The Game (1997)

After a wealthy banker is given an opportunity to participate in a mysterious game, his life is turned upside down when he becomes unable to distinguish between the game and reality.

Director:

David Fincher

Writers:

John Brancato, Michael Ferris

Stars:

Michael Douglas, Deborah Kara Unger, Sean Penn

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Douglas	...	Nicholas Van Orton
Sean Penn	...	Conrad
Deborah Kara Unger	...	Christine
James Rebhorn	...	Jim Feingold
Peter Donat	...	Samuel Sutherland
Carroll Baker	...	Ilsa
Anna Katarina	...	Elizabeth
Armin Mueller-Stahl	...	Anson Baer
Charles Martinet	...	Nicholas' Father
Scott Hunter McGuire	...	Young Nicholas
Florentine Mocanu	...	Nicholas' Mother
Elizabeth Dennehy	...	Maria
Caroline Barclay	...	Maggie
Daniel Schorr	...	Daniel Schorr
John Aprea	...	Power Executive

Storyline

Nicholas Van Orton is a very wealthy San Francisco banker, but he is an absolute loner, even spending his birthday alone. In the year of his 48th birthday (the age his father committed suicide) his brother Conrad, who has gone long ago and surrendered to addictions of all kinds, suddenly returns and gives Nicholas a card giving him entry to unusual entertainment provided by something called Consumer Recreation Services (CRS). Giving in to curiosity, Nicholas visits CRS and all kinds of weird and bad things start to happen to him.

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Plot Keywords:

suicide | surprise ending | game | hitchcockian | puzzlement | 

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Taglines:

The Game...You Just Lost

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, and for some violence and sexuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Cantonese German

Release Date:

12 September 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Game

Filming Locations:

Tunnel Top Lounge and Bar - 601 Bush Street, San Francisco, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$14,337,029, 14 September 1997

Gross USA:

$48,323,648

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$109,423,648

Company Credits

Production Co:

Polygram Filmed Entertainment, Propaganda Films, A&B Producoes, Lda.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

129 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Nicholas Van Orton's father died on his 48th birthday. In reality, at the time of the movies release, Charles Martinet, who plays Nicholas's father, was two months shy of his 42nd birthday, six years less than depicted.

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Goofs

In the last scenes, when Nicolas breaks glassed roof, one of the thinner beams hits support beam. The support beam wobbles like it was made of elastic material.

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Quotes

New Member Ted: This was the best one *ever*!
Jim Feingold: [shakes Nicholas's hand] You know, thank God you jumped, because if you didn't, I was supposed to throw you off!

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Crazy Credits

The opening credits shatter in the form of jigsaw puzzle pieces in Reference to the Film's title.

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Connections

Edited into Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen (2012)

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Soundtracks

House Of Pain
Written and Performed by Walter Afanasieff

User Reviews

Well constructed, fun ride

An oldie but a goodie.

I hadn't seen this movie for a good many years. Made back when Douglas was in his acting prime.

It moves at a steady pace with good flow. The surprises are plentiful given the basic premise.

Considering the lack of CGI and the effort in the script I wonder if we will see anything of its type come out of studios in more modern times?

Let's hope to see a movie of similar calibre some time soon.