Good morning Washington!
Not
since Good Morning Vietnam have we had such an lively
DJ lighting up the screen. In Talk to Me, a biopic about
Ralph Waldo “Petey” Green Jnr., the scene is Washington
DC in the 1960's, where soul music and exploding social consciousness
are combining to powerful effect.
We meet recently released from prison Petey (Don
Cheadle), a madly enthusiastic amateur DJ and his ‘wild
thing’ girlfriend Vernell (Taraji P. Henson). Through the
efforts of Milo (Mike Epps), another prison inmate, Petey is teamed
up with a reluctant Dewey Hughs (Chiwetel Ejiofor), an executive
with a local R&B radio station WOL-AM.
Despite protests from the station’s conservative
owner (Martin Sheen) Dewey takes a risk giving Petey a try-out,
installing him in the studio for a morning talk-back program.
Petey, with his cool chatter and often outrageous comments, tells
it like it is; combining humour with biting social commentary
and becoming one of the first "shock jocks". This totally
different style of morning show becomes an instant winner. Dewey
appoints himself Petey’s manager and inspired by the DJ’s
success, applies increasing pressure to make him a major star.
Martin Luther King’s assassination brings
the city to the boil. Petey, as the voice of the people, exerts
a calming influence in a time of severe racial tension. His rise
to fame and fortune has started. Dewey even books him on The
Tonight Show with Johnny Carson; considered the way to the
stars for comedians. Actually it’s Dewey’s dream to
be on The Tonight Show, rather than Petey's - he would
rather just stick to his old radio show. With his easy going lifestyle,
various addictions, and perhaps a nervous streak, Petey is not
so enthused about being a megastar.
The
second part of the film shifts the emphasis to Dewey and his ambitions
which cause a rift in the partnership. The picture loses focus
and the latter section doesn’t really come up to the early
promise.
Notwithstanding that, the performance of Don Cheadle
(Ocean’s Twelve) is electric. He captures the essence
of that style of talk-back radio while his determined efforts
to get on board at the station abetted by his wacky girlfriend
are hilarious. Equally Chiwetel Ejiofor (American Gangster)
in fine form as the ambitious driving force, the two actors giving
of their best in an early scene in a pool hall. In supporting
roles Martin Sheen (The Departed) comfortable as the
station manager, Taraji P. Henson (Smokin’ Aces)
does a great turn as the exuberant Vernell, with Cedric The Entertainer
filling in smoothly as the cool late night radio host.
Director Kasi Lemmons (The Caveman’s Valentine)
helms with a confident hand until the later scenes, when some
fizz goes out of the story. But she does well by her actors. The
leads play off each other effectively. There’s plenty of
astute humour with insights into the problems facing African-Americans
in the white dominated business world of that era. The Tonight
Show sequence provides a nice touch of suspense. Slick dialogue
has a ring of truth which counts for extra points.
I’m not sure how accurate is this portrayal
of Petey Green, knowing very little about the man, but as an amusing
and intelligent film it ranks well enough.
John Bale
