The Game Movie review

Rating: 6/10 (15 March 2011)

A rubbix cube, like any normal game in life can do many things for its player. It can excite them, challenge them, and at some notable point frustrate them drastically, out of the person's natural desire to simply win. In Director Fincher's 3rd directorial film, "The Game", its main player of focus Nicholas Vanhorton (Douglas) is never thrilled nor excited about the game he receives at the recommendation of his recovering addict brother, Conrad (Penn). Connie's suggestion proves to be interesting enough, for many other revealed players have proclaimed CRS to be a life changing experience. In fact one player in particular quoted "Where as once I was blind, now I can see" John Ch.9 verse 25, and trust me Nick sees quite the sight. Within the next few days his patience, and his usually calm demeanor are pushed through the limits of his character. Witnessing the destruction of his home, nearly drowning, and even being watched at every angle and location possible, Nicholas's hopes for an end to the game seem lost, not as lost as his brother, for he too was a participant. Nicholas's only hope is a mysterious woman named Christine, who apparently works for the company and reveals enough to give Nicholas no reason to trust anyone, including her. When Nicholas first attended CRS, it was disorganized, riddled with odd and even pointless question regarding the physical and physiological, all good factors serving as forefronts to distract him, with enough time for them to make him their pawn. His accounts, his lawyers, and even his business associates seem to be un trust worthy, with the possibility of being his enemies. It becomes very clear, in the game's true motive of changing the player completely, for Nicholas himself wasn't exactly the nicest guy around. He wasn't evil, nor greedy, just simply miserable. Witnessing your own dad's suicide can really leave some marks, marks that probably made him into the person he is. Despite being an investment banker, closing deals with various clients, moving large sums of money to various accounts, and living a more than accommodating lifestyle, Nick always had this calm, but nevertheless suppressed anger, an anger that soon diminishes at the games final and ever most devastating stage. In the wake of Nick's last chance to unravel the truth of the whole matter and settle this insane game of unending madness at gunpoint, all he is given are constant warnings, and how if he continues he'll regret his actions if not stopped. In the moments of desperation for the truth, Nicholas shoots an approaching figure, turning out to be his brother. Driven to depression over the murder of his brother, suicide becomes his last option. That fails just as much as any chance he truly had of figuring the game out on his own. His fall from who really knows how many stories turns out to be yet another part of the game. Hell the whole plan was Conrad's idea, with the purpose of changing his brother and preventing him from ever turning out like their father. In the end Nick hugs is actually alive brother in grief and relief, with a possible better outlook on his life. "The Game" may not be David Fincher's masterpiece, but I can certainly call it one of Michael Douglas's finest performances, portraying a character with so much anger, and misery to define his persona, that happiness is rarely shown throughout his role at all. The only glimpse of a smile viewers will get from him will be in the end as he asks Christine (Unger) for dinner. I would honestly say that the way Douglas portrayed his character was very cold, that his cold and suppressed nature perfectly fits the creepy neo noir theme of the film, making his very anger very ravage when released during moments of intensity, or personal confusion to Vanhorton. It's sad to say though that Douglas's acting isn't enough to save the film. "The Game" has no limits when it comes to playing with its character. All these crazy acts are physically possible, but not legal. In fact, even though the push for Nick's concluding character development was perfectly fit, it still makes you wonder if the film could've made it a little more tragic, because it was really a pretend scenario meant to help him. It sounds like Nick dodged a bullet, when most people who change for the better get a taste of the bullet. It's not easy to learn what you have in front of you, and feel like you've done everything to lose it, but when it's fake in the character's, rather than then actor's perspective, the drama seems not to moving. I still enjoyed the film, but it would have been better if CRS was a company for evil rather than well intentioned purposes, making the purpose of Nick's development all the more valuable.