Review of Quiz Show (1994) by Marie T — 04 Jan 2008

Consider it self-examination of the most entertaining variety. Which is something of a paradox--a delicious, delicious paradox--given that the film's intent is precisely to indict Entertainment itself, and our participation in its immoral shenanigans. Quiz Show offers us a glimpse at the very moment when TV thought, "hey, maybe I'd make more money by doing something completely cynical and morally bankrupt." The timeline is laid bare for us: we see the very beginning, the fetal state, of an unstoppable media culture based on various flavors of prostitution (eventually including actual prostitution). We see the early blueprints for tabloids, reality shows, the whole fucking E! channel, Cribs, pretty much all of BET besides In Living Color reruns, and My Super Sweet Sixteen. We see--in Ralph Fiennes' character--the Paris Hilton prototype, to be heavily modified later as media conglomerates decide to completely erase intellectualism and decency from the celebrity model and just go with "dirty skank" (a decision quickly made, I'm sure). Prostitution is the Constitution of the media, and this film shows us the founding fathers at work. But, of course, that doesn't make these corporate pricks evil geniuses or anything--they just happened to be the first TV people to figure it out. There's no Jefferson of media degradation or anything; just a bunch of suits who were smart and cynical enough to figure out what we, the public, truly wanted. Our love for all things trashy, materialist, and celebrity is, after all, something we're born with; these guys only sought to nurture it, to make it grow.

As it is now, the film is more than just a slap in the face and a harsh reminder that we're all participating in a giant, greasy orgy of sleaze. It's that, and it's a kick in the nuts--adding injury to insult--because it manages to be amazingly entertaining without speaking to us degenerates in a boring, preachy, or stentorian manner. Quiz Show is only going to get better and better as time goes on and we inevitably find ourselves watching Child Molester Island on FOX.