Metacritic Movie Ratings
Talk to Me Reviews

A sample of reviews from critics across the country.

• 91

  out of 100

  Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman

  A rowdy, richly offbeat biopic.

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• 88

  out of 100

  Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert

  Someone like Petey Greene made a difference and made a mark, and broadcasting is better because of his transparent honesty. He helped transform African-American stations more, probably, than their mostly white owners desired. And talk talents like Howard Stern, whether they know who he was, owe him something.

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• 80

  out of 100

  The New York TimesA.O. Scott

  The result is a movie that offers uplift without phoniness, history without undue didacticism and a fair number of funny, dirty jokes.

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• 80

  out of 100

  The Hollywood ReporterMichael Rechtshaffen

  While Cheadle's fearlessly robust performance absolutely galvanizes Talk to Me, it's not the only thing that makes Kasi Lemmons' third feature such a pleasure to take in.

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• 75

  out of 100

  USA TodayClaudia Puig

  Talk to Me speaks powerfully to audiences with its potent blend of extraordinary performances and engaging soundtrack.

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• 70

  out of 100

  Los Angeles TimesCarina Chocano

  With its R&B soundtrack and footage of civil unrest, Talk to Me might seem to cover familiar ground. But as an intimate portrait of the complex, fruitful and extremely volatile friendship between trailblazing African American men whose daring came to redefine an industry, it's fresh and revelatory.

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• 60

  out of 100

  VarietyRobert Koehler

  Alternates too deliberately between jaunty comedy and serious message-making.

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• 50

  out of 100

  Wall Street Journal

  For a movie that celebrates the power of speech, Talk to Me is oddly tongue tied. Its dialogue, equal parts uptight honky and jumping jive seems, particularly in the early stretches, to have been generated by a computer.

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See all Talk to Me movie reviews at Metacritic.com