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IMDbPro

The Game

  • 19971997
  • RR
  • 2h 9m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
387K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
807
56
Michael Douglas in The Game (1997)
Three Reasons Criterion Trailer for The Game
Play trailer1:35
3 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • Mystery
  • Thriller
After a wealthy San Francisco banker is given an opportunity to participate in a mysterious game, his life is turned upside down as he begins to question if it might really be a concealed co... Read allAfter a wealthy San Francisco banker is given an opportunity to participate in a mysterious game, his life is turned upside down as he begins to question if it might really be a concealed conspiracy to destroy him.After a wealthy San Francisco banker is given an opportunity to participate in a mysterious game, his life is turned upside down as he begins to question if it might really be a concealed conspiracy to destroy him.
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
387K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
807
56
  • Director
    • David Fincher
  • Writers
    • John Brancato
    • Michael Ferris
  • Stars
    • Michael Douglas
    • Deborah Kara Unger
    • Sean Penn
Top credits
  • Director
    • David Fincher
  • Writers
    • John Brancato
    • Michael Ferris
  • Stars
    • Michael Douglas
    • Deborah Kara Unger
    • Sean Penn
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 792User reviews
    • 180Critic reviews
    • 61Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos3

    The Game: The Criterion Collection [Blu-Ray]
    Trailer 1:35
    The Game: The Criterion Collection [Blu-Ray]
    The Game (1997)
    Trailer 0:31
    The Game (1997)
    A Guide to the Films of David Fincher
    Clip 1:59
    A Guide to the Films of David Fincher

    Photos326

    Michael Douglas and David Fincher in The Game (1997)
    Michael Douglas and Sean Penn in The Game (1997)
    Sean Penn in The Game (1997)
    Michael Douglas in The Game (1997)
    Michael Douglas in The Game (1997)
    Michael Douglas and Deborah Kara Unger in The Game (1997)
    Michael Douglas in The Game (1997)
    Michael Douglas and Sean Penn in The Game (1997)
    Deborah Kara Unger in The Game (1997)
    Michael Douglas and David Fincher in The Game (1997)
    Michael Douglas in The Game (1997)
    Armin Mueller-Stahl in The Game (1997)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Michael Douglas
    Michael Douglas
    • Nicholas Van Ortonas Nicholas Van Orton
    Deborah Kara Unger
    Deborah Kara Unger
    • Christineas Christine
    Sean Penn
    Sean Penn
    • Conradas Conrad
    James Rebhorn
    James Rebhorn
    • Jim Feingoldas Jim Feingold
    Peter Donat
    Peter Donat
    • Samuel Sutherlandas Samuel Sutherland
    Carroll Baker
    Carroll Baker
    • Ilsaas Ilsa
    Anna Katarina
    Anna Katarina
    • Elizabethas Elizabeth
    Armin Mueller-Stahl
    Armin Mueller-Stahl
    • Anson Baeras Anson Baer
    Charles Martinet
    Charles Martinet
    • Nicholas' Fatheras Nicholas' Father
    Scott Hunter McGuire
    • Young Nicholasas Young Nicholas
    Florentine Mocanu
    • Nicholas' Motheras Nicholas' Mother
    Elizabeth Dennehy
    Elizabeth Dennehy
    • Mariaas Maria
    Caroline Barclay
    Caroline Barclay
    • Maggieas Maggie
    Daniel Schorr
    Daniel Schorr
    • Daniel Schorras Daniel Schorr
    John Aprea
    John Aprea
    • Power Executiveas Power Executive
    Harrison Young
    Harrison Young
    • Obsequious Executiveas Obsequious Executive
    Kimberly Russell
    Kimberly Russell
    • Cynthia, CRS Receptionistas Cynthia, CRS Receptionist
    Joe Frank
    • CRS Data Collating Technicianas CRS Data Collating Technician
    • Director
      • David Fincher
    • Writers
      • John Brancato
      • Michael Ferris
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      David Fincher originally planned to make The Game before Se7en (1995). But once Brad Pitt became available for the latter, Fincher shelved this film until Se7en (1995)'s filming was done.
    • Goofs
      At the airport, Nicholas gets ink on his shirt. When trying to clean it, it's a different shirt.
    • Quotes

      [Nicholas van Orten loses a shoe when climbing a fire-escape ladder]

      Nicholas: There goes a thousand dollars.

      Christine: Your shoes cost a thousand dollars?

      Nicholas: That one did.

    • Crazy credits
      The opening credits shatter in the form of jigsaw puzzle pieces in Reference to the Film's title.
    • Alternate versions
      The Blu ray has a deleted ending.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Green Fog (2017)
    • Soundtracks
      Happy Birthday to You
      Written by Mildred J. Hill and Patty S. Hill

    User reviews792

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    A brilliantly executed mind-trick
    I have always loved the Game. It sits right between The Truman Show and The Matrix as these 90's weird deconstructions of reality and sci-fi with a hint of social commentary on media. It was really the decade where TV and movies discovered the awesome power these new images had, and trying to reconcile their own moral hazard (spoiler alert: they did not). In The Game, Michael Douglas' character has basically a feature film inserted in his life. With a rewatch there are some little details that stand out and you realize easily none of this would work for real. But it works for the audience and as such it works as a movie.

    I love this movie because it is a great mind-bending trick. The movie keeps the tension up throughout by jumping around whether the Game is real or not. Even in the third act, where there is maybe one switcheroo too many; you get that escalating tension that keeps you engaged. Structurally the movie may not be the most elegant. This tension escalates not really by anyone's actions but by design. But it is competent enough to let the talent shine. Michael Douglas gives an excellent performance and it's just a joy to watch. He basically plays Gordon Gekko again, with the self-important attitude but also the effortless charm. There is something to 90s Douglas that is frankly mesmerizing, because he offer such a large palette of characters. He can play the everyman gumshoe or the stonyhearted investment banker. And in the Game you can see that kind of transformation on-screen. You can see the veneer of civilization peel off and you're left with the unkempt hair Douglas: the most dangerous variant.

    Returning to the escalation of tension, it works that way also because the plot destroys Nicholas Van Orton's life in an escalating fashion. First he loses on his business deal, then his money/fortune, then his brother. Which culminates at the end of the movie: he is a broken man, which leads him to suicide. On the surface, the movie is very "nineties ennui" where it throws a business exec in suit and a briefcase in an action movie. The movie's internal logic is built around the fact that his life is very lame and predictable and he gets propelled into these action-movie set piece tropes. But underneath there is a more subtle message critical of the greed and the excess of the 80s. It is a repudiation of Gordon Gekko. It metaphorically kills Gordon Gekko, it throws him off the roof. And I believe the film's morals wants to state that life's meaning lies elsewhere than monetary accumulation and wealth.

    That is not to say that the movie is leading the masses to the barricades. It is first and foremost an action film, and as such a corporate product, yet it enjoys having a faceless corporation as "the villain". But it is similar to Fight Club in that regard; it enjoys the subversive sub-text, without giving it too much credence. Nonetheless, it focuses way more on the mechanics of the plot: who is going where and why, rather than on the thematic elements. And for the most part it holds up as an action movie. And even if makes (forgettable) mistakes, you'll still want to rewatch it to see how well The Game was set-up, and what worked and what did not.
    helpful•11
    0
    • Criticalstaff
    • Dec 19, 2020

    FAQ13

    • What is the significance of the incident and firing of Anson Baer, and how does it plays into the rest of the movie?
    • Is "The Game" based on a book?
    • What does "CRS" stand for?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 12, 1997 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • Spanish
      • Thai
      • English
      • Cantonese
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Trò Chơi Ma Quỷ
    • Filming locations
      • Filoli Estate - 86 Cañada Road, Woodside, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Polygram Filmed Entertainment
      • Propaganda Films
      • A&B Producoes, Lda.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $50,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $48,323,648
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $14,337,029
      • Sep 14, 1997
    • Gross worldwide
      • $109,423,648
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 9 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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