The Game (1997)

Michaerl Douglas has made quite the career playing the rich cad exec or CEO, and I'd say he does it well even in films I don't like. This film, however, I have watched it and tried to watch it again after a long passage of time but I just dislike it, and I dislike Douglas in it.

Douglas is an actor I used to like somewhat begrudgingly, if only because he's good at the two or three types of characters he plays. But neither this film nor his acting works for me. Where normally he elevates something ordinary just enough to put in the category of a thing well done, this time no.

After 'Wonder Boys' (2000), my impression of the man increased considerably, not only because he's excellent in the role but because he pushed to be considered for the role and loved the story and characters. But 'The Game' seems like a film where everyone gt a big paycheck and no one had the least interest in making anything more of it -- not the writers, director, actors, production crew... nobody.

R1 I think Douglas is great, but you are right- he has a type as upper middle class or wealthy businessmen.

This is probably my second favorite Fincher film after "Zodiac." It's dark and moody but also has an outlandish flair that leavens it, unlike "Se7en," which is so relentlessly grim that it feels like a test. Sean Penn is great as Douglas's ne'er-do-well brother.

Also love the late great character actor James Rebhorn in this.

R4 Rebhorn is always top tier!

[quote]he has a type as upper middle class or wealthy businessmen

There are two Michael Douglas vehicles in which he plays against type to great effect. Douglas was fantastic in Falling Down as a schlubby, mild-mannered (but fed-up) Everyman. And I absolutely adored him in streaming series The Kominsky Method. I just thought he pulled that character together so well, I totally believed that he was familiar with the feelings of being down-and-out, a struggler, an arrogant loser, a tormented artist, an unstable, self-absorbed partner, a frustrating father. He nailed it. While still being somehow likable. You root for him. Really good stuff. And he had a growth arc that I fully believed and invested in.

I saw it in the theater when it was released and loved it then; I still love it now. A few weeks ago, I revisited the film and was struck by how it holds up extremely well. The dark, moody and slightly paranoid vibe the film has throughout is missing from modern films. The score is also fantastic. A lot of criticism gets thrown at the third act, because it feels a little underwhelming, but I think it works.

[quote] Rebhorn is always top tier!

He was top drawer.

It IS The Game!

Originally meant to star Jodie Foster!

Fantastic movie. I think Se7en, The Game and Panic Room are Fincher's best work.

My favorite Michael Douglas movie of all time. Such an awesome movie.

[quote] Originally meant to star Jodie Foster!

Jodie was intended for the Sean Penn role, not the Douglas role.

Excellent movie. Fincher is visionary even in less ambitious films like this.

And the cast is amazing. One of Linda Manz’s last roles.

It’s my Dahhhhhhn!!!

One of my dad's favorite movies. I saw it when I was probably too young to, and I didn't fully understand it. I've rewatched as an adult and like it well enough, as implausible as it is. I always forget Carroll Baker was in this is Douglas's housemaid.

I thought it was pretty good.

Douglas objected to Foster playing his sister because despite her relatively young age she was a two time Oscar winner and would make him look old. I'm guessing things were changed with Penn to make the character a partier and wild.

I think Penn works better than Foster would have

Agreed I think the deal was that Foster wanted to work with Fincher. I don't understand why she wasn't the first choice for Panic Room. It turned out to be a movie with a subtext of two lesbians hiding in a closet.

Apparently Nicole Kidman was the first choice for Panic Room. She would have fucked it up. Foster is a better actor in general and she's also better at playing desperate/scared people.

“ and she's also better at playing desperate/scared people.”

I thought Kidman was superb in The Others, where she is a desperate/scared mess for the 2nd half of the movie.

I watched it soon after reading The Magus which seems to have the inspiration for much of the plot.

My favorite performance of Rebhhorn's was in He Knows You're Alone with Tom Hanks.

This movie is the reason Ray Rivera jumped to his death. I've never seen it but I'd like to. I'll check YouTube.