The Movie Journal

  Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) “Goooooooooooooood Morning, Vietnammmmmmmm.” When you hear Robin Williams and his manic energy bellow those lines for the very first time, you know you are in for a treat. This movie finally proved to the world how gifted of an actor Williams really was. Everyone knew about his comic skills and he proudly displays them here, but you see that his character goes through some bittersweet moments of self-discovery. Here, you realize that this comedian can nail the dramatic bits. Director Barry Levinson used William’s comedian skills against him which allowed him to draw a stronger performance. If you were to grow tired of his schtick, you will be impressed with his dramatic portions. I have only seen him in Moscow on the Hudson prior to this film’s 1987 release, and it is a more impressive performance-one that earned him his first of four Academy Award nominations. Williams’s performance is based off the life of real Vietnam-era DJ, Adrian Cronauer. ...

  Broadcast News (1987) If you watched the trailer for James L. Brooks’s Broadcast News , you would be forgiven if you thought this film is about a romantic love triangle set in a news station. Yes, there are aspects of romance, but it is way more than that. Brooks is a very smart, adept director who makes a living in creating deep, meaningful characterizations. In my eyes, Brooks had ideas about how work can overtake personal lives and any romance for these workaholics is essentially just a front because quite frankly, these people love to work…as we see detailed with our main characters. In addition, this film is quite informative. Even in 1987, news stations were more about entertainment and the looks, rather than delivering the actual news itself. It was a newer trend that eventually took over networks. With all the insanity within the newsroom, this film manages to find humanity within its characters. This is a detailed human portrait that is engaging, emotional, and comedic. ...