FILMS… Broadcasting (News) My Favourite from a Much Missed William Hurt

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Flashbacking to when William Hurt portrayed a handsome and charismatic news anchorman…

 

Recalling Hurt in his role as the on-screen brawn to off-screen Albert Brooks’ reporting brains as both men make the news with their producer, Holly Hunter. 

 

Broadcast News

Hurt and Lois Chiles

Broadcast News (1987) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers, Movieclips Classic Trailers

 

Barely a month after the passing of Brad Johnson, an actor who played Holly Hunter’s love interest in Always (1989), I was sad to learn of the actor, William Hurt’s passing. Hurt was an actor, who had also starred with Holly Hunter in Broadcast News (1987), and also was a love interest. This film was just one of his versatile career where he gave a sterling and solid performance, this time as a news anchorman in this film satire telling of a news television show.

Hurt had shown his credibility, charisma and presence in the 1980s ensemble film The Big Chill (1983) as some university friends meet again at a mutual friend’s funeral. This was in his role as Nick, a self-confessed impotent man, drug taker and Vietnam vet. He later learns the helped Chloe – the dead man’s girlfriend – at a time when he worked as a radio counsellor and she called his show and he helped her when she was having problems. 

He also shone in his leading role in The Accidental Tourist (1988) as a man who is separated from his wife after their son’s death. He then meets a quirky dog owner who changes his life for the better. Hurt proved in both these different roles, that he was convincing as his character goes through a transforming character arc. Hurt also proved himself as a screen stealing presence in both his smaller roles as a robot boy creator with a tragic tale in A I Artificial Intelligence (2001) and in a number of Marvel movies, with a small but pivotal role as the Secretary of State, Thaddeus Ross. These films included  Captain America: Civil War (2016).

I’m reviewing him in one of his best-remembered roles as Tom Grunick in Broadcast News (1987). This film sports a fabulous 80s cast headed by William Hurt with Albert Brooks and Holly Hunter. This trio of leads is supported by Lois Chiles, Joan Cusack, Robert Prosky and in his five minutes of fame in this particular movie, Jack Nicholson. As well as many scenes recreating how a news programme was then put together behind the scenes at this time, this tells of the personal lives as they merge with the professional ones of the three characters.

The story, in a nutshell, starts with flashbacks to the 1960s and our three protagonists when they were kids. Jane Craig is work-driven, focused, super organised and outspoken. Aaron is the smart alec with an answer for everything. Tom is the boy who has been told that he will go far with his looks rather than his brains. Tom however tells his father that he wants more out of life than be thought of as a bit of a himbo, and admits to his weaknesses.

We then return to the present day of the late 1980s and to Washington DC, where you’ll meet their older selves. And it seems not much has changed, workaholic Jane (Hunter) is now a driven and passionate television writer and producer. She is working alongside – her best friend and confidant – Aaron (Brooks) who is now a journalist and both work behind the scenes at a news television show.

Jane meets the tall, blonde and handsome Tom (Hurt) at a conference after she gives a passionate speech. Her speech is about how the news is reported with news programmes prioritising less serious stories. Her speech is not a success with the audience, and only Tom stays to the end of her talk. He tells her that he agrees with her thoughts and arguments and that she “reached him”. She invites him out to dinner and he accepts.

It turns out that he used to have a job as a sports anchorman, but he has succeeded in getting a job as a well paid news anchorman at her workplace. She’s shocked at this as despite his charisma, good looks and ease in front of the camera, he’s first to admit that the news often goes over his head. She’s a bit angry with him for taking this job, as she strongly believes that he hasn’t the right experience for the job and she feels he’s underqualified.

After she tells him this, he leaves. She phones Aaron, it’s clear that she found Tom sexy and attractive despite these reasons. But she fears her aggressive attitude has put him off. At work, Aaron and Jane make a successful joint report on a conflict in Nicaragua. They are commended by the evening news anchorman, Bill (Jack Nicholson). At a party for the news network staff, it is clear Jane is attracted to Tom. She is jealous of his burgeoning relationship with Jennifer (Lois Chiles). Jennifer even asks Jane if it’s ok if she pursues a relationship with Tom, and Jane lets her.

While at the party, Jane is there she is asked to cover another story with Tom, as some foreign news breaks while they are there. Jane feels Tom is underqualified to report the story and that Aaron has the necessary experience, but she is overruled by a superior. She has to work with Tom and guide him in his report on this news story.

As they report the story, she has to prompt the details of the story to Tom via his headphones as he is unclear on the subject. Aaron calls with further advice from his home. Afterwards, it’s clear that Tom benefited from their help, and that Tom and Jane are a fabulous team. He gets a buzz from their teamwork and says it was like having “great sex”.

Tom and their colleagues go to celebrate this job well done, and Jane joins them just as the evening ends (after she visits Aaron). Much to her upset, Tom is leaving with their colleague, Jennifer. He then spends the night with Jennifer.

Later, a jealous Jane recommends Jennifer cover an ongoing news story in Alaska. After Tom pitches, writes and delivers a news report on date rape. He is filmed as she interviews a crying date rape victim. Jane is moved by the report, as in one scene it cuts to him crying.

The news network staff are told that there will be cuts in the employee budget and that a number of employees will be laid off. Aaron offers to read the news at the weekend, and Tom and Jane help him prepare for this new role in front of the camera. As Aaron reads the news, a dolled up Jane meets Tom for a work get together at the White House. It’s clear the two are attracted to each other and they snog passionately… However, after she visits Aaron after his news presenting disaster, she learns that Aaron is in love with her too… and he thinks Tom is the wrong man for her…

Many of the feelings I had I remembered watching this for the first time returned as I watched this film again. Both back then and now, I had loved Holly Hunter’s performance and character and had hoped for her to have a happy ending with Hurt’s character. I’d disliked Aaron and had been quite annoyed with his character when he belittled and made unjustified attacks on Tom.

I remember spotting Jack Nicholson in his cameo role and being quite excited to see him on screen, and he really is a majestic addition to the cast. You can almost feel the awe in the newsroom, as he enters the room in his role as the veteran anchorman – and this doubly so as it’s Jack Nicholson – as he meets his colleagues. Watching him with Hurt on screen, it was fabulous to watch those two titans of director and writer James L Brooks films on screen together, as Nicholson had starred in his first screenplay in Terms of Endearment (1983).

I was impressed by Hurt’s versatile performance as Tom. To me, he seemed more a more vulnerable and honest character than the others. He was aware of his faults and he admitted to these, but it seemed only a few helped him. I feel that Jane – and Aaron – underestimated his character partly thanks to Aaron’s scathing appraisal of him, where he saw him as a rival in love and at work. And partly due to her apparently high standards where she wanted it all, with both an intelligent and sexy man.

Despite having good looks, charisma and screen presence, Tom seemed more genuine. likeable and himself with her. He knows that he’s been given the job because of his physical attributes, but never acts big-headed and smug in spite of these, and seems a more humble, less pretentious and caring person.

Tom admitted his faults immediately in that he told Jane news stories that often went over his head, but he was willing to learn. He responded to Jane’s advice and the pair had lovely chemistry together. David Rooney of the Hollywood Reporter wrote about Hurt’s Oscar Nominated portrayal,

Even when playing dumb, as the handsomely telegenic, unapologetically shallow news anchor in Broadcast News, Hurt humanized the role with stealth warmth and emotional availability. The part of Tom Grunick seemed a descendant of affable buffoon Ted Baxter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, but James L. Brooks’ nuanced writing and Hurt’s performance gave surprising depths to his vapidity. He became a worthy third point in the romantic triangle with brainy co-workers played by Holly Hunter and Albert Brooks.

He was endearingly played by Hurt, and a future, pivotal storyline  – that proved a crucial one – seemed out of place for his character. If you are like me and give your own endings to films… omit that pivotal storyline and give this happy ending  to this character, and then “watch” as Jane repeats the words this happens, as Nigel Andrew from the Financial Times adds, but about his character in Body Heat (1981);

‘Dashing yet a touch dim, his character provoked from co-star Kathleen Turner one of the decade’s memorable one-liners: “You’re not too smart, are you? I like that in a man.”

 

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