I noticed a trend in American movies from the 70s. They were lauded at the time, are still germane today, but despite their revolutionary rhetoric & breaking the fourth wall to make viewers feel as if they are seeing what goes on during production, are largely formulaic. I preferred this standard when I saw The China Syndrome, but in this movie, Network left me cold & bored, especially with the trite after thought love story which practically brought the movie to a screeching halt. I have to agree with Kael’s point about too many screaming rants. There were moments of joy when Faye Dunaway met with the Angela Davis caricature (?) or when the latter had a meeting with the parody of the Symbionese Liberation Army, but for the most part, when the characters plot & behave badly, it is as if they feel bad about it & are regretful instead of balancing the mischievous with the preachy tone.