Great film - the games people play (spoiler)

Rating: 9/10 (10 September 2006)

Greetings all,
** SPOILER **
I saw thus recently and thought I'd share my thoughts about this film - perhaps others saw it differently.
What I really liked was the game that Hank and Brandon played with each other - the game with women, the game that Brandon won hands down - did you get it? (We get an initial hint about relationship games with the manicure scene.)
The main theme here is about LOSING EVERYTHING, right? That some people get a high out of that brief period when they are ABOUT to lose it all. (Of course if you don't have this flaw, it may not make sense to you - but he is right, some problem gamblers DO get this high.)
So, the foxy girl scene - Brandon scores this amazing girl - woohoo! But later he finds out it was set up by Hank - this really hurts and spoiled the whole thing with her, right?
Then, we get that odd, yet crucial scene where Brandon kisses Toni and goes inside with her - but it was a little odd wasn't it? We had the slight clue when Brandon says quietly "I'm going to kiss you now...". And it didn't quite fit with Brandon did it?
Finally, the key scene at the end - Hank accuses Toni. And then she explains what happened and suddenly the game becomes crystal clear :
Brandon has set Hank up TWICE -
Firstly, Hank gets the high he "wants" out of losing Toni completely, remember Hank was in such a good mood next morning? He was in his zone - in that brief period when he is ABOUT to lose Toni, see?
But, THEN we see the brilliance of Brandon's game - the 2nd play.
Secondly, Hank thinks he has lost Toni - he has got his sick little "hit", but suddenly we realise Toni was not unfaithful, that Hank can get Toni "back".
Now, unlike Brandon who was hurt when he found out he was set up in love - Hank now finds he too has been set up, but in contrast the result for him is the climactic moment of his life - to regain his lovely wife, by seeing his flaw laid out openly.
It was a masterful game and a masterpiece of a film. 9/10