Talk to Me

"Wake up Goddammit!" A phrase coined by the legendary Ralph Waldo "Petey" Greene Jr. The straight talking ex-con, from the streets of our nations capital, who made his voice heard as he became a radio personality and Disc Jockey for the radio station WOL-AM.

Inspired by a true story, Don Cheadle delivers an exceptional performance as Petey Greene in Kasi Lemmons' Talk to Me. It's the mid 60's and after Petey is released from prison he talks his way into getting a chance at DJing for a local radio station through a fellow inmates brother Dewey Hughes, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, who is the program director at WOL-AM. On his first day Petey's bold antics get him fired by station owner E.G. Sonderling played by Martin Sheen.

Dewey immediately notices people responding to Petey's brief stunt on the morning show. Precariously endangering his own job he sneaks Petey into the station and on the air which creates a friendship and a partnership that will last for many years. By the time Sonderling can stop them there is such an immense response from the audience that all he can do is offer Petey the job.

The self proclaimed ex-con was a very straight forward and direct speaker who used humor to release some of the tension and anger that was built up in so many people in the community. He would not put on a face for anyone and he always said exactly what was on his mind despite any ramifications that his words might incite. That's what people loved about him and that's what they responded to. Many of the things he said were controversial but he was a man of the people. For the people. He spoke to make sure that the voices of his community were heard in a critical time in American history.

Petey struggled with things that many people struggle with everyday. Don Cheadle portrayed these things very well and made the character seem very real. I think these are the things that people look for when they go to the movies, even if it's subconsciously, because if they can relate in some way to the character, even if it is only slightly, then it makes them feel human.

Talk to Me had a little bit of everything. Don Cheadle's performance was excellent and at times he was hilarious, but he also had some very intense emotional scenes. They never explain specifically how Petey Greene dies but I think they make it pretty clear that it most likely has to do with his constant cigarette smoking and his struggles with alcohol. This was a great story that was shot very well. It came out in 2007 so it's on DVD now but I caught it on HBO. If it sounds like your choice of brew check it out.

Talk to Me trailer
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1921843481/