I have not watched this in years and I really need to again. This is a great reminder.
I remember winning tickets to go and see it and dragging my mom with me because I needed someone to drive me (only had my permit, but was a film buff & on my high school quiz bowl team, lol)
I love this movie. A sharp screenplay, great performances with Turturro being the standout and solid if not flashy direction from Redford. I sometimes quote it in everyday situations.
Just saw this in my inbox as well and “middlebrow masterpiece” in the title alone makes me want to rewatch it. I miss the solid middlebrow entertainment of the 70s-90s! Whenever my husband and I watch a movie from those years, we rave about the experience to each other the rest of the day
For your consideration, here's a reaction shot from Scorsese as the head of Geritol, when Dick Goodwin hands him his congressional inquiry and jokes, "Must have a familiar ring - the questions in advance...":
(Haven’t read the piece yet but my hot take remains that this should’ve been the choice among this year’s Best Picture nominees. Yes, I know what the other four are.)
I'm delighted to see so much love here for one of my faves. When I was in college, I even made a mix tape with Quiz Show dialogue. I also love the little scenes about early television like Jack Barry's vocal warmups and J. Fred Muggs on the Today Show.
The irony, stemming from a movie about television selling out to the lowbrow, is that the middlebrow masterpiece has, such as it is, moved to television. "Queen's Gambit" is a middlebrow masterpiece. "The Crown," at its best, is a middlebrow masterpiece.
Watched this tonight for the first time because of this. Great movie. Also Ralph Fiennes sounds exactly like Tom Lehrer, every time he talked I was expecting him to break into The Vatican Rag.
I remember seeing this as a 13 year old and loving it even then. Have always been confused that it didn't get huge or have much of a following. Great movie.
This just got a lot of love on @screendrafts.bsky.social by @drewmcweeny.bsky.social and others. I probably haven't watched this since about 2002, and need to add it to the ever-growing list.
I’ve not seen the film. Clearly, it goes onto the List.
Killer trivia! Apparently there’s a scene in which people talk about engaging someone to do an investigation. One says: Get Clark Byse, he hates everybody. Clark Byse taught me Contracts. (He was intimidating! But I doubt he hated anybody.)
Comments
I remember winning tickets to go and see it and dragging my mom with me because I needed someone to drive me (only had my permit, but was a film buff & on my high school quiz bowl team, lol)
Devastating line.
Quiz Show was, inexplicably, one of my favorite movies in elementary school. Long overdue for a rewatch.
They GAVE you the answers?
They gave YOU the answers?
Killer trivia! Apparently there’s a scene in which people talk about engaging someone to do an investigation. One says: Get Clark Byse, he hates everybody. Clark Byse taught me Contracts. (He was intimidating! But I doubt he hated anybody.)