Playing God (1997)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Andy Wilson

Writer (WGA):

Mark Haskell Smith (written by)

Release Date:

17 October 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller | Drama

Tagline:

Joining this deadly underworld was easy. But getting out...deadly!

Plot:

Stripped of his medical license after performing an operation while high on amphetamines, famed LA surgeon...

Plot Keywords:

Doctor | Surgeon | Drug Addiction | Drugs | Gay Slur

Cast

David Duchovny	...	Dr. Eugene Sands
Timothy Hutton	...	Raymond Blossom
Angelina Jolie	...	Claire
Michael Massee	...	Gage
Peter Stormare	...	Vladimir
Andrew Tiernan	...	Cyril
Gary Dourdan	...	Yates
John Hawkes	...	Flick
Will Stewart	...	Perry
Philip Moon	...	Casey
Pavel Lychnikoff	...	Andrei (as Pavel D. Lynchnikoff)
Tracey Walter	...	Jim
Sandra Kinder	...	Sue
Bill Rosier	...	Jerry
Keone Young	...	Mr. Ksi

Also Known As:

Playing Hero

MPAA:

Rated R for strong graphic violence, gore, pervasive language and some drug use.

Runtime:

94 min | Netherlands:91 min | Philippines:90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Philippines:R-18 | Iceland:16 | Argentina:16 | France:U | Germany:16 | Netherlands:16 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere) | Singapore:PG | UK:18 | USA:R | Australia:MA | Poland:18

Filming Locations:

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Beacon Communications

Trivia:

David Duchovny plays a doctor asked by a criminal to help his friend. Duchovny says "He's dead." Pointing a gun at Duchovny, the criminal says, "Well, fix him!" Duchovny responds, "I'll see what I can do." Twenty years earlier, in A Bridge Too Far (1977), James Caan plays a soldier who takes a wounded comrade to a field doctor. After the doctor tells him his friend is dead, Caan points a gun at the doctor and insists that he look at his friend. The doctor replies, "I can give him a quick examination if you like."

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: Photographs are being taken at a Lakers game with a digital camera, but we hear the sound of a motor drive.

Quotes:

[During a car chase]
Raymond: Use the Force, Luke!

Soundtrack:

Redrum

Credible Performance

David Duchovny plays the lead role in this film.Now a lot of people upon finding that fact out wouldn't even bother watching it.Very unfair to say the least.David made his name on the x-files and is a decent actor. Dr Eugene Sands(Duchovny)is a drug addicted doctor struck off for malpractice.By sheer accident he becomes a private doctor for criminal millionaire Raymond Blossom.However the FBI take an interest in using Eugene to snare Blossom. Angelina Jolie is cast in the supporting role of clare-the gangsters moll.She puts in a solid performance. Timothy Hutton playing Blossom is superb and immersed himself deeply into his character. Duchovny himself isn't as bad as many people would think and in the end i would rate his performance his credible.His familiar monotonous tone and straight face is present but dosen't detract too much from the film