Some mistakes can't be made, and there is no start all over again

Rhett 2022-01-02 08:01:21

Movies adapted from true stories always face several challenges: whether the authenticity can withstand scrutiny, how to retain suspense and twists in the plot familiar to everyone, and how to avoid the double pitfalls of running accounts and over-interpreting. Quiz Show is doing well

The authenticity is basically tenable. Van Doren finally broke his silence in his later years and posted a long article on NYT, distinguishing the differences between the film and the facts, but most of them did not affect the basic facts, which in turn confirmed the reliability of the original plot

The narrative is very honest, straightforward, and neatly structured: the first 1/3 Charlie kicked Herb, a household name, and his reputation reached its peak, 2/3 safely withdrew, and the last 1/3 scandal broke out. Congress testified. From the very beginning, the creator put out the manipulation behind the scenes, but this kind of "confession" ambushes very interesting tricks and small twists: Will Herb listen to the producer's tricks and deliberately answer the wrong questions? The main creator here also deliberately created and led a misunderstanding: Herb is an unwilling to be ordinary and a bit pitiful and ridiculous. He was "answered wrong" because of his bad image. Later, in order to prove to Dick that the show was cheating, he had to say his own answer. They are all given by the program, so this behind-the-scenes operation is basically the normal state of the program. The neatness of the narrative is because the creator doesn't want the form and plot to be overwhelming, but wants to express thinking.

What to think about?

Television is of course one of the topics. The "business model" at that time is still in use today-eyeballs, players, TV stations, sponsors; answering questions, suspense, turning points, sensationalism; of course there are frauds. Today’s show is full of tricks, and the media can’t be the same, but regardless of TV, online media, self-media, reality show, talent show, quiz, blind date, the script is the same. So the ethical issues involved are also the same : give the audience what they want to see, is this the highest value? Can other principles be sacrificed for it-such as truth? Defenders can say that reality shows are essentially no different from dramas. It can be said that audiences, TV networks, sponsors, and players all benefit, and no one's interests are harmed, so it is understandable. Opponents say that the principle of "deception is wrong" should not be bent for reasons of convenience. For the long-term and larger interests, the harm of lowering moral standards is far greater than the petty gains of the individual in front of them. Furthermore, the entertainment and commercialization of public opinion has made spiritual products more and more speculate, cater to and even provoke the preferences of the audience, resulting in less and less self-reflection on the group level. In fact, the most powerless thing is that this kind of discussion is basically useless. In the era of mobile internet and social media, no one can delay the sweeping trend of the eyeball principle. It is eroding the trust foundation of society bit by bit. At the end of the film, the independent prosecutor Dick said, I thought we were gonna get television, the truth is tv is gonna get us. This is true.

But these are clichés, and the more interesting topic is human nature: how do people deal with temptation. It's not deep, but the creator has patiently and sympathetically described the process of a young man doing wrong things due to temptation and paying a lifetime price, and gave him a control group and observers to make his struggles and choices clearer. Ralph's charm is so good and his acting skills are online. After watching the movie, no one can be angry with this conspiring liar, only regret, and always remember this lesson.

What is this lesson?

The movie said it in a particularly poetic way—quoting. Charlie and the famous professor's father were at their father's birthday party... to the poem ==, which is inexplicably similar to the Dream of Red Mansions, this expression-I mean the master creation-is the romance of the literati. It’s "To do a great right do a little wrong (The Merchant of Venice)"- some mistakes cannot be made, and a misstep will become an eternal hate . There is no chance to come back. Charlie paid far more than his fault. ; It is "Things without all remedy should be without regard: what's done is done (Macbeth)"-you can't have a fluke, you must think about the good and the worst possible before making a major decision ; it is "some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall (Measure for Measure)"- meanness is the pass of the despicable , the bigger mistake is made by the TV station and sponsors, but the biggest consequence is the responsibility of Van Doren and his parents, and even the producer is in the wind Afterwards, he started again, without repentance, and became a millionaire by the same trick; but it is also "Don Keoti is life. It means if you want to be a knight, act like a knight"-to be a real one Knight, fight with the windmill, the windmill will not fall, you are a real knight .

Van Doren's final self-analysis at the hearing was also very enlightening: "I was like kid hoping it will go away, scared to death, no place to stand on myself, only one way out: tell the truth", "I flow too high on borrowed wings", "Every thing came too easy, that is why i am here today." I like the following detail very much: Everyone on the committee expressed that they heard the best speech of the year and expressed their deep touch and sympathy, but the last committee member said "I'm happy that you made the statement, but I cannot agree with most of my colleagues. You see, I don't think an adult of your intelligence ought to be commended for simply, at long last, telling the truth. "After that, the audience applauded spontaneously. The applause and the fanatical followers of the TV show are the same people, but the applause is always weak and stubbornly proving that it is wrong to be wrong, and truth is important, no matter how hurtful it is.

Dick’s settings are very clever. On the one hand, he is an observer instead of the audience, helping us to penetrate Van Doren’s side, on the other hand, he is a stresser, putting pressure on Van Doren, but even better is as an "other option" -the film At the beginning, Dick, who had just graduated from Harvard Law in the first place, went to a car dealer to test a luxury car. The high-spirited young man had a bright future. He planned to save his seniority in Congress and went to Wall Street. He and Charles had a dark hair. Blonde is equally well-educated and a social elite at the top of the pyramid, equally young and handsome, but Dick can say no before 50 grand. If you cannot choose an era, you can at least choose your own choice .

The relationship between father and son in the film is very moving. Although he is a well-known and respected professor across the country, Mark is like any ordinary father: "——I cannot think of anything that will make me that happy again", ——"not till you have a son"; My son’s birthday gift was also very happy, and he turned it off at the critical moment when he saw his son’s finals. Mark did nothing wrong, but he suffered the consequences of his life like his son. "Your name is also mine."

What happens when people face temptation? we are talking about a lot of money, Time cover, 13 proposals for marriage in a week. And it seems that "no serious mistakes have been committed", and "others did the same."

Please remember that if you are wrong, you are wrong, and bad things that may happen will definitely happen; some mistakes cannot be made, no matter how "insignificant"; if others do it, it doesn’t mean that you did it right, and it doesn’t mean you won’t pay the price; Yes, you are not alone. Before making any decision, think about your loved ones.

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Extended Reading
  • Gia 2022-04-20 09:01:51

    Programs in pursuit of high ratings have always been a vassal of entertainment and profit. From answering questions on TV to answering questions on live broadcast, the knowledge economy is not represented by a few fill-in-the-blank questions. The dividends originating from the traffic have made the platform taste the sweetness, but the moral standards have been shelved. Entertainment does not kill, but blinds.

  • Keith 2022-03-28 09:01:04

    Two neurotic big names Biao acting, but never had direct communication in the film, interesting

Quiz Show quotes

  • Dan Enright: Charlie, Charlie, the only people who can implicate you directly are all in this room, just think about that, okay?

    Albert Freedman: You think that noodge is going to get me to talk?

    Charles Van Doren: He may be a noodge but he first in his class at Harvard Law School.

    Albert Freedman: [Making a masturbation gesture with this hand] Oh, Harvard.

  • Dick Goodwin: Sandra, you have no idea what these people are like. It's all Thurber and Trilling and 'Bunny' Wilson.

    Sandra Goodwin: 'Bunny'?

    Dick Goodwin: Yeah, Edmund Wilson, that's what they call him.

    Sandra Goodwin: Well that doesn't mean you have to.