The defence The Cool Ironist
“It owes the canon nothing.”
The movie pursues immediacy and audience pleasure without begging institutions to certify its worth.
Back to trending 
A Shock to the System
Crime · Comedy · 1990
When experienced advertising executive Graham Marshall loses out on a promotion to a young man, he goes down in a path of vengeance.
Movie details
A Shock to the System
“Climbing the corporate ladder can be murder.”
1990 Crime · Comedy 1h 31m
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
6.5 / 10
Community rating
When experienced advertising executive Graham Marshall loses out on a promotion to a young man, he goes down in a path of vengeance.
CriticWise case file
What this film says about your taste.
Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.
The archetype split
Who fights over A Shock to the System?
For the defence
The Cool Ironist
“Feeling things is a little embarrassing.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Prestige Tourist
“You like your greatness pre-approved.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Taste neighbourhood
Nearby on the taste map.
TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.
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Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
Jan Egleson
Written by
Andrew Klavan
Michael Caine
Graham Marshall
Elizabeth McGovern
Stella Anderson
Peter Riegert
Robert Benham
Swoosie Kurtz
Leslie Marshall
Will Patton
Lieutenant Laker
Jenny Wright
Melanie O'Conner
John McMartin
George Brewster
Court is in session
Put A Shock to the System on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
The prosecution The Prestige Tourist
“Easy pleasure, short half-life.”
It moves efficiently through the moment but offers little reason to keep arguing once the credits end.