Broadcast News (1987)

This was an interesting film. Good, but not great filled with some good performances and some that are just okay.
Holly Hunter truly shines as Jane Craig, who works as a producer for a Washington D.C. news station, but she is devastated at the current state of affairs. The news is becoming more sensational with less substance and she wants to keep the people informed. Enter William Hurt, who is Tom Gurlich, a new reporter who feels that though he is good at his job, he doesn't have the substance nor degree to back up his success and this hurts Jane, though she still tries to pursue him romantically.
Tom climbs the ropes at the station and even delivers a brilliant story on the horrors of date rape, something that is still relevant today. Though Tom is new, he still gets the better stories and the coveted night anchor position away from the more senior, Aaron Altman (Albert Brooks, excellent), who doesn't take the news well. Then, even worse and also still relevant today, there are all the budget cuts which means that so many people will lose their job so Aaron finally gets the opportunity to anchor as everyone else will be at this big, important government dinner. His big chance goes horribly, as he literally sweats through his clothes. Awkward.
But ultimately, Aaron has the last word, though Jane is going to go on a trip with Tom, Aaron is the one who warned her that his reaction to his highly-praised date rape feature was staged, with only one camera, the tears he did shed were added in later, after the victim was finished with her devastating story. Jane is livid and says that something like that could have gotten him fired. It certainly was dishonest, but they manipulate the news in other ways, showing only what they want the public to see so it can have the biggest impact. That is also dishonest, but in a different way.
Still, the film is great with Hunter and Brooks delivering performances worthy of an Oscar though Hurt was a bit of a disappointment though he was also nominated. Jack Nicholson is the main news anchor in New York who is upset over the budget cuts though he refuses to take a cut in salary to help others out. Joan Cusack deserved an Oscar nomination just for the scene where she runs the tape up to the control room in the nick of time so everyone can view it, tripping over everything in her way. She is always excellent.
I am also glad that Jane didn't end up with either Tom nor Aaron, a bold move, but neither would have been right for her. She wouldn't have been happy with either of them. It is a shame that Tom gets a promotion while Aaron takes the high road and quits, but ends up happier in the end. Isn't that what matters most? Grade: B+