Now Jerry Springer has made the leap onto the big screen it's only a matter of time before other MCs of zoo-style daytime TV shows follow suit.

Prepare yourself for Kilroy-Silk doing a turn as a Bond villain and Trisha replacing Nicole Kidman in The Hours II: The Misery.

Springer doesn't actually stray too far from the persona of the world-conquering trailer trash showcase The Jerry Springer Show.

After creating the hit So Sue Me, notorious TV producer Marty Rockman (Springer) puts together the ultimate reality TV project - Citizen Verdict.

Each week a real criminal case will be tried on telly before the good citizens of Florida - and then they vote on his or her guilt by phone or internet.

If the defendant is voted guilty in a death penalty case, then Rockman will televise the execution, and viewers are offered a $19.99 pay-per-view chance to tune in.

Liberal law professor Sam Patterson (Assante) - faced with crippling divorce costs - and prosecuting attorney Jessica Landers are paid $8m each for their trouble.

The first case is alleged rapist and killer Ricky Carr, who is accused of murdering famous TV chef Dolly Hamilton.

However, Patterson discovers that Dolly had a penchant for rough sex with male prostitutes and Carr claims she accidentally died when things got out of hand.

Bowling along at a fair old pace, this flits between traditional narrative, judderingly brash steadicam work and vox pops with apparently genuine citizens.

Assante, who has the air of a pocket Sly Stallone, makes the best of some grandstanding dialogue but just about stays ahead on points.

Springer is suitably sleazy as the ethically unencumbered TV boss and there's some nicely observed comment on the appetite for voyeuristic television.

"A killer dies and we make a ton of money. Grow up," Springer tells a sceptical Patterson in probably the most revealing line in he film.

Tim Evans