There are too many things about television programming that I can't stand, but reality TV shows are at the top of the list. It's not that I think the concept itself is necessarily bad, it's just that all the shows that hit the air are not truly reality. Theses are shows that are pointedly designed, 'nuff said. Network executives carefully pick their topics and their participants are carefully screened through an audition process. When you film people on a very pointed topic and send them on a specific quest built to gain ratings, can you truly call it reality? It's a bit like taking George W. Bush's word on what's going on around the world as gospel truth (start writing those emails), isn't? It doesn't really match up with real life.

Luckily, for all you reality junkies out there, a movie has come along that demonstrates what a true reality show might actually be like. Unfortunately, I don't think you'll ever see this one on network television. Final Cut is an excellent example of what goes on behind closed doors when you think no one is watching. It also proves that even the most insignificant secret can cause more than a small amount of trouble. After all, nothing tells the truth quite as efficiently as a hidden camera!

Our story opens with a group of friends coming together to mourn the loss of one of their own, played by Jude Law. He went to film school and was very handy with a video camera. None of his friends realize just how handy he was until Jude's widow, Sadie, decides to show the film he was working on before his death. As it turns out, Jude had placed hidden cameras all over his house and on his person to capture a film that shows the ultimate truth. For better or for worse his closest friends are the stars of his masterpiece and all of their darkest secrets are about to take center stage.

This movie was a bit of surprise and a good one at that! I have to say that I found myself caught up in the story and wondering what would become of this group of people who thought they were so close when they got together to say goodbye to one of their dearest friends. There's something seductive about the telling of secrets and the truth being shown for what it is. It's a destructive force when the lies you've told and the things you've done have been revealed. It made for a very interesting view.

I really liked the way the movie was shot as well, in actuality, it's a movie within a movie. You get to see the film that Jude put together and you also get to see the reaction of the people watching it. There are times when our group of friends stop Jude's tape and try to explain themselves or just out and out scream at each other. The truth these friends are actually seeing about each other is irrefutable as the tape they're watching is cut in such a way that no one can deny what has been caught on film. For example, in one shot you see one of the characters downing men who hit women and in the next shot you see his wife with a black eye and crying. The film they are watching makes it impossible for them to contradict the truth of their actions.

Final Cut was incredibly complete in that you felt like you were actually viewing pieces of these people's lives. For this type of story to work, it needs to be seamless. The entire cast did an amazing job. Not once did you get the feeling that these were actors playing the part. Most importantly, you needed to feel like they had no idea they were being filmed or watched in those little private moments. The emotions came through feeling true and unscripted right up to the end of the movie.

This screener copy didn't include any of the special features set to be on the final product or any audio set up. The sound was a little unstable at times depending on the location of the shot. Dialog was a little hard to hear in some of the party and bar scenes. Although, in truth, it added to the realistic feel of the movie. It had a little of that good old home video sound to it. Keep the remote on hand, and you should get through it just fine.

I can always get on board with a movie that makes you think a little bit. There are people who insist that they want to know the whole truth and nothing but the truth. The question is this: where do the boundaries lie in what you tell and what you keep hidden? What would people hear and see if they set up a video camera to catch all of your innermost secrets? If I wasn't paranoid before this movie, I certainly am now! If nothing else, this movie inspires a little bit of thought - and it's definitely worth a look.