One nasty game!

Rating: 8/10 (24 May 2002)

This is not David Fincher's masterpiece but is still incredibly exciting thriller and mind game. We follow the rich banker's (Michael Douglas, a great actor!) boring life as he lives alone in his large mansion and is bored of all around him. His wife has left him and it only makes things worse. However, his birthday comes and his brother (Sean Penn) has given him something very unusual for a present. "What can I give to a man who owns already everything?" he asks and gives Douglas an envelope. He opens it and finds an invitation to a game...And that's all I'm gonna tell you. The less you know about the film, the better.
This film is very original and exciting, and will have many twists and turns throughout the whole film. Once you think that "Oh yeah, that's it!" a new twist will arrive and the viewer is again totally lost, as is the main protagonist. It is horrible to think that something like this happened in real life. The film is often very scary because nobody knows what's going on and the film is pretty dark in lightning, a Fincher trademark. The main point seems to be here that never forget the fact that no matter how rich or wealthy you are, you're still a human being who can die or loose everything like anyone else. Prosperity and power don't make anyone immortal or stronger than others and all the human beings are as vulnerable as others. The film is a lesson in living and remembering the facts of life.

Extremely pleasant little psycho thriller with fresh script and chilling moments, but actually who would expect Fincher to do something bad or dull? Lovers of Fincher cinema should like this and there are no elements (violence, sex) that often alienate some people, so I think that many will find this film nice to experience. Or then, it may be too intelligent and difficult to follow for casual popcorn eating viewer..
8/10