Not a clever Game at all.

Rating: 2/10 (7 August 1998)

You would have thought that a thriller helmed by Hollywood darling David Fincher, whose resume includes Seven, and with a cast that includes Michael Douglas, Sean Penn and the wonderful Deborah Unger could not fail to deliver.
It does fail and there are two reasons why. One is the screenplay by John Brancato and Michael Ferris. They obviously think that patronising the audience's intellect will somehow makes us believe we are witnessing a work of genius. The other is Fincher's preoccupation with style and visuals. Now there is nothing wrong with that per se but it should not be at the expense of content. With the benefit of hindsight I am sure the Producers could have engaged Tony Scott for half the price!
The plot, such as it is, involves a birthday gift to millionaire businessman Douglas (resurrecting his Gordon Gekko role) from his seedy and disreputable (what else!) brother Penn (Carlito's Way?). The gift comprises an invitation to participate in a "Game" run by the mysterious Consumer Recreation Services company.
Once Douglas reluctantly joins the "Game" he is gradually drawn into a nightmare world where mishaps perpetrated against him become increasingly dangerous and violent. He desperately tries to retain control of events as his world falls apart.
I am sure the writers intended us to be astounded by the cleverness of each new twist and gasp in awe at every predicament that befalls our hapless victim as we, the poor dumb audience, try to make sense of it before all is revealed. Unfortunately, we never stood a chance because the clues were never put there by the writers. All red herrings and no rosetta stone I'm afraid.
The problem is that by two thirds in to the film the events have become so laughably far-fetched and unbelievable that we no longer care what happens to the beleaguered Douglas or why they are happening.
The denouement to the movie, when it comes, is so preposterous we almost want to believe the writers planned the whole thing as one big joke on the audience, sadly, this movie is not as smart as they would have you believe.
It fails as a black comedy because it's neither dark enough nor funny enough and is simply too ridiculous to work as a thriller. Deborah Unger and character actor James Rebhorn try valiantly to inject some life and Douglas and Penn do what they do best, but ultimately it's an empty exercise. And if all this wasn't bad enough it's got a soundtrack that includes Jefferson Airplane!
Fincher has flirted with great filmmaking with the dark and bleak Severn and undoubtedly knows how to light a movie to create a foreboding and tense atmosphere. He adopts the same stylish visuals to good effect here but until he finds a script worthy of his style and talent the jury will remain out as to whether he really is one of Hollywood's great filmmakers.
I have no doubt this movie will do well because it is slick, glossy and pushes all the right buttons for an undemanding audience and at the end of the day that is what the studio executives want. More demanding audiences will be disappointed.
Verdict: Rent the Out of Towners with Jack Lemmon instead.