Execution TV

With the writers strike continuing, we might just be in for some schlock like this to fill the air until it is settled. I am not, of course, referring to the movie, although it is pretty bad, but to the concept that has a real murder trial on TV for three hours and then, for only $19.95, you can actually watch the execution. Of course, there will be an execution, as TV cannot resist the $250 that they will bring in.

It is interesting that they picked Jerry Springer to lead this show, and that it is set in Florida, second only to Texas for their blood-lust. They gladly spend $1.99 to vote to execute. After all, that saves them money that would be spent on wasteful things like health care and education.

Amand Assante just seemed to drift through the film until he is called upon to make a rousing speech at the end. It is wasted breath, as this would be an easy sell these days.

I won't recommend it, but you might want to watch it to see where we could end up if things keep going like they are. bring back the writers!

I was invited to a preview Q&A showing of this film by the writer of the original script, and was given a copy of the script to read after.

The only thing I can say is the thing they put on the screen bears no relation to the original concept and script. As far as I can tell the only thing they kept was the first word of the title.

Tony, the writer, was so ashamed of the final outcome he tried to get his name taken off it. It really is a shame because the script i read would have made an excellent movie, the director just had to stick his oar in though.

You'll notice in the credits there are 4 or 5 names down as writer, one is Tony, one is another writer, one is the director!!!, and god knows who the others are.

All in all, what could have been a brilliant courtroom thriller/drama, turned into an hour and a half farce.

I just finished watching the movie, so I didn't have the time to fully digest it yet. Not that it is a "heavy" film, it's just that I've watched Almodovar's Bad Education before this one and I'm still under the impression...But let's get back to The verdict. All I can say is that the movie is acceptable and it isn't a blockbuster or an Oscar movie, but you can still watch it, especially when you're bored :-) No I mean, Jerry Springer is not that bad as an actor, after all, the medias are his area. Assante is always the same- in every single movie- it's like he has been playing this one role he knows during his whole career. He always have that same expression, the same intonation...it's a little bit weird, don't you thing? Anyway, to summon it, the movie's not bad, the idea is better though. I think a much better movie could have been made based on it. It's interesting to see how TV manipulates people so easily. And it get's you to, all of us, even though we don't see it sometimes. An interesting subject, but it hasn't been analysed as well as I expected it. I give it a C for the idea and some of the acting.

Overall not too bad, but could have been so much better. It leaves the viewer pondering just how out of control reality television has become. Raffaello Degruttola did a fine job as Ricky Carr. Lengthy & boring at best, some of the Armand Assante scenes could have been edited. When I first picked up the movie, I noticed that Jerry Springer was in the cast. After seeing his name, my first thought was that it must be some king of black comedy. Much to my surprise it wasn't and the man can actually act! The DVD has the usual extras. Check out the comments from the cast and crew. They were almost more interesting than the movie. Not worth premium ticket prices but just fine for a rental fee. Worth a look.

I am trying to think of a quality that this movie has that I admire. The concept was weak to start with, the plot abysmally developed, the acting shocking (can't you give a long rant in one take Jerry?), production, even sound far below par.

I am glad that I was watching on DVD so could easily skip straight to the predictable verdict, which I did only out of a morbid curiosity rather than actual interest. We were taking bets on what how the movie would pan out after that, and while technically I feel bound to say that it wasn't predictable, because none of us predicted it quite right, it was nonetheless, very lame.

We really didn't have the stomach for the self-congratulatory epilogue and switched off.