5.6/10
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50 user 36 critic

Playing God (1997)

R | | Crime, Thriller, Drama | 17 October 1997 (USA)
Playing God Poster
When he loses his job, a famed surgeon abandons his former life and enters the criminal underworld as a gunshot doctor for criminals.

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
... Dr. Eugene Sands
... Raymond Blossom
... Claire
... Gage
... Vladimir
... Cyril
... Yates
... Flick
... Perry
... Casey
... Andrei (as Pavel D. Lynchnikoff)
... Jim
... Sue
Bill Rosier ... Jerry
... Mr. Ksi
See full cast »
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Storyline

Stripped of his medical license after performing an operation while high on amphetamines, famed LA surgeon Dr Eugene Sands abandons his former life only to find himself crossing paths with Raymond Blossom, an infamous counterfeiter. Employed as a "gun-shot doctor" when Raymond's associates cannot risk visiting a hospital, Eugene is lured deep into the criminal world and becomes entangled with his boss's girlfriend. Written by Anonymous

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

surgeon | doctor | drug addiction | drugs | shot through a pillow | See All (103) »

Taglines:

A game with no rules. See more »

Genres:

Crime | Thriller | Drama

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong graphic violence, gore, pervasive language and some drug use | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

|

Release Date:

17 October 1997 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Playing Hero  »

Filming Locations:

 »
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Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,937,374, 19 October 1997, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$4,052,347, 9 November 1997
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

, ,  »
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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

According to the Don Simpson autobiography "High Concept" , the concept for this film was stolen from a doctor who died at Simpson's house before he could finish the script. See more »

Goofs

After the shoot out, when the scene is being investigated, you can see one of the "corpses" take a deep breath. See more »

Quotes

Young Gangster: You gonna kill me?
Eugene: No, but I know where to shoot you so you'll be in diapers for the rest of your life!
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Late Show with David Letterman: Episode dated 19 July 1996 (1996) See more »

Soundtracks

Redrum
Written and Performed by Ganjah K
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User Reviews

Script/movie comparison
16 May 2004 | by – See all my reviews

Smart, funny script with interesting original premise of the doctor forced to work for criminals. The movie wanders, though, as there's no real central plotline. Great dialogue, but maybe the subsidiary characters are more interesting than the main characters. Script is dramatic/comedic; movie is played down, but the choice to do so seems to have robbed the movie of much-needed juice. The stakes don't seem to be too high for any character. Direction is competent, but doesn't match the script. Hutton is scary, but doesn't have much to do except act scary. Duchovny is fine, but I think he was cast mostly for his X-Files fame at the time. He's not exactly the most charismatic lead actor.
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