Morning Glory Film (Movie Review)

(Here's the official trailer of the film Morning Glory)

             Morning Glory is a film released in the year 2010, starred by Rachel McAdams, Harrison Ford, and Diane Keaton. It’s about the story of Becky Fuller, an aspiring executive producer, who had been through ups and downs in her job. Becky was successful in fulfilling her dreams as she went along many obstacles being the EP of a morning show titled “Daybreak”.

            Morning news programming is important in a way that they provide early massive information. In the Philippines, the sentimentality of breakfast television is that it captivates the Filipinos on what is merely going to be talked about for the whole day. In the United States, as I have seen in the movie, the significance of morning shows is on how it brings an entertaining morning for their viewers. Meaning, morning news programming is vital because, just like what the title of the movie suggests, it gives us morning glory which may be helpful as we face a great day ahead.


          The movie showed some specific aspects about the different communication theories. There were three being emphasized: Cultural Approach to Organization, Semiotics, and the Face Negotiation Theory.

            For cultural approach to organization, which Clifford Geertz and Michael Pacanowsky describe that organizations have their own culture, I think it’s more obvious on the part when Becky met her staffs on her first day as the new executive producer of Daybreak. She was not familiar with the culture of that new environment she’s into. Being an excellent new member, she was able to cope up with non-stop questions and suggestions from her staffs. With enough time handed, she was even able to turn the group into more like of a family. Having their corporate culture, the organization was able to have its corporate, personal, and collegiate stories.

         In Semiotics, which is merely about messages interpreted through signs and symbols, I think the movie portrayed it on the doorknob. Becky in her first day saw the broken doorknob being held by Leny Bergman, the senior producer of Daybreak. I think it’s a sign that something might get broken, not literally, or something bad might happen to Becky’s new life in Daybreak, which really happened. It’s when the show has low ratings the reason why the channel would like to cancel Daybreak in six weeks. It was of great phenomenon for Becky being the EP of the show. And when Leny decided to get a new doorknob, I think it already pertains to new opportunities that may come their way, especially to Becky. And then, as what the sign suggests, there was a chance given to Becky from the NBC who wants to work on The Today’s Show, which is actually her dream.

            According to Toomey, the basic concept of Face Negotiation Theory is the idea that each person’s identity is represented by a face that he/she shows to others. There were lots of scenes emphasizing how face acts an important role in the movie, from Mike Pomeroy’s way of showing his mysterious identity through his face to Ernie Appleby’s jolly personality. The character’s individuality was clearly revealed on how they represented their selves through their faces.

            The movie was indeed great and inspiring. Morning Glory showed lots of lessons to be learned and values to be earned. I'm glad to be introduced to this movie because it’s completely of great help for me as I go along my journey in the media industry someday.

-ClarissaAlimot