Unlimitedia Sick Product of a Sick System

Konterr Brilliant and touching

SpunkySelfTwitter It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Python Hyena Ed-T.V. (1999): Dir: Ron Howard / Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Jenna Elfman, Woody Harrelson, Ellen DeGeneres, Martin Landau: Similar to The Truman Show that involves the hero's life to the public. The difference is that Ed is aware of the cameras while Truman must discover it for himself. Another difference is that Ed-T.V seems to address ordinary habits often performed in private. When a TV station receives low ratings, Ellen DeGeneres suggests placing someone's life on T.V. Matthew McConaughey plays ordinary video store clerk Ed. Woody Harrelson plays his brother who wishes to open a gym but is caught on camera with a naked woman. His girlfriend Jenna Elfman detests this and starts dating Ed but she hates the cameras. Insightful directing by Ron Howard who previously made Apollo 13. Terrific performance by McConaughey who plays off the ordinary guy. Jenna Elfman plays his girlfriend who grows frustrated with being rated by the media as Ed's girlfriend. This all pretty much ends with predictable results much like prime time television. Harrelson plays the brother jealous of Ed's success and oblivious to his own failures. DeGeneres counters standard material by solving the plot problem. Martin Landau plays Ed's stepfather whom Ed has a good relationship with. Interesting take on celebrity life capitalizing on The Truman Show. Score: 8 / 10

rooprect "EdTV" is Hollywood's remake of the 1994 French-Canadian hit "Louis 19: le roi des ondes". I'm not going to compare the two films. The only reason I mentioned it is to set the record straight that "EdTV" (1999) is NOT a ripoff of "The Truman Show" (1998) since the screenplay was bought years earlier."EdTV" is a somewhat Orwellian comedy/drama about an everyman named "Ed" who falls victim to society's hi-tech voyeurism. Ed becomes the pawn of a bunch of network suits who broadcast (and do their best to ruin) his entire life to the thrill of millions of viewers. I think it would've worked better as a no-holds-barred satire (like the movies "LIVE", "ROBOCOP", "AMERICAN DREAMZ" or the masterpiece "BRAZIL", but director Ron Howard opts to take the kinder, gentler approach which ends up watering down the message & its impact on us.Not only that, but today the story isn't as edgy as it might have been back in the 90s when reality TV was just budding, and we didn't know where it would lead. Today's audiences might think "what's the big deal?" and to be honest I found myself thinking that a few times during the picture. But I do remember the 90s and the whole reality-TV phobia which fueled such stories as this, and that's what made it an entertaining film for me. If you remember the 90s and your first reactions to the new phenomenon called reality TV, you might enjoy it too.At times the film teases us with challenging philosophies, in particular there's the intriguing line: "Ed is the apotheosis of a prevailing American syndrome. It used to be that people were famous for being special. Now they're considered special merely for being famous. Fame has become a moral good in this country: It's its own virtue" Unfortunately, the film never follows up on such thoughts and instead runs back to predictable drama, such as the girlfriend who can't deal with cameras invading her life, or the cliché about Ed being hounded by brainless fans all the time. These plot devices undermine the power of a film like this, reducing the film to passing entertainment instead of something more thought-provoking.The whole film struck me as being a very "Ron Howard" production, which means a shiny, polished presentation and a predictable Disney-like story with no real surprises or tension. It dazzles us with a great star-studded cast and a lot of gloss (the budget was an estimated $60 million... five times as much as 1999's Academy Award winner "American Beauty"). But I was much more impressed with the relatively obscure films "LIVE" (a satire about a reality show where the contestants play Russian roulette), "CASI DIVAS" (a great Mexican comedy/satire about a nationwide search for new talent), and an unknown comedy gem called "SPECIAL" about an ordinary chump who takes an experimental drug and becomes... uh... special. These 3 films deliver entertainment but more importantly they carry a lot of weight behind what they're telling us. "EdTV" had a few noteworthy scenes, such as the funeral confrontation between the two brothers, but these scenes were deleted from the final release and can only be seen on the DVD extras. The result is a somewhat breezy and entertaining but unimportant film."EdTV" is worth the price of admission, and it kept me entertained from start to finish. But if you want a little more substance to feed your brain, try to check out the other films I mentioned above.

DKosty123 This film appears to be an experiment by Ron Howard to try & prove he can control a lot of stars in a complex film situation and yet bring off an entertaining film. He almost succeeds, but not quite. The trouble is he dark comedy & subtle comedy doesn't appeal to a wide enough audience. It does come close in spots but in the end scores a near miss.Jenna Elfman is her most restrained as I have seen her in this movie. Martin Landau is good in a rare performance by him in recent years. Ed is the man chosen by a network programmer to have his life story on TV 24-7. This is not an easy thing as it complicates Ed's life and everyone he runs into. Then when the show becomes extremely effective, and a hit, Ed gets trapped doing things he doesn't want to do.Overall everything here is pretty much OK, but that is the problem, it doesn't rise enough above OK to engage the viewer beyond amusement into belly laughs. It really appears the cast & crew have more fun making this film than the viewer has. It is a shame as it is a noble effort.

Stampsfightclub When observing the cast I knew this film was a much watch. McConaughey, Elfman, Harrelson, Ellen DeGeneres, Dennis Hopper and Elizabeth Hurley are a guarantee for a great storyline. McConaughey is able to use his classic comedic skills to great effect as he stars as the central protagonist Ed who is going to be filmed 24/7. The plot spells disaster straight away for the character and instantly hooks the viewers who will want to know what this will involve for Ed and his family. With sharp turns and funny one liners the film keeps a steady and consistently funny plot as all the A star celebrities pull off excellent roles as different characters in the 'reality' world, exploring family, relationship and job issues, giving a great reflection of real life in a 'reality' world. One main reason the film worked was because the jokes are constantly in the dialogue but there are also physical means of humour, watch out for a scene towards the end with Ed and Jill. A great part is played by Woody Harrelson who stars as Ed's dopey brother Ray. Harrelson brings his comic talents to the part and brings a relaxed but also a sometimes serious edge to the character. The film adds a great aspect to the term 'reality'. I have recently watched 'The Truman show' which was fantastic. Edtv differs because it has more comic conventions than the Carrey classic. Personally I preferred 'The Truman Show' because of the seriousness and emotion conveyed but the emotional scenes in this Rod Howard picture are also ones to be admired, but both films are great and I have no hesitation in recommending them to you. Edtv is always believable in terms of context and with likable funny characters it is a film destined to be enjoyed, it has a very relaxed atmosphere and humour running constantly through all the big named stars and is therefore thoroughly recommended. The film has many comic conventions and predictability but is kept consistently engaging when viewers are able to gain emotion into the real life situations. With many different story lines being created it is a thoroughly developed and well thought-out plot, always engaging the viewers and is therefore a must watch for any comic wanting audiences of any age.