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Dom Robinson reviews

Series 7: The Contenders
Rental DVD

Distributed by
VCI

Cert:
Cat.no: FDVD 079
Running time: 87 minutes
Year: 2000
Pressing: 2001
Region(s): 2, PAL
Chapters: 16 plus extras
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Languages: English
Subtitles: English
Widescreen: 1.85:1
16:9-enhanced: Yes
Macrovision: Yes
Disc Format: DVD 5
Price: £n/a
Extras: Trailers for "Late Night Shopping", "Lucky Break"

Director:

Daniel Minahan

Producer:

Jason Kliot, Joana Vicente, Christine Vachon and Katie Roumel

Screenplay:

Daniel Minahan

Music:

Girls Against Boys

Cast:

Dawn: Brooke Smith
Tony: Michael Kaycheck
Connie: Marylouise Burke
Franklin: Richard Venture
Jeff: Glenn Fitzgerald
Lindsay: Merritt Weaver
Doria: Angelina Phillips
Narrator: Will Arnett

Big Brother. Survivor. We've all seen reality TV shows, but Series 7: The Contenders takes things one step further.

There are six contenders: unemployed middle-aged family man Tony (Michael Kaycheck), religious E.R. nurse Connie (Marylouise Burke), elderly pensioner Franklin (Richard Venture), testicular cancer victim Jeff (Glenn Fitzgerald), 18-year-old student Lindsay (Merritt Weaver) and 8-months-pregnant reigning champion of the previous series Dawn (Brooke Smith).

What is it the winner has to do to take the prize? Eat three dry crackers within the space of a minute? Avoid saying "I like blinking, I do!" for more than five seconds? No, they have to kill each other. Of those who sign up for it their numbers are drawn out at random from all the other entrants, they're recommended to take with them at least one handgun and one rifle, but they're not limited to the weaponry they're allowed.

The film is played out exactly like a brashy American TV show summarised down to 81 minutes plus closing credits. If that sounds like your bag then you'll thoroughly enjoy it. They're allowed to murder in any normal setting and are only allowed to kill each other and no-one else, but note that some of the murders that occur make for very unnerving viewing, particularly one where the victim's loved ones are looking on from not far away and are apparently allowed to do nothing about it as the slaughter continues.

While it's fantastic and mesmerising to watch, it's not a film you'll really want to watch more than once - unless you'd watch the omnibus episodes of Big Brother expecting to see something new?

The pressure gets too much for Jeff.

Presented in the original theatrical ratio of 1.85:1 and anamorphic, the picture is absolutely flawless. No artifacts, no blemishes, no problems whatsoever.

Soundwise, it's in Dolby Digital 5.1 but there's no sound effects here that wouldn't sound any less worthy in standard Dolby Surround because it's just for the occasional "whooshy" sound of the 'programme's traits, complete with macho voiceover.

For a rental DVD, there's zero extras that relate to the film in question. All you do get is two trailers for other recent Brit flicks Late Night Shopping and Lucky Break, both of which look quite entertaining, but neither of which can be accessed from the main menu. These only play, normally, when you first put the disc in the player, unless you're using a DVD-ROM player or can access individual titles on the DVD.

The menu that you do get is static and silent and offers just the choice of English subtitles and 'play movie', but while there are 16 chapters to the film there's no scene selection menu.

FILM CONTENT PICTURE QUALITY SOUND QUALITY EXTRAS
OVERALL

Review copyright © Dominic Robinson, 2001

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