If Promised Land was an epic folksy battle to find out who the most affable, humble American was, Talk To Me was unfortunately less a bio pic and more a black check contest to find out who was really real. It is also too bad that the movie promos looked like clips from The Ladies Man. The cast is amazing: Don Cheadle and Chiwetel Ejiofor–angels should be singing. The real life story of Petey Greene from convict to radio talk show host to activist sounds interesting, but the actual execution does not quite work. Talk To Me always feels like it is elbowing its audience, “Check out the 70s. Those clothes! That hair!” Everything is done broadly. There are no gradual tonal shifts: just happy or sad. It had a sitcom vibe–think The Odd Couple. “Oh, that Petey! Always getting into scrapes.” When it is serious, it takes a tv movie recreation vibe – a stations of the cross of historical moments dutifully recreated per a checklist. There are occasional moments of emotional authenticity: during a riot scene and when the impeccable Taraji P. Henson first catches Petey in a compromising position. I was disappointed and hope that one day we get a documentary about Petey and Dewey Hughes. Only a must see if you love the actors involved in Talk To Me.