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Summary: A time of innocence and the deception of the pubic
Review: Directed by Robert Redford and nominated for several Academy Awards, this 1994 film tells the true story of the quiz show "21" in the 1950s and how the contestants were given the answers ahead of time and coached for the show. As a child at the time I remember the hoopla and how whole families would watch this show together, holding their collective breaths during the competitions for big money. It was a time of innocence and the viewing community was deceived. And never again have the networks won that kind of public trust. Paul Attansio adapted the screenplay from the book written by Richard N. Goodwin who was the government investigator at the time. In the film this role is played by Rob Morrow who is determined to uncover the deception. All the other actors are excellent too - most notably John Turturro who is cast as a Jewish man from Queens who is allowed to win for seven weeks before being replaced by Charles Van Doran, a professor at Columbia who came from a long line of scholars. Paul Scofield also shines in the role of Van Doran's father, who stands by his son even though the family is disgraced by the publicity. It's not just the quiz show phenomenon that comes alive in this film. It is the nature of the times as well as the anti-Semitic undercurrent and cultural conflict that was endemic. Usually, when I see a film about the fifties, it looks like someone's imagination of what those times were like. But this film was different. I really felt I was right back there, many years before computers or even color television, sitting wide-eyed in front of that black and white set and admiring the contestants for being so smart. Times have changed. Now, we know we're being manipulated. And there is no outrage. I was unprepared to love this film so much. There is tension throughout and consistently wonderful acting. The dialog was authentic and the actors all played their roles with subtlety. They became the characters in the film and I wound up caring about all of them. "Quiz Show" is a simply wonderful film and I give it one of my highest recommendations. Don't miss it.
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Summary: Yes this is a perfect movie
Review: full of moral's and emotion's dialectic. But I always feel the director like to made(create and control) emotion. His movies are artificial...anyway I knew Relph Fiennis from renting this video two years ago and since then I've been his fan. And, about his another movie "Avenger", I need to replenish my review: He's exteremely charming everytime he's in the telephone booth!
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Summary: Finally, A Movie Of Uncompromising Integrity
Review: How many times have you seen this disclaimer at the end credits: "The story depicted in this motion picture is based on actual events. However, certain characters and incidents were added for dramatic effect." What the filmmakers are telling us here, folks, is that without these added elements, the movie would be downright boring. See, if we tell it like it is, we won't make money. Director Robert Redford and screenplay writer Paul Attanasio would have none of that. They chose to chronicle the events leading up to the quiz show scandal of the late 1950s without the embellishments that have become so much a part of Hollywood tradition. For that alone, they deserve the highest praises. But what makes Quiz Show a cinematic marvel is its ability to keep the viewer involved while remaining unerringly faithful to the facts. John Turturro and Ralph Fiennes turn in career performances as contestants who at first benefit from, but later become victims of a system that dictates that ratings are more important than moral integrity. Turturro plays Herb Stempel, the annoying Jew who at first makes for an appealing underdog but soon wears out his welcome, and so has to take a "dive." Fiennes is Charles Van Doren, the handsome, clean-cut Ivy Leaguer who is seen as the worthy replacement and goes along with the deception, only to soon find himself in over his head but unable to just walk away. Equally impressive is the supporting cast: Rob Morrow as Congressional investigator Richard Goodwin, Hank Azaria and David Paymer as the quiz show's manipulative producers, and Paul Scofield as Van Doren's ever-supportive but unaware father. Also exceptional, but easy to overlook in the glow of the all-star cast, are Johann Carlo as the unsophisticated, non-intellectual but nonetheless faithful Mrs. Stempel; Martin Scorsese as the less-than-honorable profit-motivated sponsor; and Mira Sorvino as Goodwin's devoted, if rather outspoken wife. All turn in tour-de-force performances so essential to bringing the brilliant screenplay to life. The result: a morality play that is at once gripping and entertaining. A taut drama where tension runs thick in virtually every segment, intensifying as the movie progresses, and culminating in the unforgettable scene where Van Doren has to face the Congressional committee. It is only fitting that a movie whose theme is integrity is approached with such uncompromising honesty, and for that we should all be thankful. For once, filmmakers actually stood by the belief that this was more important than making the proverbial quick buck.
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Summary: A TRIUMPH ON EVERY LEVEL!
Review: I am a fan of Robert Redford as both an actor and a director, and as the latter this is his crowning achievement. It has the subtlety and scharacter development of Ordinary People with the good natured love of A River Runs Through It. But it also has an understanding look at it's characters and that is what won me over. No one is all good or all bad the film shows everyone fairly and without prejudice. Quiz Show is powerful without getting in your face and moving without feeling manipulative. It is what all films try and achieve. Realism, depth and subtlety all rolled together. Ralph Fiennes is fantastic so is Mr. Morrow and John Turturro is excellent. If you never saw this then take the time to view great vintage filmmaking at it's best.
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Summary: What a great film!!
Review: I can't watch this enough! Fiennes and Turturro are fantastic
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Summary: Like plagiarising a comic strip...
Review: I confess, I collect pithy lines from films for later use (though, striving to be a person of honour, I try to cite my source as well). Three lines stick in my mind from this film. The first, cited in the title, is from Charles Van Doren's father (played beautifully by veteran actor Paul Scofield), commenting on the prospect of people cheating on the Quiz Show. The second comes from a comment made with regard to Herb Stempel appearing on television: 'Now there's a face for radio.' The third is when Van Doren is contemplating the ethics of his situation, and remarks: 'I'm just trying to imagine what Kant would make of this.' The movie 'Quiz Show' is based upon the true story of 21 and the scandals surrounding a fix in the questions and answers to facilitate ratings. The show 21 has only recently made it back to television. 21 was a highly rated NBC programme sponsored by Geritol (back in the days when usually one sponsor carried a show and became identified with it in the minds of the public). The producer, host, and other workers played with the audience by making sure that popular contestants returned, and unpopular ones lost, by rigging the questions. Herb Stempel (played by Tuturro) had a several-month run when it was decided that his popularity had reached a plateau, and a new face was needed. Entering the scene was Charles Van Doren (played by Ralph Fiennes), who in the excitement of fame and money succumbed to the temptation of being given the answers, too. Eventually the government got involved in investigating a fraud (Rob Morrow as Dick Godwin, the investigator, is excellent) related to the show (big play was made about the absolute secrecy of the questions before hand) -- television was not quite in its infancy but was still in its childhood and the public perception was one of trust. When it was revealed that not only was 21 rigged, but that Van Doren had been part of this, the backlash was tremendous, but short-lived. The production team including the host eventually made it back to television, and indeed Herb Stempel even made a television commercial recently as a parody of himself playing a contestant on a quiz show who had just been given the answer. But for Van Doren, whose family was noted for academic achievement, the blow was long-lived, and he was never able to establish a career as an academic again. He did go on to author several books, including one of which I use in reading circles and teaching (The History of Knowledge). What makes the story so remarkable is that most of the people participating were very intelligent. Stempel was a whiz kid at trivia and factual knowledge; Van Doren had a very broad education covering arts and humanities and the natural sciences. If anyone didn't need the help to win, it was these people. Martin Scorsese has a cameo in which he gives the investigator the very real and somewhat painful truth--people ultimately don't care about the knowledge or education or even the honesty of the shows, they just tune in to watch the money. And in fact, that is what has happened with shows today--the recent insurance investigation of Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, given claims that the questions are too easy and payouts too large, brings this movie back to mind as the 'anything for ratings' mentality still thrives. A glimpse into a more innocent time that wasn't so innocent after all, this movie works on multiple layers. Now, as I'd like to be on a show myself, does anyone have that Millionaire telephone number?
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Summary: Good try for Robert Redford
Review: I found Quizshow very entertaining. The detailed work of the sets and costumes really brought the movie true to life. This movie is real treat for viewer who were not born at that time.
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Summary: Pretty darn good
Review: I like everything that Mr. Fiennes has done, and by far this is my favorite! He can go from being a bad, German officer in Schindlers List, to... to.. well, to this! A masterpiece. And a huge hand to Robert Redford, the other best actor on the planet. My favorite movie ever... buy it!
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Summary: Very moving
Review: I loved it. An intellegent script and a wonderful cast made it an emotional experience. Its the type of movie that really makes you think and question your own morals.
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Summary: DON'T JUDGE A MOVIE BY ITS TITLE
Review: I remember when my dad came home from the movie store that my mom said, "Quiz Show?! Well THAT doesn't sound like a very interesting movie." Even I was a little skeptical, not being a Robert Redford fan--with the exception of SNEAKERS. But we put the VHS tape into the VCR and the show began. . . . And our whole family was oooohed and aaaaahed by the great directing, casting, and, well, you name it. Even though I was born in the early 80's, I still was able to enjoy the film. If the movie was long, I don't remember, because it IS very fast moving. It's not like it's just a bunch of Quiz Show scenes. The first third sorta is, but after that, it gets into the investigation as to why this guy is winning so many times. Then a court process follows. I normally don't like court scenes, either, but there was some good dialogue and it stayed sweet and short. 'Nuff said. Go buy this movie. And don't judge a movie by its title.
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