FREE ESSAY ON TALK RADIO

TALK RADIO

In Talk Radio, Oliver Stone brings together all venues of filmmaking to capture the story
he wants to tell. With tremendous collaboration from the DP, the production designer, the
writer, and the performers, Stone calculated a tight, moving film in high style.
Beginning with the script, Stone and Bogosian formed a laborious respect in the nature of
the piece. They each understood the underlying theme that Barry repeats over and over
again. "If you don't like it, why don't you turn it off?" (sic) They went after the build
up of Barry's paranoia and need for voice/attention, knowing all along he would have to
die for the film to mean anything. We start the film off in the clutches of its finale;
the crazed fan waiting for his prey in smoke. It is only until Barry can recognize the
error in his ways that he can be taken from the world to speak louder than any airwave or
radio signal. This is wonderfully shown in the voice montage of callers.The idea of the
radio station being a safe world unto its own, where no light penetrates and no one from
the real world can gain access, is a wonderful metaphor for Barry himself. A loud
talking, overly proud shock jock, who cannot afford to let anyone in. The world of the
station has no windows, no warm light, and no ties to the ugly city around it. Barry
dresses in black, like the studio, which is set in contempo-modern deco blacks and grays.
He talks about subjects no one wants to admit is true. We are constantly in shadow,
always hearing and watching two different stories, and wondering where it'll go. Stone
keeps us constantly aware of how Barry affects those around him and at the center of
attention. Using moving shots, reflection focus pulls, dimming lights, and split diopters
we never lose sight of the choices Barry is making and what it's doing to those around
him. This is essential to keep the action and momentum up in a one room monologue driven
story. Stone never let us down in a place that had the potential for lackluster action.
In Barry Champlain, I think Stone was really going after the idea that he was someone who
no matter how hard you try, you just can't touch. "This is my show." Stone captured the
heart of "Barry's show" in every corner of the film.
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