I'm tempted to compare it to the visual feel of Steven Soderbergh's Erin Brockovich , while linking the film thematically to Alexander Payne's Election . Stockwell isn't quite on that level, but he's getting there. Without giving too much away, the teacher and the kids are eventually caught in a media frenzy, and I liked how Stockwell showed the way public opinion is constantly changing, and how ruthless and voracious the media has become, building up underdog heroes only to subsequently destroy them. The performances are superior throughout, with notably Paul Sorvino as the school principal, and Jeff Daniels as the conflicted teacher. He communicates a lot without making a fuss.
Cheaters defies expectations and ends up being both cynical and inspirational.
Cheaters is available on DVD from HBO Home Video. The film is presented full frame, and the only extra available on the disc is cast and crew biographies. Enter the Forum and share what's on your mind. No reviews, articles, interviews, or other information may be reprinted without the permission of the webmaster.