Radio Inside
1994
Luv Triangles
Summary Capsule: An inwardly-social guy finds solace in his talks with Jesus, his job at the aquarium, and his brother's girlfriend.
Kym's Rating: Four out of four fish
Kym's Review: This is such a wonderful movie dealing with several powerful issues including love, family, and happiness. Matthew (played perfectly by the gorgeous William McNamara) comes to Miami to live with his brother Michael. This movie results in several conflicts that Matthew has to deal with including making his brother happy and falling in love with his brother's girlfriend, Natalie. I really enjoyed this movie for several reasons. Matthew's character really just appealed to
me. He's a dreamer and his dreams turn into some really interesting realities, creating a movie full of surreal imagery. For instance, Matthew conducts phone calls with Jesus Christ and even meets with him once for dinner. While the love triangle that develops is undoubtly a major part of this movie, I feel that another important aspect would have to be the relationship that Matthew has with his brother. He wants desperately to make him happy, but is forced to choose between self-sacrifice of his time at a job he loves and his love for Natalie. The end of the movie is poignantand deals with the conflict well without
selling the movie out and becoming trite. I throughly enjoyed this movie and I think those that feel like they belong a little out of the stream of everyday reality will enjoy it too.
Justin's Rating: A Curler - curl up with a love one and watch it
Justin's Review: Five minutes into this movie there was one strike for it and one against, IMHO. Against: a Cranberries song (a group that I pathologically hate). For: The main character Matt was from Indiana. What does this have to do with the movie? Nada, just thought I'd share. Kym's on this love-triangle kick, and so when she told me we'd review this one I groaned and plopped down to write some e-mail while viewing it. And little by little I was won over. Radio Inside is one of those small gems that slip by us every year for the simple sin of looking ordinary. Loosely, it's a story about a daydreaming boy who falls in love with his brother's girl. But that's what we sophisticated critics call a "plot device" or "sappy value." The main focus is on a dreamer in a world of doers. The system has drilled daydreaming out of most of us by the time we graduate high school, but some survive. Matt is one, a lover of fishies, swimming, working with kids, and has an active imagination akin to a radio dial that flips through channels constantly. The movie slowly propels us through his world, introducing bits of his reality into ours. His world isn't quite the same as ours, and we understand him more through his thoughts than his words. And that is rare in Hollywood these days. Rarer than that is his religious connections, symbolized by talking to Jesus on the phone. I'm babbling here. . . it's so hard to sum up this movie in tight little catchphrases. It's just a charming movie that entices one's interest and never lets it go until the end. And you can quote me.
Recommended for:
Dreamers
Guys who need a date movie that'll turn the girl into a weeping ball of putty by the end
Loners
The Movie Store!
Radio Inside: Movie [VHS]
Radio Inside: Movie [Laserdisc]
Groovy Quotes:
Michael: Why'd you take off your clothes?
Matthew: I gave them to God.
Michael: You gave your underwear to God? Don't you think he has his own?
If you liked this movie, try these:
Sleep With Me
Rudy
Rain Man
Soundtrack Review:
This movie has a wonderful soundtrack and as soon as I can find it, I plan on buying it. It's got several of my favorite songs including The Cranberries' "Dreams", "Radar Love", "My Foolish Heart", and the incredible "Everybody Hurts". The movie is also superbly underscored with beautiful piano music that enhances the mood of the picture. (KM)
