Genius

Rating: 8/10 (9 May 2012)

I don't know how accurate this is gonna be as I saw this movie 4 to 5 years ago. The only reason I am going to write a review for this is that I have only recently started writing reviews.
The very fact that I want to review this movie is a good indication of how much I liked it at the time. This movie as gripping as they come. Its a very intriguing tale of a birthday gift, very unique in its nature, from a younger brother, who his elder brother feels is a failure in life, to his elder brother, for whom success in the world is the only thing he wants, and who has spent his life chasing these worldly goals, and has forgotten to live. This gift will take him on a roller coaster ride for sure, but the end of the game, is not known and very surprising.
I felt the relationship between two brothers has been brilliantly portrayed in the script, and in the thrill a minute ride the movie is, this well portrayed relationship between the two brothers at two different ends of life is what elevates this movie from being just any thrill a movie, to being one of the truly memorable ones.
I don't want to give away anything so will keep it as spoiler free as possible. So I will suffice it to say that the twists never stop coming, and even when you get to a point in the movie where you are sure that one particular twist must be the last, you get another one 5 minutes later. Also the twists are not the hollywoodised twists, which are there in a movie just for the sake of it. No, it is one of the most cleverly written plots ever in a movie, and easily (for me) David Fincher's finest hour.
Michael Douglas and Sean Penn (whose role could have been a little longer) absolutely nail their characters, and when the movie is done, Mr. Nicholas Van Orton is a name you will never forget.
Its is must for you if you like intelligent thrillers that keep you guessing.