let's all play

Rating: 7/10 (31 May 2006)

When "The Game" first came out in theaters, I didn't really know much about it, so when I went to see it, I was pleasantly surprised. Portraying San Francisco banker Nicholas Van Orton (Michael Douglas) getting involved in a "game" that invades his personal life, the movie keeps you guessing every minute. I can say with certainty that I couldn't have predicted anything that happened in the movie. And that ending was sure a shocker.
One thing about the movie that really struck me was Sean Penn's performance. It had just been two years since he'd affirmed his presence on the silver screen with "Dead Man Walking", and he was now starring in this most perplexing film (around the same time, he also starred in the equally perplexing "U Turn"). This all showed that he would soon have a solid filmography - not to mention become one of America's primary political activists.
But the point is that you're sure to have a good time watching this movie. It affirms David Fincher as a great director (he was also behind "Fight Club" and "Panic Room"), and makes me nostalgic for autumn, 1997, when we also had movies like "In & Out", "LA Confidential" and "Good Will Hunting". Very well done. Also starring Deborah Kara Unger, Armin Mueller-Stahl and James Rebhorn.