Quiz Show

Rating: 7/10 (15 September 2005)

I saw this film once before when I was in college, but for some reason I didn't finish it, so I watched it a second time all the way through, not remembering anything, from Oscar and Golden Globe nominated director Robert Redford (The Horse Whisperer, The Legend of Bagger Vance). Based on the true story, set in 1958, television game shows were a big draw for audiences in America, and popular prime time show Twenty One was one of them, it involved contestants answering adjudicated questions concealed in a sealed envelope for host Jack Barry (Christopher McDonald) to read, and the first to correctly answer gaining twenty one points wins the game. The reigning champion, undefeated and a large cash prize remaining, is Herbert 'Herbie' Stempel (Transformers' Golden Globe nominated John Turturro), but the creators of the show see audience numbers slightly dwindling, so they think a new talent should be found. Producers Dan Enright (Mighty Joe Young's David Paymer) and Albert Freedman (Hank Azaria) find their new contestant at Columbia University, instructor Charles Van Doren (Ralph Fiennes) who has a very good knowledge of many things, and is the son of respected intellectual and renowned poet Mark Van Doren (Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated Paul Scofield). Stempel is told by the Twenty One creators that he will answer the question "what film won the 1955 Oscar for Best Picture" (correct answer Marty, chosen incorrect answer On the Waterfront) incorrectly on purpose, he agrees as long as he is allowed to stay on television. So when it comes to the broadcast, where Stempel faces Van Doren, he hesitates on giving the correct answer, but he goes with the wrong answer, allowing his opponent to become the new champion. Of course his success continues week after week on the show, and with his charming good nature, great knowledge and everyman qualities he grows into a national celebrity, going on the covers of Time and Life magazines. Stempel meanwhile has lost all his prize winnings to a dodgy bookie and needs help, and he threatens to reveal the truth that both he and Van Doren, and many contestants in the past, have been given the correct answers deliberately by the NBC network, this is of course true, they did rig the show to increase ratings. Young Dick Goodwin (The Bucket List's Rob Morrow), Congressional lawyer from Harvard Law, has come to New York to investigate the rumours and accusations of the quiz shows, visiting many of the contestants who appeared on Twenty One, including of course Van Doren, who denies anything and is liked by Goodwin, and Stempel, who opens up and confirms everything, and indeed fixing comes to light. With evidence mounting and the show trying to continue unaffected, Van Doren decides to get a question wrong on purpose, but he is given an NBC contract to appear on the Today show, while Goodwin starts the ball rolling for a court case. After Van Doren gives his statement that the show he appeared is honest, Stempel testifies and confesses to his part in the conspiracy, and so eventually does Van Doren, and in the end the scandal is confirmed, the sponsors are removed, and the networks do get some form of punishment. Also starring Johann Carlo as Toby Stempel, Elizabeth Wilson as Dorothy Van Doren, Allan Rich as Robert Kintner, Romy and Michele's High School Reunion's Mira Sorvino as Sandra Goodwin, GoodFellas director Martin Scorsese as sponsor Martin Rittenhome, Rain Man director Barry Levinson as Dave Garroway, Ally McBeal's Calista Flockhart as Barnard Girls, William Fichtner as Stage Manager and Ethan Hawke as Don Quixote Student. I always thought that this was a satirical film not based on fact, but it is good to know that a scam like this was real, I also thought Fiennes was the star, and indeed he makes a good impression, but he is equally matched by the slightly nerdy but likable Turturro character, and director Redford makes this story very intriguing, a likable true story drama. It was nominated the Oscars for Best Picture and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, it won the BAFTA for Best Adapted Screenplay, and it was nominated for Best Film, and it was nominated the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Drama and Best Screenplay. Ralph Fiennes was number 83 on The 100 Greatest Movie Stars, and he was number 28 on The 50 Greatest British Actors. Very good!