The Game illustrates the theory or truth, depending on ones' viewpoint, that life is just a game ("All of life is a stage and we are but the actors" - William Shakespeare).

Rating: 10/10 (20 November 2001)

From a spiritual and/or philosophical viewpoint, The Game illustrates many truths, more truths than untruths. Therefore, it can be classified as a "teaching movie", meaning that it illustrates truths which already existed prior to its production. Or, stated another way, it is fiction with a purpose.
It deals with the breaking down of the human ego in order to locate truth. The main character was not seeking truth, therefore, it was his time or his destiny/fate, spiritually and philosophically speaking.
From a religious/spiritual standpoint, John 9:25 was cited within the movie, "Whereas once I was blind, now I can see". Like the movie "The Matrix", the main character is working with what can be considered a spiritual team, headed by what can be considered an Angel of Death. At the end of the movie Nicholas asks Claire if she is off to sheer some more sheep. She replies that "It's just a walk-on this time", meaning that his (Nicholas') induction into reality was a "drag-on" as opposed to a "walk on". His number was up, so to speak.
The main reason that his number was up was due to his intense fear regarding his father's suicide at age 48, which is the age Nicholas finds himself at in the beginning of the movie and the fact that he might be destined to follow in his father's footsteps, or cursed in that respect, if one believes in curses. Nicholas' other fears were addressed also. Regarding fear itself, there is a passage in the Christian Bible by one of the prophets which states, "What I have feared the most has come upon me". Metaphysically, fear begets fear or like attracts like. Another good reason to confront fears and walk through them before they walk through us.
Nicholas died at least once in the movie (woke up in a grave in Mexico and received a T-shirt stating that fact, later, from his brother).
There are several consciousness dimensional shifts illustrated in the movie, the first being as Michael Douglas as Nicholas entered the airport to travel to Armin Mueller-Stahl's character's location to fire him.
The movie depicts Nicholas' humbling process in an excellent manner, focusing on his manipulation and control tendencies and his self-centered advanced state of egocentricity as well as his fears.
The movie additionally depicts and confirms immortality of the human spirit as well as alternate realities, worlds, universes, existences.