Forgotten Performances: William Holden in "Network" (1976)

Holden's performance as Max Schumacher is one of the most underrated performances to ever to be found in a largely overrated slop pile of a film. Everyone always remembers Finch's memorable ranting, and Dunaway's (ack!) shrill bitchiness, but Holden (the real lead actor of the film, I don't care what anyone says) with a quieter performance isn't given alot of attention at all. It helps that he and the great Beatrice Straight create the only real humane characterizations in the film (Finch is powerful, but soulless), and give real depth and understanding to the proccedings. Max is caught up in a world with these freaks, yet Holden's performance reveals Max's attempt to sustain a sane life by going back to Lousie, and maintaining his integrity.

It's a subtle, textured performance which makes the film bearable, and seeing it through Max's eyes, actually interesting.