The Game

The Game casts Michael Douglas as Nicholas Van Orton, a powerful banker whose life is turned upside down after he enrolls in a mysterious game – with the character subsequently drawn into a massive conspiracy that may or may not be part of the aforementioned game. Filmmaker David Fincher brings his notoriously meticulous sensibilities to the entirety of The Game, as the movie, shot by Harris Savides, boasts an often remarkably mesmerizing visual sensibility that’s perpetuated by Fincher’s typically flawless direction – with the movie also benefiting substantially from Douglas’ low-key, completely believable performance (ie Nicholas certainly runs the gamut of emotions throughout the proceedings, and Douglas is never not entirely convincing). It’s clear, too, that John Brancato and Michael Ferris’ twist-laden screenplay goes a long way towards keeping things interesting throughout, although, by that same token, it does become more and more apparent that The Game suffers from a midsection that palpably drags in spots – with the somewhat erratic atmosphere heightened by a distinctly overlong running time (ie the movie would’ve been just about perfect had it topped out at around 105 minutes or so). Such concerns are admittedly rendered moot as The Game barrels into its exciting and impressively engrossing third act, with the now-infamous twist that closes the picture still able to pack a palpable punch after countless viewings – which effectively confirms the movie’s place as a top-tier thriller that doesn’t always seem to get the respect and admiration it clearly deserves.

***1/2 out of ****