SURVIVING THE GAME
A film review by Michael John Legeros
Copyright 1994 Michael John Legeros
Directed by Ernest Dickerson Written by Eric Bernt Cast Ice-T, Rutger Hauer, Gary Busey, Charles S. Dutton, F. Murray Abraham, and John C. McGinley MPAA Rating "R" (presumably for graphic violence and graphic language) Running Time 100 minutes
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"Think of it as foreplay."
- Rutger Hauer to Gary Busey, whose
character doesn't want to wait
while his quarry gets a head start.
SURVIVING THE GAME stars Ice-T as a homeless man, hand-picked to play yet another variation on THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME. They hunt, he runs, and it was all done better last summer in HARD TARGET. Honestly, the most exciting thing about this "action" film is its level of political incorrectness.
The notion of wealthy hunters hunting homeless people is in questionable taste to begin with and SURVIVING THE GAME is clearly intended for action-fans only. But even the appeal of teaming of hulking heavies Rutger Hauer and Gary Busey (who play two of the hunters) with violate rapper/actor Ice-T fades fast in the less-than-capable hands of director Dickerson.
Ernest Dickerson (known, among other things, for his impressive work with Spike Lee) is *not* an action director. Every fight scene is a blur and every chase has zero zest. He's fine with scenery and set-ups, but he can't choreograph worth a damn.
As scripted by Eric Bernt, SURVIVING THE GAME is less testosterone than talk. Gab gab gab go the character who spend the first action-less hour speaking only in cliches. Ice-T to Rutger Hauer: "Never underestimate a man who has nothing to lose." Sure, legs get blown off and crotches get kicked, but, again, the action is so muddy that every fight looks like the last one.
Also, the script never explains just *how* the hunters hunt. One character makes a comment about a trail that "Stevie Wonder could follow." Unfortunately, neither the script nor the visuals relate what an "obvious" trail looks like.
The only cast member with charisma is Rutger Hauer. (No surprise there.) He plays an outdoors outfitter who is responsible for hiring the hunted.
F. Murray Abraham is, inexplicably, still working after starring in both LAST ACTION HERO and BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES and his presence--as a father taking his son "hunting"--amounts to even less than what he added to those turkeys. Gary Busey plays Chief Scenery Chewer and his best bit is a monologue that sounds like warmed leftovers from John Milius.
Ice-T wears a wig with dreadlocks and acts like himself.
NOTE: SURVIVING THE GAME is considerably less violent than the
subject matter suggests. One scene shows a character with
"amputated" legs and that's about as gruesome as it gets. Too
bad.
BOTTOM LINE: Even diehard action-fans should avoid SURVIVING THE
GAME, a film that commits the most heinous crime known
to the genre: it ain't exciting.
Grade: D+
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