Focus Films and Sidney Kimmel Entertainment present a 118 minute R rated based on truth film directed by Kasi Lemmons and starring Don Cheadle (Ralph "Petey" Greene), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Dewey Hughes), Mike Epps (Milo Huges), Peter MacNeill (Warden Cecil Smithers), Taraji P. Henson (Vernell Watson), Cedric the Entertainer ("Nighthawk" Bob Terry), Martin Sheen (E.G. Sonderling), J. Miles Dale (Program Director), Martin Randez (Hadley) and Richard Chevolleau (Poochie Braxton).
May 1966, Petey is doing time in prison following his dream as a DJ playing music and talking his sharp tongued truth for his fellow inmates. One day he meets up with Dewey Hughes who is visiting his brother Milo who happens to be doing time as well. Milo spoke often to Petey that his brother works at a Washington DC radio station, WOL am 1450. The famous words are spoken of course to Petey, "come see me when you get out". Well, Petey gets out much earlier than expected due to special circumstances and with the brow beating of his girlfriend, Vernell, shows up at WOL expecting a job.
His tactics are rude, crude and a bit naive but in the end of course so was his tongue. Albeit, it eventually landed him a job on the air at WOL. At this point in time many of the moments between Petey, Dewey, station owner E.G. and the radio staff mirror many similarities to another film, "Private Parts", about the rise of Howard Stern. Similar to a degree but yet far different in others since Petey was an ex-con activist standing up for his community in the 60's.
As a radio host, of course I should know, the depictions on and off the air are very real and well portrayed. A host should always know more than his listeners and if not at least be able to back up what he says, have no dead air and talk about anything and everything of interest and by all means be entertaining and honest. Petey believed in the words that came from his lips and he relayed them from his first big shot on the air to his earned opportunity and his own time slot. I remember my first time on the air, I didn't vomit like Petey but I toke my shirt off and could fill a glass with my sweat, amazing what nerves can do!
Even with the FCC having a close ear to his every words, Petey rose to stardom with the help of his new closest friend and manager, Dewey. Local radio, to national, to television to comic bits, Petey was the talk of P town voicing his famous words, "talk to me". His fans loved him, his station praised him but his inner soul amongst his climb scared him. His passion was radio, his voice was real and his words where spoken from the heart. When Martin Luther King was assassinated at the age of 39 in Memphis and the world mourned him, riots broke out and civil unrest was rampant. Petey became the voice of reason. What makes the measure of a man is not where he stands in comfort but rather in a challenge. Petey took life's challenges and made them his passion on the air speaking words of wisdom to his listeners, "say it loud, I'm black and I'm proud".
But fame has a price sometimes and for Petey with his drinking and wild antics his spirit was eventually broken. After his appearance on the Johnny Carson show in New York his life came to a halt. He and Dewey parted ways, but Dewey in the 80's found his own voice and went on to become not only a station DJ and owner but a winner of Emmy's and the new voice of the changing decade. True friends will always remain truthful to each other no matter how much time will pass. Petey and Dewey throughout it all whether together or apart were always friends to the end many times saying the things the other was afraid to say. Petey died at the age of 53, 10,000 mourners attended his funeral which was the largest in DC for a non-elected official.
The film was honest, truthful and extremely well acted by all the lead characters. Cheadle was truly Petey Greene resurrected. Ejiofor reminded me of a young Sidney Poitier, Henson that of Beyonce on screen sometimes a bit raw but easy on the eyes and Sheen was a delight as the stern yet understanding to the bottom line boss man. The direction, writing and score was superb and adapted brilliantly to the big screen even incorporating raw footage of King, Carson and other moments of our past times. My only hope is that the audience understands that there should no longer be a black power, white power or whatever power but instead in order for this world to unite and move forward there should only be an equal power for all mankind. Learn from our past and live for our future as one.
Reporting for Talkin' Pets, I'm Jon Patch.