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Series 7: The Contenders (2001)
Genre: Television
Starring: Brooke Smith, Marylouise Burke, Glenn Fitzgerald, Michael Kaycheck, Richard Venture
Screenwriter: Daniel Minahan
Producer: Jason Kliot, Charles J. Rusbasan, Joana Vicente, Christine Vachon, Katie Roumel
Composer: Girls Against Boys
DVD Info
Release:
Jun 12, 2002
DVD Features:
- Region 1
- Keep Case
- Full Frame
Audio:
- Stereo - English
Additional Release Material:
- Deleted Scenes
- Audio Commentary - 1. Daniel Minahan
- Behind the Scenes Footage
Interactive Features:
- Scene Access
- Interactive Menus
Text/Photo Galleries:
- Stills
- Filmographies
Reviews
Amidst the dry humour, the film is chilling, because it rings far too true.
Ends up straddling an uneasy divide between genuinely edgy artistry and bluntly indulgent bluster, leaving us uncertain whether it's the television show portrayed or the film itself that's the real turn-off.
It's unclear exactly what Minahan’s trying to say. If it’s just 'TV is crap,' then it’s hardly a revelation and this uncertainty, combined with no back-story or framing device, conspires to give the movie a sketchy, ill-conceived feel.
It really is the next logical step in reality TV . . . kill them all, and let the Nielsons sort 'em out.
...takes an intriguing topic but essentially beats it to death over the course of about 90 minutes...
Frazzled and edgy, Smith invests Dawn with the required measure of world-weariness and, crucially, she never succumbs to the temptation to slide into flippant, mocking territory.
Absolutely relentless in its bashing of the American public and what we consider entertainment.
Kill-or-be-killed reality-TV satire is uneven -- and unforgettable.
Related Forums
by: Brett 6/8/01
Around the Network
Series 7: The Contenders at IGN
Series 7: The Contenders at AskMen


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