shift from farce to tragedy, and its evocation of the bridge offered by friendship, Talk to Me tells it, and keeps on tellin’ it, much as ‘Petey’ Greene would have.
October 18, 2008
Bob Mondello
NPR.org
TOP CRITIC
It’s a visually and aurally riveting trip to an important time from a perspective few here will know, about a person worth meeting.
February 22, 2008 | Rating: 3/4
George Palathingal
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
A stronger screenplay and more sensitive direction would have made this movie into something far more genuinely uplifting than it is.
November 23, 2007 | Rating: 2/5
Derek Malcolm
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
The movie is decent enough, but contains Greene’s story in a sentimentalised career arc.
November 23, 2007 | Rating: 2/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
A proposal full of self-confidence and expressive force. [Full review in Spanish]
November 5, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/5
Toni Vall
Cinemanía (Spain)
Though funny in places, the film lacks any decent secondary characters… but it’s easy to see why Lemmons would decide to keep the camera as much as possible on the two excellent central performances.
November 3, 2018 | Rating: 3/5
Kaleem Aftab
The List
Cheadle’s skillful performance makes Petey a flawed hero worth rooting for, even when his actions offend. Ejiofor also impresses with his subtle turn as the conflicted, success-hungry Dewey. In addition, the film boasts an excellent sound track.
August 15, 2018 | Rating: 4/4
Brandy McDonnell
The Oklahoman
Kasi Lemmons’ radio drama of flamboyance, fury and finesse cranks the funk on a sister station to “Talk Radio” and “Good Morning Vietnam,” powered by two performances of impeccable clarity and cut from Don Cheadle and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
October 20, 2010 | Rating: 3.5/4
Nick Rogers
The Film Yap
Although the director succumbs to the genre(TM)s temptation to wrap up a messy life with a neat, platitudinous resolution, she lets her cast give Greene and his era its due.
April 23, 2009 | Rating: 3/4
Tom Meek
Boston Phoenix
Talk to Me is an incisive portrait of a provocative figure. It comes very close to caricature, but remains human and lively.
February 2, 2009 | Rating: 2.5/5
Tony Macklin
Fayetteville Free Weekly…
Plot
Talk to Me is a biographical drama about ex-convict Ralph “Petey” Greene, who becomes a controversial radio host in 1960s Washington, D.C. and becomes the voice of the black movement.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Don Cheadle delivers a “sharp humor and deep passion” performance as Ralph “Petey” Greene in Talk to Me, according to Fresh Kernels.
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