Network

Network (1976)
IMDB #226 [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074958/]

The Gist:
I thought I had Network pegged before I watched it: your potent cautionary film about the dangerous path media is traveling down, away from authentic journalism and toward profit obsessed sensationalism. In a sense, it is that movie, but it manages to be more than that. Its soul is an odd thing, it takes on almost unnoticeable surreal tone (except toward the very end were it becomes very obvious that that is there intent). And at the same time, you have a fascinating protagonist (who is not Peter Finch although you would never know it going into the film) who seems to have no real purpose being in the film past the first half. At least on a surface level he has absolutely nothing to do with the plot, he just sticks around and has an affair with the woman who takes over his job. However, the film succeeds because what happens on the surface means a great deal when it comes to everyone except the protagonist and absolutely nothing when it comes to him. After all, he's the only one who escapes television without being consumed. So not only does his lack of purpose work all on its own (and it does), but it fits on a thematic level too. Pretty cool.

On Another Note:
Peter Finch's rants in this film are all awesome.