Camp look at quiz show corruption.

Rating: Null/10 (7 May 2004)

Based on a book by the Dick character (played by Rob Morrow, the lead of TV's Northern Exposure), Robert Redford's 1994 film evokes the quiz show world of the first years of television, done in the camp style of 50's movies and television. Thus, the bright colours, the superlative performances (which don't go so over the top we forget they represent real people), all the classic/cliche voices of 50's entertainment - the wise old man (Charles van Doren), the brooklyn investigator (Dick), the nerd (Stempel), the nagging wife (Toby Stempel), the con men (Dan Enright, Albert). John Turturro gives another unique character, and i can't think who his character reminds me of, but Herbie Stempel is a funny highlight of the movie.
An absorbing, fun, immensely watchable movie, which rests on a very simple but captivating premise.