TV interviews in big movie moments?

November 8, 2007 1:25 PM

I'm looking for films where the climax of the story takes place during a live, on-camera television interview. The only one I can think of which comes close is "The Insider." Please help!

(By "climax" I mean the part of the story where the main conflict is finally resolved in some manner. Usually occurs towards the last ten or twenty minutes of the movie.)

It doesn't matter to me whether the films are based in fact or completely fictional.

Please note: I'm not looking for films where a merely important scene takes place during an interview. As much as possible I want movies where the big moment comes during a tv interview. I say "Insider" counts because the interview being broadcast is the moment where his story finally comes out, though I suppose it's up for debate.

Thank you for any recommendations!

posted by np312 to media & arts (49 comments total)

NETWORK
posted by asavage at 1:27 PM on November 8, 2007

On second thought, Network probably wouldn't qualify.
posted by asavage at 1:28 PM on November 8, 2007

Little Black Book -- though by your defintion, not a whole lot is "resolved" -- it's just the point where the truth comes out. It is, however, the climax of the movie.

(And now so embarassed to be able to answer the question this way, I'm going to head home and castrate myself, as I should.)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 1:30 PM on November 8, 2007

Maybe Natural Born Killers? Does that fit?
posted by Diskeater at 1:31 PM on November 8, 2007

How about that Ron Burgundy movie?
posted by Eringatang at 1:42 PM on November 8, 2007

Notting Hill?

I believe it's a televised press conference, but maybe that'll do.
posted by Ziggurat at 1:43 PM on November 8, 2007

In Broadcast News, the on-air interview is where William Hurt fakes his teary reaction, which is a pivotal plot point...
posted by nkknkk at 1:47 PM on November 8, 2007

The climax of America's Sweethearts occurs during a press conference, also (well, I turned it on right when it was ending and it seemed to me that they were at a press conference).
posted by puritycontrol at 1:50 PM on November 8, 2007

What about Tommy Boy, where the main characters catch Dan Akroyd's character on a live TV interview and convince him to buy Callahan brake pads, thus saving the factory and becoming a hero?
posted by Atreides at 1:51 PM on November 8, 2007 [3 favorites has favorites]

Kings and Queen has a climatic reveal through an interview that subverts much of what you just watched for an hour and half. It's not exactly an news interview, but it does take place on a television screen with someone talking in a interview format.
posted by rabbitsnake at 1:52 PM on November 8, 2007

perhaps "thank you for smoking?"
posted by ncc1701d at 2:05 PM on November 8, 2007

The King of Comedy, sort of?
posted by Skot at 2:05 PM on November 8, 2007

Someone Like You
posted by junkbox at 2:06 PM on November 8, 2007

'The Howling", sort of. It happens during a live newscast.
posted by willmize at 2:16 PM on November 8, 2007

Frank is exposed during a (taped) interview in Magnolia. (spoilers)
posted by ALongDecember at 2:18 PM on November 8, 2007

The Truman Show
posted by davey_darling at 2:18 PM on November 8, 2007

Jerry Maguire
posted by WinnipegDragon at 2:21 PM on November 8, 2007

What about that soap opera one with Sally Feild and Robert Downey Jr.?
posted by lannanh at 2:30 PM on November 8, 2007

To Die For, the very creepy, very funny movie by Gus van Sant starring Nicole Kidman.
posted by hermitosis at 2:32 PM on November 8, 2007

"Hero," from the early 90s, with Geena Davis & Dustin Hoffman. I think the climactic scene is a live interview.
posted by yarrow at 2:32 PM on November 8, 2007

The climax to Tootsie is a live soap opera broadcast, but it's not an interview.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 2:34 PM on November 8, 2007

The China Syndrome's climax and denouement are both live TV broadcasts.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 2:35 PM on November 8, 2007

Series 7: The Contenders
Also...
posted by blaneyphoto at 2:36 PM on November 8, 2007

The big finish in Love Actually is televised live, right?
posted by NortonDC at 2:37 PM on November 8, 2007

The final reveal in Atonement would fit.
posted by penguinliz at 2:41 PM on November 8, 2007

When Harry Met Sally ends with a video-taped interview as I recall. Not actually resolved perhaps, since that happens a bit earlier, but the final acceptance of the situation is certainly expressed by Billy Crystals expression.
posted by elendil71 at 2:48 PM on November 8, 2007

Manchurian Candidate? It's not an interview per se, but it's live tv.
posted by lhall at 2:48 PM on November 8, 2007

Robin William's confession to the American People in "Man Of The Year" takes place on an episode of SNL's Weekend Update.
posted by Zaximus at 2:59 PM on November 8, 2007

The climax in Dave takes place during a joint session of Congress, but I'm pretty sure it's being broadcast live (Not 100% on that one).
posted by dismas at 3:02 PM on November 8, 2007

Does a talk show count? If not, watch Speaking Parts anyway, it's a great film.
posted by fatllama at 3:05 PM on November 8, 2007

That stupid EdTV movie.
posted by SassHat at 3:11 PM on November 8, 2007

At the climax of The Osterman Weekend, Rutger Hauer confronts Burt Lancaster during a live interview.

Take my word for it, please. It's a horrible movie.
posted by infinitewindow at 3:19 PM on November 8, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

Bandits is close, in that the entire movie is told interspersed with an interview, and ends with the end of the interview.
posted by Four Flavors at 3:24 PM on November 8, 2007

best ending on camera is Any Given Sunday with Pacino.
posted by Mr_Crazyhorse at 3:45 PM on November 8, 2007

Live! From Death Row ... not that it's any good.
posted by holloway at 3:52 PM on November 8, 2007

The 2005 Fun with Dick and Jane remake.
posted by kirkaracha at 3:54 PM on November 8, 2007

The climax of Death Race 2000 happens on national television.
posted by bonehead at 4:44 PM on November 8, 2007

mallrats? I forget the specifics but there is a dating show at the end right?
posted by Large Marge at 5:41 PM on November 8, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

12:08 to Bucharest
posted by HotPatatta at 6:08 PM on November 8, 2007

The China Syndrome
posted by HotPatatta at 6:09 PM on November 8, 2007

The first thing that came to mind for me was Natural Born Killers (seconding Diskeater).
It has been awhile since I've seen it, though.

As I recall, that part was mostly a character sketch of The Media and the (perceived?) bloodlust of The Viewer.
posted by bonobo at 6:32 PM on November 8, 2007

Mallrats?
posted by Hugh2d2 at 6:47 PM on November 8, 2007

Harrison Bergeron, the Showtime movie version, fits this question exactly.
posted by InnocentBystander at 9:58 PM on November 8, 2007

Not One Less, by Chinese director Zhang Yimou, has the "climax" happen during a TV interview.
posted by alidarbac at 10:38 PM on November 8, 2007

"Soapdish" is exactly this! And WHAT a reveal!
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 5:06 AM on November 9, 2007

Requiem for a Dream (if hallucinations count)

"Juice by Tappy! Juice by Tappy!"
posted by ijoyner at 8:00 AM on November 9, 2007

Not yet a movie but will be soon:

Frost/Nixon
posted by Mr. Ugh at 1:51 PM on November 9, 2007

In "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" the main character is exposed as a fraud during a live TV broadcast.
posted by evilcolonel at 10:48 AM on November 10, 2007

State and Main - the ambitious politician is interviewed "live" at the end.
posted by nkknkk at 8:11 PM on November 11, 2007