Even with a foolish twist, The Game an engaging, edge of seat thriller which keep you guessing.
Its 1997, and its David Fincher's second consecutive attempt at Thriller genre - his first attempt - as you all know, is a mind-blowing nerve wrecking Se7en. He got the bulls eye at that time. Does his next project, The Game, with a very intriguing premise holds up the fort?
Well, then my dear friends, The Game is what Se7en was not - it is fast-paced, full of action, stylish and unfortunately absurd. We have our protagonist, Nicholas Van Orton is a rehashed version of Gordon Gekko - snobbish, emotionally distant and introvert. Apparently his shoes costs around a thousand dollars. Nicholas is a private banker, had a divorced from his wife (though they remain friendly) and has a estranged brother Conrad (Sean Penn, wasted). Nicholas had a troubled childhood, he apparently saw his father committing suicide by falling from a top of a building, at his 48th Birthday no less. So when his own 48th birthday arrives, his brother Conrad shows up out of the blue, gives him a voucher for a "game" - developed by a company called CRS (Consumer Recreation Services). Without giving him any details how exactly the "game" works, Conrad tantalizes Nicholas by promising it will change his life.
Intrigued by the Game, he reaches CRS, spends all his day for the test they require for him to participate which includes handwriting samples, Q&As and physicals. But he is rejected, told on the phone. After that, he learns that the game has just begun - it is no recreation but an assault to his privacy (a scene involving a dummy clown and TV is a highlight of the film), his wealth and his life. Through series of events he escapes from the clutches of CRS employees, often with the help of beautiful mystery girl played by Deborah Kara Unger. In all bizzare turn of events, he finds himself somewhere in Mexico, snatched of all his money, his accounts are drained. Near the end, he sets out for revenge near the end and sets his aim to unmask the man behind this.
Until now, you have already guessed that it makes no point having a star like Sean Penn in the film for just 2 scenes. So yes, he is behind this dreadful game. And guess what, is he up for his brother's money? Tada! Wrong answer - he just played out all this as a prank, so that his brother can face the reallity and enjoy his life. What!
The climatic twist at the end is as absurd as absurdity goes. It matches 'The Village' for the most impossible plot. I wonder what Fincher was thinking when he made it. Or what the screenwriters thought when they wrote it.
But still, there are very few movies in which even the so-called twist is hard to digest, engulfs you and captivates you into its atmosphere. David Fincher is a master when it comes to creating atmosphere on silver screen. The mood, the thrills and the creeps you get, is all worth your time even with an illogical finale. Aptly shot by Harris Savides, The Game hardly has any dull moments. It is an engaging, edge of seat thriller which keep you guessing. Remove that last 5 minutes from it, you've got pure Fincher cinema.
3.5/5
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