The Game (1997)

Dir David Fincher

Michael Douglas, Sean Penn, Deborah Kara Unger, James Rebhorn, Peter Donat, Carroll Baker, Armin Mueller-Stahl.

Nicolas Van Orton (Douglas) is the divorced, live to work investment banker – who has zero life outside his job. When his younger brother Conrad (Penn) gives him a gift certificate to a ‘game’ of sorts, through the company called CRS. When Nick takes him up on it, he finds that despite a day of monotonous tasks he has been declined… or so he thinks. When ‘The Game’ begins, it soon becomes something much more sinister.

Slow paced for the most parts, the direction by Fincher is fine, but it lacks some of the memorable shots he has been famous for both before and after this. The story is sound, and really does keep you guessing right up until the final reveal. Even after multiple viewings it is impossible to find evidence of the reveal – which is solidified by performances by supporting cast members, primarily Penn.

Douglas shines as the multimillionaire ‘loner’ who is introduced as pompous and arrogant, who soon turns to paranoia as the game intensifies – and finally despair when the game nears its end. Going from everything, Conrad even says of the gift “what do you give the man that has everything”.

The score has serious and macabre undertones from Fincher’s frequent collaborator Howard Shore, it complements the film nicely.

Still a very good watch and well made psychological thriller.

3.5/5