A little-remarked upon movie, "Wrong Is Right," is eerily prescient. The movie, shown in 1982, starred Sean Connery as the peripatetic reporter for a television organization clearly patterned upon (mocking) CNN. I won't give away the details of the plot, but anyone who views it now will wonder whether its director and producer, Richard Brooks, had a time machine, or at least a crystal ball.
Yeah to my point though, history keeps coming back around and making it relevant all over again. That crazy show Howard Beale winds up doing has a lot more to do with the early days of prime time cable news than it does with the current media moment.
That movie revealed the type of thinking, and the type of corruption that we now see big scale as revealed by the DOGE audits. In 2009 I published The Noah Option, a novel that retold the theme of Atlas Shrugged with updated examples. I’m now giving talks about the prophecies I made in 2009 that have come true in 2025. Take a listen:
Back years ago, when I was making a transition from the news business to real life, Absence of Malice came along and assured me I was on the right path. I will forever treasure Wilford Brimley’s lines in the film, and Newman’s overall cynical understanding of the process. Written by a smart, wise newsman who got it all.
Thanks for that perspective! Yeah I've always liked Sally Field's transition at the end, giving up the gig at the big city paper to go home and practice honorable "pure" journalism at her small hometown paper. Perhaps not very realistic, but the right ending.
A little-remarked upon movie, "Wrong Is Right," is eerily prescient. The movie, shown in 1982, starred Sean Connery as the peripatetic reporter for a television organization clearly patterned upon (mocking) CNN. I won't give away the details of the plot, but anyone who views it now will wonder whether its director and producer, Richard Brooks, had a time machine, or at least a crystal ball.
Excellent article. Government is a beast, and left unchecked will acquire vicious parasites who care nothing about those being governed.
Thank you
Off point a little but Sally Fields and Mickey Rooney are two of the best actors ever. Oops, back to work for me.
Burt Reynolds said she was the love of his life… the one that got away
Network is dated in a very specific way that makes it quite interesting today.
Yeah to my point though, history keeps coming back around and making it relevant all over again. That crazy show Howard Beale winds up doing has a lot more to do with the early days of prime time cable news than it does with the current media moment.
Excellent and timely analysis.
That movie revealed the type of thinking, and the type of corruption that we now see big scale as revealed by the DOGE audits. In 2009 I published The Noah Option, a novel that retold the theme of Atlas Shrugged with updated examples. I’m now giving talks about the prophecies I made in 2009 that have come true in 2025. Take a listen:
https://www.americaoutloud.news/truth-is-stranger-than-fiction-the-noah-options-warning/
This is such a well-written piece. Tell Michael every single word in your essay was crucial. I see no fat at all.
Thank you! You can bet I will tell him that!
From another great and timeless film “A Man For All Seasons” on tearing down the law to get at devils: https://youtu.be/d9rjGTOA2NA?si=JPRjnakNbghI6mS9
Great! Alas, if only real life were like the movies. The world would be a better place.
A great story and a quality cast made this a truly special movie. Thanks for a wonderful Substack article!
Thank you!
Back years ago, when I was making a transition from the news business to real life, Absence of Malice came along and assured me I was on the right path. I will forever treasure Wilford Brimley’s lines in the film, and Newman’s overall cynical understanding of the process. Written by a smart, wise newsman who got it all.
Thanks for that perspective! Yeah I've always liked Sally Field's transition at the end, giving up the gig at the big city paper to go home and practice honorable "pure" journalism at her small hometown paper. Perhaps not very realistic, but the right ending.
A great review makes you want to see a movie you otherwise would not have made time for. Thanks!
You are very welcome. I’m jealous you get to see it for the first time