Suzanne Kelly

Hot Air examines the current state of affairs in America's media turmoil through the cynical, manipulative, far-right radio talkshow host Coogan portrays so well. If you see some Bill O'Reilly in Coogan's character, I'm with you. The far right's perpetually-angry audience is a commodity worth money, and the more shocking and anger-provoking a radio host is, the more successful they are. Coogan's shockjock is himself emotionally wounded and the cuts have festered over time. The dei ex machina appearance of his niece, child of his damaged, addicted sister provides a way to see how he wound up so twisted. He gets some killer lines, climaxing in his soliloquy near the end. I confess - I know Declan Michael Laird who plays a young rich Russian who also lives in Coogan's ultra-exclusive building. Well done Declan. This movie has a lot to say, and I like how it does it. Great to see Neve Campbell as the love interest; you can see in her face her conflicting emotions - fondness, perhaps love for the unlovable DJ, and turmoil when he gets things so wrong at different times. Thumbs up from me.