The Game (1997)

Two Geeks and a GIT Classic Movie Reviews

The second film in our pairing of thrillers from master director David Fincher comes only two years after his acclaimed debut with "Se7en." This time, it's a reality-twisting mind-bender of an experience as we watch someone come unstuck from his personal reality in 1997's "The Game." The story follows Nicholas Van Orton (Michael Douglas), a successful investment banker who has everything... except a life outside of work. When his younger brother, Conrad (Sean Penn) requests they have dinner together, he informs Nicholas that he's purchased him a special birthday present: A session of "The Game" from a company called Consumer Recreation Services, or CRS. After Nicholas spends his birthday alone, he decides to go in and go through the evaulation process to see if he's a suitable candidate. The next day, he's informed by telephone that he was not found suitable for CRS's targeted game. Immediately after receiving the call, Nicholas' life starts to twist and turn, with so many turns he becomes unclear what is real and what is clearly part of the game, something the audience experiences as well! The film also stars Debora Kara Unger, James Rebhorn, Peter Donat, Carroll Baker, Anna Katarina, and Armin Mueller-Stahl. Plus, the trio reveal which "adult" superhero films made their next pairing!