Might Be Redford's Best Film As a Director

Rating: Null/10 (27 June 2000)

"Quiz Show" is an interesting commentary by director Robert Redford which tells the story of the game show scandal in the late-1950s. The popular game show "21" is rigged. The big wigs behind the scenes are supplying certain contestants with the answers in the hopes of keeping the ratings high. When one contestant (John Turturro) is ousted by another (Ralph Fiennes), the first whistle-blows on what really goes on behind the scenes. It is not pleasant. It turns out that there is corruption through and through the show from its producers all the way down to the host himself. Rob Morrow begins the investigation and learns that this feel-good game show is not as fun and innocent as it leads you to believe. His attempt to change the system hardly affects the quiz show business at all as they are still rampant today. What is the point of Redford's film? It is complicated in one sense but very simple in another. In one area it shows that the most innocent looking things in life can be altered to create profits for those in charge. However, it also shows that the dirtiest of things can still survive due to their popularity (regardless of their poor elements). "Quiz Show" is one of those films that has more questions than answers. In fact some of the questions may never be answered. It's a thinking person's film that makes you think twice before watching "Jeopardy!" or "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire". 4.5 out of 5 stars.