Thank you...a great commentary on TV's golden era....

Rating: 9/10 (11 October 2006)

Thank you, Robert Redford. This scandal occurred before my time, and at first when my friend told me the plot of the movie, I thought... "so what?"; that was in the early 90's before we were inundated with the reality trash we now see today; and this film is worth watching more than a few times to catch the innuendo and commentary, which is brilliant.
For example, Marty Scorcese, when grilled by the senate ethics committee (well portrayed by Rob Morrow), as the slick CEO of "Geritol". "Young man, I tripled those profits, that's the kind of salesman I am, making people want Geritol!". He smiles smugly.
Rob Morrow is the ethical lawyer, attempting to unveil the conspiracy of commercialism and public spin; a crime now permeated on the American public daily, and not only with game shows, but also politics, news commentary and talking heads.
There are a few obstacles. Rob Morrow's Boston accent still sounds more like Brooklyn; Ralph Fiennes as the too-perfect Charles Van Doren, a young man duped into promoting the scandal, and representing the public demand for class differences and competition.
John Turturro is excellent. After this film I have followed his performances more closely; he BECOMES Herbie Stempel, the man exploited by TV executives for his common looks and appeal to the mass audiences. Johann Carlo as his wife Toby is also noteworthy; proud of her husband she did not believe he was bribed to win the game show "21".
David Paymer and Hank Azaria are right on the mark as sleazy TV executives. We can imagine the likes of these two producing "The Apprentice", even today.
Paul Scofield is also excellent, as Van Doren's father, a noted author and professor, who was disappointed in his son's sell out to the TV game show; representing the old school, when values meant more than money. The end of the film is reflective, and will make one sad we cannot return to the days when every form of TV entertainment was not controlled and manipulated by corporate interests. 9/10.