Talk to Me

Perhaps too early in the year, but Don Cheadle pulls off an Oscar-nomination-worthy Best Actor performance as Petey Greene in "Talk to Me", a film that covers the unlikely career of Washington D.C. radio host Petey Greene from the late 1960's through the mid-1980's. Chiwetel Ejiofor is also up to the task as Dewey Hughes, the man who gave Greene a shot at radio stardom after being challenged by Greene in spite of his past that included incarceration for felony convictions. It would please me if Ejiofor got a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his strong work in this film, but again, I wonder if the voters will remember next winter. Taraji P. Henson is also very good in this film, proving her work in "Hustle and Flow" was no fluke.

This film is very entertaining in the beginning, but also had me choke up in a few spots as it deals with some of the turbulent events of the times that had a strong impact on the black community. It's more thoughtful and somber in the final act, but deservedly so.

It's a film well worth seeking out if you have interest in bio-pics.

I give it 3.75 stars, or a grade of A-.