In 5...4...3...2...1

I don't remember if I saw any trailers for this movie, and have a foggy memory of how it was marketed.  It seems like something I would definitely watch, not in theaters, though, but most likely on HBO or Showtime.

It came out in 2007 and, as the title suggests, it's about a television program that airs live.  Nothing unique about that aspect of the show, but the concept behind what the program is fascinated me. I happened to catch it about 15 minutes in, and it held my attention for the rest of its running time. 

The movie, "Live!" is filmed in a mockumentary style with David Krumholtz ("Numbers," "The Santa Clause") as lead documentarian.  He is filming Katie Courbet played by Eva Mendes ("Training Day," "Hitch," "Ghost Rider") as she tries to come up with a revolutionary concept in order to save her network, ABN, from falling out of competition among the other major networks.

During a pitch meeting, she and her staff are discussing the American television palate and one of her associates jokingly says that Americans would probably watch Russian Roulette if it were televised.  Katy seizes upon this idea immediately, despite her associate contending she was joking.


Katy becomes hellbent on this idea of getting people to audition to be on the game show.  The winner would get $1 million in cold, hard cash.

However, when she mentions the yet-to-be-green lighted show on an entertainment program, she returns to the TV studio with lines out the door of people applying to be a part of the show.

However, the problem is that the people hoping to audition are all suicidal, and Katy thinks that this would make for boring TV if people actually wanted to die.   She discusses her problem with her documentarian, and they come to the conclusion that the prize money should be $5 million apiece for survivors, and the other hook would be that the loser and their family get nothing.

The movie is an excellent take on what people will do to get famous, and what network executives will do to gain viewership and win advertisers.  It's all about the profit from both ends.  Check out the trailer below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ES1kncl1DMQ

Despite battling with Standards and Practices, the network lawyers, and other top brass, she eventually gets the idea green lighted and all is well to proceed.

However, in true "Real World" fashion, she has the filmmaker who is documenting her edit and create video biographies of the contestants.  She uses a particularly heart wrenching one about a farmer trying to get money for his child's expensive medical bills to ultimately sway network execs.
Abalone


Furthermore, the video bios she creates air and America gets to know the contestants and hear their back stories.  Six are chosen, and five will survive.  We meet such characters as Abalone, the former fashion model, Byron the Princeton Graduate, and Miguel, the gay Mexican trying to get out of the barrio.

On the stage they go as they are wheeled out on moving pedestals.  They are chosen randomly to start, have their life story told via video bio, and take their shot.  The gun has five dummy rounds and one live on. 

As the TV show begins to air, ratings slowly climb throughout the night.  More contestants are introduced to America, and ratings soar upward more quickly.  But, is it worth it?  What will happen?  Will there be any repercussions?  You've got to watch to find out.

Enough "reality?"

This movie didn't get too many great reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, but don't let it fool you.  This movie is a little gem that speaks volumes about American desire for fame and money.  I think it's a great movie and I hope if you watch it, you enjoy it.  I did.