The Director's Series: Sidney Lumet, No. 2


Throughout 2025 I'm turning my focus to Directors. They help craft the vision on screen that makes a movie work. This year I'm looking at five favorite films from 18 directors I admire and 10 films directed by different women that I have enjoyed. Join me Fridays and Saturdays throughout 2025 as we take this journey.

Network (1976)
Starring: William Holden, Robert Duvall, Faye Dunaway, and Peter Finch
Director: Sidney Lumet
About: This is a striking film. It focuses on a fictional network and an anchor undergoing a crisis. It looks at the nature of news and cultural relevance. It looks at the nature of ethics and entertainment. It may have been created nearly 50 years ago, but it still feels striking in the modern era. It features some great performances, too. I love Holden, Dunaway, and Duvall in these roles. But it's the work of Finch, who won the Academy Award, that feels iconic. Lumet was a visionary director who crafted some great films, especially in the 1970s. If you've never seen this film, it's worth checking out. 

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