The School for Scandal (Broadway Theatre Archive)

Starring:Kenneth Welsh, Bernard Behrens, Nicholas Kepros, Blair Brown, Barbara Bryne, Ivar Brogger, Mark Lamos, Patricia Connolly, Larry Gates
Director: Michael Langham, Nick Havinga
Studio: Kultur Video
Product Type: DVD

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"I learned more about the way the world really works from my nine months on the academic decathlon team than most people will learn in a lifetime," ruminates Jolie Fitch (Jena Malone) in the coda of Cheaters, John Stockwell's dramatization of the 1995 Steinmetz school scandal. Fitch is the team leader of the crumbling inner-city school's first "academic decathlon" squad, a group of hard-working kids hopelessly outclassed by the perennial champions from a lavishly funded model school for the gifted and the rich. When a Steinmetz student discovers the question sheet for the upcoming finals, the issue isn't whether to cheat, but how. Stockwell discards easy moralizing and empty platitudes for an ambiguous perspective framed by questions of privilege and prejudice. Jeff Daniels, so long the cinema's hapless nice guy, is excellent as the tireless teacher, a well-meaning idealist who struggles with his inner demons through the ordeal. Malone is refreshing as a street-wise class brain whose ambition drives the team on. Their guilt is the focus of a predatory media scandal, but it's the hypocrisy of the system and the double standards of the gatekeepers that Stockwell takes to task in his compelling drama. Some might call it cynical, but Cheaters is too sharp and smart for such an easy label. Better to call it disillusioned. --Sean Axmaker

Description

In a major academic contest against affluent Whitney High, the struggling kids of Steinmetz High School know they didn't have a chance. But one teacher and seven of his students had a dream. They knew they could succeed with the right amount of study, the right application, the right discipline...the right answers. When an opportunity to win presents itself, it's a no brainer-and for seven kids and their teacher, that could be the problem.

Customer Reviews:

Unexpectedly Great Film! .......2006-08-23

I'm not sure how this movie premiered. I think it was on MTV, if I'm not mistaken! Did it come out in theaters?

In any case, it was certainly a sleeper. I had definitely heard of it, but it was not "OVERHYPED" as so many other films these days. So I wasn't expecting much! So imagine my delight, when I came across this DVD in the bargain bin at Walmart, and decided to take a chance!

Well, I'm glad I did! This movie was incredibly good! It really made you think about College (and high-school) life, and whether or not its worth it to cheat on an exam! There was great music, great personality clashes, awesome dialogue, great storytelling from the main female character.

I have actually re-watched this movie 3 or 4 times (probably more, but don't want to exaggerate.), and never get tired of it. It is a great lesson in ethics watching this movie.

Highly recommended!

MC White said: CHECK IT OUT!!!

It is original.......2005-10-21

This movie presents a real moral dilemna..should students who have always been thought of as losers take a chance and cheat. The teacher has the toughest decision to make-weather to let his students cheat and what to do if they get caught. Jeff Daniels plays the part well-showing how he is torn-wanting his students to get recognition and wanting to teach them right from wrong. This movie has moral questions that we all face.

See It.......2005-04-03

I went to Steinmetz High School before this happened. Steinmetz was not located in the poorer section of Chicago and not only poor kids attended Steinmetz. I think this movie was good. I'm a little disappointed though that Steinmetz is only recognized as the school that cheated. I no longer live in Chicago, however, when I'm asked "Where did you go to school?" I reply "Did you ever see that movie "Cheaters"?" or Hugh Hefner (Playboy) graduated from there. (Betcha didn't know that!) As for Whitney Young, yes at that time they were a bunch of crybabies. I hope this movie goes as a lesson to the kids who feel compelled to cheat. Who knows, they may make a sequel to this movie, eventually.

Great Movie! Funny and Realistic! .......2005-03-25

Cheaters is one of the best tv movies ever to come around. Jeff Daniels plays the Academic Decathalon coach who is fed up that the school he works at refuses to contribute any money to their cause and is generally mad about how Whitney Young is favored and his school is poorly funded. This is totally understandable, so when he finds his team with the help of Jena Malone, he really wants to prove everyone wrong by winning. When one of the students gets a copy of the test, they decide whether to look at it and of course can't refuse. The cast is very good here and i found the characters intriguing. This is not some rubbishy movie to pass time, it is well written and seriously interesting. I did of course hate whitney young and wanted steinmetz to win, even if they did cheat. ALthough cheating is wrong, I could see what drove them to want to win. Anyone can. Once they knew they had the test, it would be impossible for them to want to study when they knew the questions were right next to them. The only thing that I did not understand was how they never thougt about what would happen at nationals after they won state. I guess it would be too far in the future, but someone was bound to notice. It is too bad they cheated and got caught i guess. I still hate whitney young more, even though they did something wrong. I also was surprised that a teacher would have the same position on the subject as the students, but I could understand based on how his father worked hard and got screwed. The music in the film is also great. It was completly unfair that whitney young's advisor or whatever wanted them to take the test again, why should they have? That was outrageous and i seriously did hate the snitch in the film. He did not do it to clean his conscience or whatever, no no he wanted to become famous as the person who helped crack the case. Bottom Line: At least rent this movie, you will not be disappointed. It is that good!

stunning!.......2005-02-19

It's amazing that this sort of thing really happens. But as the movie went along, I could really feel for these charecters and wished they could beat the system. Jena Malone and Dov Tiefenbach are wonderful in the movie...and I never knew Jeff Daniels could pull off such a serious role.

The School for Scandal (Broadway Theatre Archive)

Average customer rating:

Witty and worthy production
As Bad a Production as Possible
three to four stars - depending...

The School for Scandal (Broadway Theatre Archive)
Starring: Kenneth Welsh , Bernard Behrens , Nicholas Kepros , Blair Brown , and Barbara Bryne
Director: Michael Langham , and Nick Havinga
Manufacturer: Kultur Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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A Doll's House

ASIN: B00008DDRP
Release Date: 2003-04-15

Description

First performed in 1777, Richard Brinsley Sheridan's sophisticated comedy of manners satirizes the extravagance and corruption of London society. The School for Scandal's combination of elegant language and earthy comedy weaves a deliciously nasty tale of intrigue, slander, and clandestine love affairs. Blair Brown stars in this timeless, witty look at the wages of scandal mongering and social climbing, scheming and hypocrisy. Stars Emmy®-nominees Blair Brown ("The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd") and Kenneth Welsh ("Twin Peaks") and Emmy®-winner Larry Gates (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof).

Customer Reviews:

Witty and worthy production.......2007-03-15

A crisp production negotiated with wit and flair, this delicious confection offers a tantilizing glimpse of the mores and manners of Sheridan's 18th century England. Guided with a sure hand by Michael Langham and Nick Havinga, this handsome production is well paced, wittily acted, and far worthier than the sneering commentary of the reviewers below would have you believe.

As Bad a Production as Possible.......2006-02-15

This production took one of the wittiest, most sparkling 18th-century comedies--and ruined it. The costumes are intentionally absurd (think Beach Blanket Babylon), the acting is way over-the-top-camp, and the incidental music could not be worse. The music, BTW, is a combination of pop Renaissance and pop modern; anything but 18th century. The director appears to have had the goal of showing that his company was just too hip and too modern to do anything but make fun of this silly, fusty old play.

I like "The School for Scandal" very much, and not having found any other DVDs of it, I started out with the intention of keeping a recording of even a bad production. But when they got into the extended bop-be-bop of the drinking song scene, I knew I just couldn't ever sit through this one again.

The visuals are also blurry, but with the production being so bad, so what? Anyone who actually likes this play will be revolted by this DVD.

three to four stars - depending..........2005-09-05

Classic drawing room comedy, period piece. Cleverly written in a time when the audience needed a bit of a nudge to figure out each character. Each person's name describes how you should feel about each! Charming idea from the 1700's. If you've never had a chance to see one of these comedies, take a look. This is a famous play and well done. Must see for theatre students.

Average customer rating:

entertaining

News at Eleven
Starring: Martin Sheen , Peter Riegert , Barbara Babcock , David Sheiner , and Christopher Allport
Director: Mike Robe
Manufacturer: Platinum Disc
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B0000996F2
Release Date: 2002-11-26

Customer Reviews:

entertaining.......2006-11-06

Martin Sheen plays a conscientious news reporter who clashes with his no-holds-barred boss (Peter Riegert) over sensationalistic news stories, including a school sex scandal involving a friend of his daughter (Sidney Penny), and the use of a breezy attractive female reporter (Sheree J. Wilson) and her fluff pieces during ratings sweeps. Sheen sticks it to them both in the end. Well acted and entertaining.

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