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IMDbPro

The Gamechangers

  • TV Movie
  • 20152015
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
Daniel Radcliffe in The Gamechangers (2015)
  • Biography
  • Drama
The struggle of Houser's legal feud against American lawyer Jack Thompson, over the morality of the Grand Theft Auto video game series.The struggle of Houser's legal feud against American lawyer Jack Thompson, over the morality of the Grand Theft Auto video game series.The struggle of Houser's legal feud against American lawyer Jack Thompson, over the morality of the Grand Theft Auto video game series.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Owen Harris
  • Writer
    • James Wood
  • Stars
    • Daniel Radcliffe
    • Bill Paxton
    • Joe Dempsie
Top credits
  • Director
    • Owen Harris
  • Writer
    • James Wood
  • Stars
    • Daniel Radcliffe
    • Bill Paxton
    • Joe Dempsie
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 14User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Photos10

    Daniel Radcliffe and Ian Attard in The Gamechangers (2015)
    The Gamechangers
    Daniel Radcliffe and Christiaan Schoombie in The Gamechangers (2015)
    Daniel Radcliffe, Joe Dempsie, Ian Attard, and Christiaan Schoombie in The Gamechangers (2015)
    Joe Dempsie and Christiaan Schoombie in The Gamechangers (2015)
    Daniel Radcliffe and Ian Attard in The Gamechangers (2015)
    The Gamechangers (2015)
    Daniel Radcliffe, Joe Dempsie, and Ian Attard in The Gamechangers (2015)
    Daniel Radcliffe in The Gamechangers (2015)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Daniel Radcliffe
    Daniel Radcliffe
    • Sam Houseras Sam Houser
    Bill Paxton
    Bill Paxton
    • Jack Thompsonas Jack Thompson
    Joe Dempsie
    Joe Dempsie
    • Jamie Kingas Jamie King
    Ryan Gage
    Ryan Gage
    • Jounalistas Jounalist
    • (voice)
    • …
    Lex King
    Lex King
    • Hillary Clinton's PAas Hillary Clinton's PA
    Jay Benedict
    Jay Benedict
    • Reporteras Reporter
    • (voice)
    Nick Boraine
    Nick Boraine
    • Doug Lowensteinas Doug Lowenstein
    Alex McGregor
    Alex McGregor
    • Bridjetas Bridjet
    Demetri Goritsas
    Demetri Goritsas
    • US Radio DJas US Radio DJ
    • (voice)
    Inge Beckmann
    Inge Beckmann
    • Michelle Gerilikosas Michelle Gerilikos
    D. David Morin
    D. David Morin
    • Judge Mooreas Judge Moore
    Buffy Davis
    • US Police Dispatcheras US Police Dispatcher
    • (voice)
    James Gracie
    James Gracie
    • Tom Mastersas Tom Masters
    • (as James Alexander)
    Stephen Jennings
    Stephen Jennings
    • Lt. Col. Dave Grossmanas Lt. Col. Dave Grossman
    Walles Hamonde
    Walles Hamonde
    • Dutch Journalistas Dutch Journalist
    • (voice)
    Thabo Rametsi
    • Devin Mooreas Devin Moore
    Martin Sherman
    Martin Sherman
    • Journalistas Journalist
    • (voice)
    • …
    Naomi McDonald
    Naomi McDonald
    • Federal Assistantas Federal Assistant
    • (voice)
    • …
    • Director
      • Owen Harris
    • Writer
      • James Wood
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Rockstar games has made official comment about The Gamechangers stating the film is full of inaccuracies and misrepresents the real people it portrays.
    • Goofs
      The film features scenes where Rockstar staff can be seen as if they are programming the game in New York City where its headquarters are based; the game was produced by Rockstar North, based in Edinburgh, Scotland.
    • Connections
      Features Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002)

    User reviews14

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Taut Drama That Reveals the Destructive Consequences of Fanaticism
    The basic plot of THE GAMECHANGERS is straightforward, as crusading Florida lawyer Jack Thompson (Bill Paxton) takes on the video-game producers, notably Rockstar and its CEO Sam Houser (Daniel Radcliffe), in the belief that video-games have a destructive effect on child psychology. The inspiration for the case comes from the killing of three police officers in Alabama by teenager video-game player Devin Moore (Thabo Rametsi).

    Owen Harris's production is built round a series of oppositions. Thompson believes that video-games are destructive; Houser advocates free choice. Rockstar's lawyers believe that Houser is exploiting the case for his own ends, and mount a series of counter- accusations. There is a nationalistic subtext running throughout the film contrasting the more liberal Brits (led by Houser) with the more overtly moral Americans, whose censorship laws are apparently far more stringent than those practiced within the United Kingdom. On the other hand Thompson resent Houser and his fellow-Brits for making money out of the American market with little concern for family values.

    As the drama unfolds, however, we discover that its focus centers more and more on the consequences of extremism. Houser is so obsessed with novelty, with producing the ultimate video game, that he resists any possible criticism from his fellow-workers. Likewise Thompson's obsession with indicting Rockstar, in the belief that God is on his side (the side of 'right' in his view) that he does not realize the destructive effect his actions have on himself and his family. Although loyally supported by his wife (Fiona Ramsay), he might have been better advised to pause and consider the plight of son Johnny (Garion Dowds). Director Harris stresses the links between the two protagonists through repeated shots showing their faces in close-up superimposed on video-game action.

    Much of the action takes place in darkness, or semi-darkness illuminated by computer screens. We are in a nether-world, one in which light seldom enters. Houser talks a lot about the "adaptability" of his new video-game; in truth both he and Thompson are profoundly un-adaptable insofar as they cannot see any other alternative to life than the contrasting causes they espouse. At one point Thompson asks the question "Who are you?" in close-up; we might interpret that statement as a metaphor for the entire film in which human beings are deprived of their identities.

    In the end Harris refuses to take sides; on the contrary, he shows how both protagonists are ultimately destroyed. They might have enjoyed "success" in terms of achieving their various ambitions, but at what cost? Perhaps the only way out would have been to follow the example of Houser's colleague Jamie (Joe Dempsie) and leave the whole affair behind. Yet this is something that the obsessive protagonists cannot do.
    helpful•7
    5
    • l_rawjalaurence
    • Sep 30, 2015

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 15, 2015 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official sites
      • BBC Media Official Website
      • BBC Two Official Website
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Переломный момент
    • Filming locations
      • Cape Town, South Africa
    • Production company
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC Scotland)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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