| Games People Play: New York |
Anyone who knows anything about the television industry is aware that there is a cyclical nature to it. Back in the early 1980s, there was much discussion over the death of the traditional sitcom and then along came "Cosby" and half-hour series enjoyed a resurgence. Then it was the hour-long drama that was endangered. Because production costs were becoming exorbitant, network executives embraced "reality" programming, something that first found a niche on cable channels ("The Real World" on MTV). Last year, there was an attempt to cash in on this craze with THE REAL CANCUN and FROM JUSTIN TO KELLY (featuring the winner and runner-up of the initial "American Idol" competition), but both failed at the box office. Now, however, there is a fascinating and enjoyable movie that manages to evoke the freewheeling exuberance of cable (programs like HBO's "Taxicab Confessions") with the classic American game show. GAMES PEOPLE PLAY: NEW YORK is the brainchild of James Ronald Whitney who first garnered attention at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival with his uneven but unflinching documentary JUST, MELVIN which dealt with incest and a highly dysfunctional family. That HBO-produced film went on to a theatrical release before debuting on cable. Whitney's next project was the Emmy-winning documentary "Telling Nicholas" about how one family coped with the tragedy of September 11, 2001. Now for his first quasi-fictional movie, he opted to create a "pilot" for a proposed TV reality series -- an uninhibited game show in which contestants would compete for cash. Whitney placed ads in the local trade papers and set about casting the project. He engaged New York-based cabaret performer Jim Caruso and relationship expert Dr. Gilda Carle (the 21st-century's answer to Dr. Joyce Brothers) as judges. The film, shot on video in documentary style, begins with prospective performers lining up for the audition and the inevitable weeding out of those not deemed unsuitable. Eventually there were over 100 applicants who were asked to pose for the camera and then speak about their lives, a sequence that owes a great debt to the Michael Bennett-directed Broadway musical A Chorus Line. Then the perspective entrants were asked to act out a scene between a honeymooning couple. Many opted to shed their clothes and their inhibitions on camera. Finally six finalists -- three men and three women -- were chosen to compete for a cash prize of $10,000. Then the fun really begins. The sextet is divided into teams and given tasks to accomplish, ranging from the men being asked to obtain urine sample from strangers to couples having to convince a third party to return to a hotel to partake in something called "a naked trio." Between tasks, Dr. Gilda and Jim Caruso interview the contestants about their lives with each eventually divulging dark secrets, including eating disorders, a side career as a paid escort, and the impact of the death of a parent. The six aspiring performers, Joshua Coleman, Scott Ryan, David Maynard, Dani Marco, Sarah Smith and Elisha Imani Wilson, are all charismatic and quite brave in their willingness to bare not only their bodies but their souls. Like any good reality show (think "Survivor"), GAMES PEOPLE PLAY: NEW YORK employs several twists, including an especially clever one at the end. Whitney and his talented cast provide a fun, fascinating and ultimately rewarding look at what might turn out to be a must-see cinematic series. There's already a sequel GAMES PEOPLE PLAY: HOLLYWOOD with another in the works. At this rate, Whitney may not need the small screen, provided he can continue to come up with new surprises to his game show. Rating: B+ Running time: 96 minutes MPAA Rating: NONE (Film does includes nudity, language and sexual content unsuitable for children) |
| © 2005 by C.E. Murphy. All Right Reserved. |