The Game A Film Review By Michael Redman Copyright 1997 Michael Redman
*** (Out of ****)
The challenge during this film is figuring out who are the players and exactly what is the game. Ever felt that someone out there is messing with your life and pulling the strings behind the scenes? Here there really is a "someone" behind the curtain who's controlling the seemingly accidental.
Nicholas Van Orton (Michael Douglas) is a successful but emotionally dead businessman who suddenly finds himself having a very weird day. Things happen out of his control, his life falls apart, he hooks up with a beautiful woman who leads him astray while pretending to be someone she isn't, people are out to get him, nothing is what it seems and everywhere he goes he sees strangers who are plotting against him.
And the amazing thing is that he paid for this! I know people leading this type of life and they get to do it for free.
Van Orton has taken over his father's business. He spends his day moving money around and his night pouring over business reports and watching financial news. His wife left him because he wasn't emotionally available. He lives alone in an enormous house alone with only a housekeeper for companionship and she leaves just as he's getting home. He's so detached from humanity that when someone wishes him "Happy Birthday", it's his secretary who responds "Thank you."
What a birthday it's about to be. It's his 48th: the same age his father was when young Nick watched him leap from the top of the house to his death. He works his father's business, lives in his father's house and now he's at the fateful age. Stoic Nicholas is becoming even more morose.
His younger brother Conrad (Sean Penn) shows up to liven up his life. Leaving a message at the office from "Seymour Butts", black sheep Conrad makes a dinner appoint with his older sibling and surprises him with a mysterious birthday present. He's bought a session of "The Game" and urges Nicholas to play.
After undergoing a grueling several hour session of psychological and physical tests, he's in the game. The problem is that he doesn't know how it's played or even what it is. The only thing he's told is that it's like a vacation that comes to him.
Much like some computer games, it turns out that the objective of the game is to discover the objective of the game. Going about his everyday humdrum life, he finds objects -- keys, a handle -- that come in handy later. Minor incidents that seem random take on a new significance.
It's intriguing at first to Von Orton and then it all goes horribly wrong. Dangerous car wrecks, betrayals and deadly danger convince him that the game is just a scam to pull off a major crime with him as the victim.
The film reminds me of several others: the complacent businessman is awakened to real life by dangers. Michael Douglas' man in a suit in the midst of adventure is different than Harrison Ford's. Douglas' character that he's played in a few films is beaten to within an inch of his life and only hangs on through his tenacity. He's a hero only because he's forced to be.
This is definitely Douglas' film. He's on-screen almost the entire time and a lesser actor would be unable to pull it off. It's a credit to his skill that the audience is entranced during the entire film.
Director David Fincher is a mystery himself. His previous films were the two very different wonderfully crafted "Seven" and the wretchedly disappointing "Alien 3". This film only shows some resemblance to either of those. The long movie (aren't they all now days?) never drags and that's saying a lot.
Is this film realistic? Naw. There's no way that the "Mission Impossible" plans could be pulled off with the preciseness that they are. But it doesn't matter. Toss aside your disbelief and go along for the ride. It's worth it.
If there is a problem with the movie, and there is, it's that there is very little doubt how it will end. If you were allowed to think about it, what is going on is obvious. Luckily there isn't much time to think and the downfall of the film is only an afterthought.
I'm not sure I would recommend that people who perceive plots and conspiracies behind every door see the film. This just might convince them that they are right. And they're not. Or maybe I'm just lulling them into a false sense of security.
(Michael Redman has written this column for over 22 years. At least that's what he wants you to believe. Email your favorite paranoias to mredman@bvoice.com)
[This appeared in the 9/18/97 "Bloomington Voice", Bloomington, Indiana. Michael Redman can be contacted at mredman@bvoice.com ]
-- mailto:mredman@bvoice.com
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