• |
  • |
  • |
  • |
Go

The Game, 1997

The Game

Cantonese, English, German

USA

Rating:7.7
jinni

Profile of The Game

The Game can be described as stylized, suspenseful, and atmospheric. The plot revolves around a life turned upside-down, mind games, and psychological motives. The main genres are independent, thriller, and mystery. In terms of style, The Game is neo-noir and involves twists and turns. In approach, it is serious and realistic. The storytelling is fast paced. The Game is set, at least in part, in an urban environment. It is located in San Francisco. It takes place in the 1990s. The Game has received attention for being a modern classic and critically acclaimed. Note that it involves mild violent content.

Summary of The Game

For the follow-up to his dark crime thriller SEVEN, director David Fincher decided to remain in a film noir vein. The result is THE GAME, a fast-paced cinematic roller-coaster ride that stars Michael Douglas as Nicholas Van Orton, a joyless San Francisco investment banker who receives an unusual birthday present from his estranged younger brother, Conrad (Sean Penn). The gift enrolls Nicholas in CRS (Consumer Recreation Services), a company that designs elaborate real-life games for each specific participant. As the game begins, the reluctant Nicholas becomes the victim of a series of pranks that quickly turn malicious and dangerous. Stripped of his finances and convinced that he can trust no one, Nicholas realizes that this game may be an attempt to steal his fortune and leave him for dead. In a desperate bid to regain his life, Nicholas infiltrates CRS in order to uncover the secrets of the mysterious organization.

Douglas is perfect playing the uptight businessman Nicholas, cleverly riffing on his Oscar-winning performance as the cold-blooded Gordon Gekko in WALL STREET. Fincher's Kafkaesque carnival show is an exercise in taut filmmaking that mischievously pulls a seemingly endless supply of rugs out from under both Nicholas and, even more impressive, the viewer.

Details

Language: Cantonese, English, German
Country: USA
Release date: 12 September 1997
Runtime: 129 min

Cast and Crew

Michael Douglas as Nicholas Van Orton in The Game
Michael Douglas

as Nicholas Van Orton

Sean Penn as Conrad Van Orton in The Game
Sean Penn

as Conrad Van Orton

Photos

The Game (1997)
The Game (1997)
The Game (1997)
The Game (1997)
The Game (1997)
The Game (1997)
The Game (1997)
The Game (1997)
The Game (1997)
The Game (1997)
The Game (1997)
The Game (1997)

Clips

The Game
The Game: Theatrical

Critics Reviews

Variety
The film itself is limited by the material's nature as a brainy exercise and by its narrow focus; individual response will depend upon how tantalized one is by puzzles and games, as well as upon how off-putting one finds the central character, who...
  • |
  • by: Todd McCarthy
San Francisco Chronicle
At times The Game is frustrating to watch, but that's just a measure of how well Fincher succeeds in putting us in his hero's shoes.
  • |
  • by: Mick LaSalle

Users Reviews

Very, very disappointing.
Fincher did a good, Hitchcock-like job on this one. But letting some plot-holes and some logic mistakes remain unfixed in the scenario, I can't say he did a great job. I want to point out that all of the people whose breathes were taken at the end...
  • 15.August.2010
  • |
  • by: Connor M. Goodwin
  • Connor M. Goodwin rated this movie4/10Disappointing
what a great thriller!
This movie really kept me on the edge of my seat. the complex story of mind games and psychological "pranks" is so suspenseful. Like the hero, you're always one step behind in discovering what's happening and it keeps you really intrigued. very...
  • 12.August.2008
  • |
  • by: may.graff
  • may.graff rated this movie8/10Great
Likely to see
Not for me

Jinni is best for now in Firefox, Internet Explorer 7 and 8, and Chrome

Part of the page Copyright © Muze | New Releases by Tribune Media Services.

Copyright 2010 Jinni Inc.
jinni message message message
jinni
jinni

smart offbeat funny

In: movies

Copy and paste this link into an email or instant message:

Send this page by email