Talk to Me

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Talk to Me

R

2007

1h 58m

Biography

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

127 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Outspoken ex-convict Ralph Petey Greene talks his way onto the air at a white-owned radio station in the 1960s Washington, D.C. Fueled by the new music and social upheaval of the times, he courts controversy while becoming the voice of the black movement.

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Critics Consensus

A riveting look at the life of legendary DJ "Petey" Greene, Talk to Me goes beyond the typical biopic with explosive performances from Don Cheadle and Chiwetal Ejiofor.

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Richard Brody

The New Yorker

Apr 27, 2020

Don Cheadle brings sharp humor and deep passion to his portrayal of the Washington, D.C., disk jockey and talk-show host Petey Greene in this historically vital and acute bio-pic...

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George Palathingal

Sydney Morning Herald

Feb 22, 2008

3/4

It's a visually and aurally riveting trip to an important time from a perspective few here will know, about a person worth meeting.

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Derek Malcolm

London Evening Standard

Nov 23, 2007

2/5

A stronger screenplay and more sensitive direction would have made this movie into something far more genuinely uplifting than it is.

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Toni Vall

Cinemanía (Spain)

Nov 5, 2020

3.5/5

A proposal full of self-confidence and expressive force. [Full review in Spanish]

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Kaleem Aftab

The List

Nov 3, 2018

3/5

Though funny in places, the film lacks any decent secondary characters... but it's easy to see why Lemmons would decide to keep the camera as much as possible on the two excellent central performances.

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Brandy McDonnell

The Oklahoman

Aug 15, 2018

4/4

Cheadle's skillful performance makes Petey a flawed hero worth rooting for, even when his actions offend. Ejiofor also impresses with his subtle turn as the conflicted, success-hungry Dewey. In addition, the film boasts an excellent sound track.

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Robert P

@Superbad Oct 8, 2026

Talk to Me is a *4* star Movie!!!!

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Michael W

@mawilps Aug 24, 2026

This movie biopic is really good. Don Cheadle, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Taraji P. Henson, Martin Sheen, Cedric the Entertainer, and the rest of the cast did a fantastic job in this movie. This true story radio pioneer Petey Greene was dramatic, inspirational, and entertaining. It's about speaking the truth when no one else will and rising up to become what you were made to do. If you haven't seen this movie yet, check it out sometime. It's a definite must see.

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Trixy T

@RT02853835 Jul 17, 2026

-my new favorite movie.! ❤️

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prawnda S

@RT72497680 Jul 4, 2026

it has a few funny moments, but overall it's a very tired and derivative story that randomly derails itself to talk about martin luther king for the whole 2nd act, and then the third act is just too underdeveloped and ends with an extremely sappy funeral sequence. the director gutted a biopic about petey green so that she could make it about the most overhyped civil rights figure of all time, and then by the time she got back to petey he was dead.

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Dec 18, 2025

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Stephen C

@bob25009 May 28, 2025

1 hour and 58 minutes based on a successfully true story. Rated R for Some Sexual Content and Pervasive Language!!!!!!!! Starring Don Cheadle, Martin Sheen, and Cedric the Entertainer.

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Kasi Lemmons

Director

Don Cheadle

Ralph "Petey" Greene

Chiwetel Ejiofor

Dewey Hughes

Taraji P. Henson

Vernell

Martin Sheen

E.G. Sonderling

Cedric the Entertainer

Waylon

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Synopsis

Outspoken ex-convict Ralph Petey Greene talks his way onto the air at a white-owned radio station in the 1960s Washington, D.C. Fueled by the new music and social upheaval of the times, he courts controversy while becoming the voice of the black movement.

Director: Kasi Lemmons
Producer: Joe Fries, Mark Gordon, Sidney Kimmel, Josh McLaughlin
Screenwriter: Michael Genet, Rick Famuyiwa
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Mark Gordon Productions, Pelagius Films, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment
Rating: R (Some Sexual Content|Pervasive Language)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 13, 2007, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 18, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $4.5M
Runtime: 1h 58m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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