Quiz Show [VHS]
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This vigorously entertaining film, sharply directed by Robert Redford from Paul Attanasio’s brilliant screenplay, is based on the game-show scandals of the 1950s, when TV quiz shows were rigged to attract higher ratings and lucrative sponsorships. The fact-based story focuses on the quiz show Twenty-One and popular contestant Charles Van Doren (Ralph Fiennes), a charming, well-bred intellectual who agreed to win the game by using answers supplied by the show’s producers. Thi… More >>
This is a well-crafted film. It did not do well, and Redford whined that the American public wasn’t ready to face their loss of innocence. Blaming the public for the failure of a movie is a cop out. Redford is at fault. He himself said, “I wanted the first half of the movie to move quickly, like television itself. Then the second half I wanted to have a slower pace.” A basic rule of movie narrative is the ONLY time you can be leisurely is at the beginning, and toward the end you really have to pick up the pace. I truly believe Redford’s choice to slow the movie down in the second half is why it failed. Rob Morrow’s awful acting job doesn’t help. But aside from those major caveats, this film is intelligent, well-written, the other performances are first-rate, and it’s worth a look.
Rating: 3 / 5
Almost everything I’ve seen by Robert Redford bowls me over with its blandness. Remember the aptly titled Ordinary People? Few people seem to any more. Quiz Show was the exception that proved the rule. Although it’s overdone in parts, particularly Rob Morrow’s role, many of the other actors do such a superlative job here that the film approaches masterpiece status. Ralph Fiennes, John Turturro and, of course, Paul Schofield are three of the very finest actors working today and each is up to his best here. Another performer who has been very good whenever I’ve seen him, but who seems to be highly underrated, is David Paymer who also brings a subdued intensity to his role as the producer at the center of things. Although the plot, based on the notorious government investigations of the game show frauds of the late 50′s, is a bit loose ended, the performance by these four actors is just splendid and overcomes any script shortcomings. It’s difficult to imagine Schofield, Fiennes or Turturro needing any direction here. Now, if only Robert Redford could work with them all the time his productions wouldn’t be limited to white bread consistency.
Rating: 4 / 5
This is the best film of 1994. I rank it slightly ahead of Shawshank Redemption. It deserves a deluxe DVD!!!!!!!
Rating: 5 / 5
Tragedy is a hero with a single flaw; Achilles had his heel, Charles Van Doren was weak willed. He was smart, clever, educated, funny, and a good fellow well met. He knew right from wrong, but lacked the fortitude to choose right; he chose money over honor and lost himself in the transaction. This movie is about the inevitability of Van Doren’s fall; watch Ralph Feinnes bring life to the character, see the growing glint of desperation behind his eyes as the end approaches, wish it didn’t have to happen. The inevitability draws you in and makes this film.
The DVD should have been better. The print was dirty, and the transfer soft. There are several artifacts visible: Venetian blinds, the fluting on the columns near the Capitol steps, etc. The disk has too few features, not even a cast biography. Such a highly praised film deserves better treatment. If you prefer story to technique, though, this movie might be worth its price.
Rating: 4 / 5
This is the Robert Redford’s best movie in my opinion. He does a great job with the period and the gets a great cast led by Ralph Fiennes to tell a personal story of Quiz Show scandals. The bad guys are maybe too bold about their predictions of the future, because Redford knows the future already, but otherwise the movie flows nicely with the main characters facing all sorts of moral dilemmas, and answering them as they come along.
The problem with the DVD is that is has nothing special to offer. It has no commentary or making-of segment, and not even one of those documentaries on the real scandals. You can pick it up cheap now or wait until somebody releases a special edition of this fine movie.
Rating: 3 / 5