Review of Quiz Show (1994) by Nicole J — 10 Dec 2015

Smart, Subtle and Ruthless.

A historically accurate and entertaining film, Robert Redford's Quiz Show is about the lies and deceit of reality television back in the 1950's when it first started. The movie follows NBC's quiz show "Twenty-One" and how the public discovered that the show was in fact rigged. The two main characters are Herbie Stempel, an awkward, Jewish contestant who is unbeatable but is pressured by NBC executives, Dan Enright and Albert Freedman, to lose to attractive and charismatic, Columbia professor, Charles Van Doren who come from a notable family. The plot progress with Richard N. "Dick" Goodwin trying to uncover the truth behind the quiz shows.

At it's core the Quiz Show is an unflinching, remorseless examination of the American people. Charles Van Doren is willing to cheat in hopes of receiving attention from his father and when he fails to do so he settles for the attention of the American people. Herbie Stempel is socially inept, making him shunned from other that he was willing to cheat for fame and recognition. Recognition of the fact that he was very intelligent, intelligence which he prided himself on. Richard Goodwin is a naive, newly graduated law student who thinks that the law would bring justice to the unjust and corrupt system of reality television. Dan Enright and Albert Freedman are businessmen down to their core, selling a product. That product being reality television. For the reality television wasn't about providing recognition to those who deserved it but selling the idea of money to the american people. They knew people watched the shows for the money and not for the questions, so instead of making the show about knowledge they made it about gaining the most viewers b providing viewers with the most interesting contestants. The motives behind each of these characters makes them very real and relatable to the audience, making viewers care about them and the plot. The whole movie in general was very real, the setting of 1950s America was very accurate and besides a few minor details the events were accurate. In general, the actors did phenomenal jobs portraying their characters, most notably Ralph Fiennes rendition of Charles Van Doren and David Paymer portrayal of Dan Enright, but at times John Turturro's depiction of his character Herbie Stempel felt like a caricature.

Paul Attanasio's screenplay is witty, smart, subtle yet ruthless, utilizes the power of foreshadowing and full of memorable dialogue. Despite it's failure in the box office, it's a critically acclaimed movie that is a must see for all.