WHAT DO YOU GET FOR THE MAN WHO HAS EVERYTHING?

Wealthy investment banker Nicholas Van Orton (Michael Douglas) is contacted by his ne’er-do-well younger brother (Sean Penn) who gives him a special birthday gift – participation in a game that will change his life. David Fincher followed up the success of Se7en (1995) with another dark thriller whose mystery and secrets is what propels it, both for us and the protagonist who is challenged in many ways. The story requires some serious suspension of disbelief, but remains exciting throughout. It is also grim, and that goes for the characters as well, including the unhappy banker, well played by Douglas, who is rudely shaken out of his gray existence. Effectively eerie and melancholy music by Howard Shore.

1997-U.S. 128 min. Color. Widescreen. Produced by Ceán Chaffin, Steve Golin. Directed by David Fincher. Screenplay: John Brancato, Michael Ferris. Music: Howard Shore. Cast: Michael Douglas (Nicholas Van Orton), Sean Penn (Conrad Van Orton), Carroll Baker (Ilsa), Deborah Kara Unger, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Peter Donat… James Rebhorn.

Trivia: Jodie Foster was reportedly considered for a lead role; at one point Jeff Bridges was considered as Nicholas Van Orton.

Last word: “[My wife] was extremely vociferous […] when she said, ‘Don’t make ‘The Game” […] In hindsight, my wife was right. We didn’t figure out the third act, and it was my fault, because I thought if you could just keep your foot on the throttle it would be liberating and funny. I know what I like, and one thing I definitely like is not knowing where a movie is going. These days, though, it’s hard to get audiences to give themselves over. They want to see the whole movie in a 90-second trailer.” (Fincher, Playboy)

IMDb