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Reality Movie Pits Competitors Against Each Other in Quest for $10,000  

Forget television shows like Big Brother, Survivor, American Idol, Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire, Average Joe, Temptation Island, The Bachelor and even Donald Trump's The Apprentice. For if Games People Play is a sign of what's in store for America, reality movies may break even bigger than the reality TV craze.  

The small screen is severely limited by the dictates of censors who freak out about Janet Jackson briefly baring a breast. This means that despite commercials which show sweaty, scantily-clad singles flirting shamelessly in hot tubs, the network programmers never let the reality show action get any steamier than a provocative back massage or maybe a passionate, but guilt-ridden kiss. Nothing much ever happens, and the closest any of these programs have ever gotten to full-blown nudity is that tiled-out, gay guy on Survivor frolicking in the ocean.

 By contrast, the outrageous Games People Play, breaks the reality mold, presenting some very complicated individuals, warts, neuroses, genitals and all, in front of the unblinking eye of an uncensored camera. Directed by Emmy Award-winner James Ronald Whitney (Telling Nicholas), this fascinating flick easily blows all the competition out of the water. 

The ingenious Whitney wanted to find out just how far struggling actors and actresses were willing to go for 15 minutes of fame. So, he ran an ad in a New York City newspaper seeking: "3 leading men, 3 leading women, one of whom will earn $10,000 in 72 hours, 21-30, non-union, in shape, attractive, and uninhibited- for an independent film." .

Operating under severe financial and time constraints, he hired a couple of celebrity judges, TV talk show therapist Dr. Gilda Carle and NY nightclub legend Jim Caruso. The film starts with their auditioning the hundreds of hopefuls who showed up for the casting call at a Tribeca studio. From the x-rated selection process alone, it becomes apparent early on that there are plenty of people out there desperate enough to bare themselves, both emotionally and physically, for ten grand.

A compelling combination of shocking stunts and revealing therapy sessions, Games People Play lives up to its billing as "America's Most Uninhibited Game Show." To rack up the most points, contestants must approach people on the street for a urine sample, invite strangers up to a hotel room for a threesome, seduce delivery boys, and try bed aspiring actresses on the casting couch.

Because one’s score is based on how far along each mark agrees to go, you can imagine the degree to which the entrants might compromise their values. This is evident at moments such as the one where contestant Nadia, who had just resorted to nudity to prevail at  a task, starts crying when asked, "What would your father say about what you're doing?"    

During these down times, we get to see what damaged goods we're dealing with, because the movie mixes in some rather revealing personality profiles of its stars. Amanda admits to being molested at the age of 4. Josh was shuttled around foster homes after his mom died in a car crash. Keith is afflicted with Tourette's Syndrome and Chloe suffers from bulimia. Oscar is a male escort and Nadia, as a kid, hid under the bed when her father was shot during a raid on their UN compound.

This micro-budgeted production proves that you don't need much money to make an absolutely fascinating movie, provided you are willing to exploit weirdoes waiting for their moment in the limelight. Whether legit, satire, or somewhere in between, Games People Play is a unique feat certain to herald in a new era of reality cinema, for better or worse. Sign me up to see the sequel, which is already referred to in the closing credits.

Clever, intriguing, exciting, surprising, scandalous, jaw-dropping and, ultimately, very thought-provoking. What more could you possibly ask of a reality movie? To paraphrase Trump, "James Ronald Whitney, you're hired!"

Excellent (4 stars)
Unrated with male and female frontal nudity, graphic sexuality, profanity, and a myriad of adult themes.

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