Review of Quiz Show (1994) by Jeffrey C — 07 Sep 2010

Loaded with intricate period detail but painfully lacking in emotional resonance and, ultimately, real-life consequence, "Quiz Show" is a neat enough diversion that covers a lesser-known corner of perhaps the most-discussed two-decade period post-WW II.

Charles Van Doren (Ralph Fiennes) joins the game show "Twenty-One" in an effort to establish his erudition to a national audience free from his accomplished father's (Paul Scofield, excellent as usual) shadow in academia and scholarship. Unfortunately for Charles, his winning streak -- prearranged by boot-licking studio toadies -- angers former contestant Herbert Stempel (John Turturro, showing he knows how to play deranged slime), an embittered, paranoid underachiever.

The real problem with "Quiz Show" is that director Robert Redford and writer Paul Attanasio never provide a real source of conflict. Any antagonistic characters -- Stempel, congressional investigator Dick Goodwin (a weak Rob Morrow) -- are poorly integrated in the story. Even Mark Van Doren (Scofield), who is established as a paradoxically beneficial and inadequacy-causing source in his son's life, is so clumsily employed it's hard to say if he's a foil or alternate protagonist. All that leaves us with is Charles' conscience, which isn't manifested well, despite Fiennes' best efforts.

I'm not saying ethical dilemmas can't make for compelling drama; it's just not done well here.