The Game

September 12, 1997 0 By Fans
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Still of Deborah Kara Unger in The GameStill of Michael Douglas and David Fincher in The GameSeiko Matsuda at event of The GameStill of Michael Douglas and Deborah Kara Unger in The GameStill of Michael Douglas and David Fincher in The GameStill of Michael Douglas in The Game

Plot

Wealthy financier Nicholas Van Orton gets a strange birthday present from wayward brother Conrad: a live-action game that consumes his life.

Release Year: 1997

Rating: 7.7/10 (112,761 voted)

Critic's Score: 61/100

Director:
David Fincher

Stars: Michael Douglas, Deborah Kara Unger, Sean Penn

Storyline
Nicholas Van Orton is a very wealthy San Francisco banker, but he is an absolute loner, even spending his birthday alone. In the year of his 48th birthday (the age his father committed suicide) his brother Conrad, who has gone long ago and surrendered to addictions of all kinds, suddenly returns and gives Nicholas a card giving him entry to unusual entertainment provided by something called Consumer Recreation Services (CRS). Giving up to curiosity, Nicholas visits CRS and all kinds of weird and bad things start to happen to him.

Writers: John D. Brancato, Michael Ferris

Cast:

Michael Douglas

Nicholas Van Orton


Sean Penn

Conrad Van Orton


Deborah Kara Unger

Christine


James Rebhorn

Jim Feingold


Peter Donat

Samuel Sutherland


Carroll Baker

Ilsa


Anna Katarina

Elizabeth


Armin Mueller-Stahl

Anson Baer


Charles Martinet

Nicholas' Father


Scott Hunter McGuire

Young Nicholas


Florentine Mocanu

Nicholas' Mother


Elizabeth Dennehy

Maria


Caroline Barclay

Maggie


Daniel Schorr

Himself


John Aprea

Power Executive

Taglines:
The object of the game is to discover the object of…. The Game

Release Date: 12 September 1997

Filming Locations: 1 Bush Street, San Francisco, California, USA



Box Office Details

Budget: $50,000,000

(estimated)

Opening Weekend: $14,337,029
(USA)
(14 September 1997)
(2403 Screens)

Gross: $61,100,000
(Worldwide)
(5 April 1998)
(except USA)



Technical Specs

Runtime:



Did You Know?

Trivia:

David Fincher claimed in an interview in UK film magazine Empire, that there is a can of haggis in every scene of the movie. This was done as a joke, because "Haggis" is the nickname of cinematographer Harris Savides.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers):
While speaking to his ex-wife on the telephone, Michael Douglas makes the mistake of pronouncing the word "nuclear" as the incorrect "noo-kyoo-ler". (A mistake he also makes in
The China Syndrome.)

Quotes:

Daniel Schorr:
Discovering the object of the game *is* the object of the game.



User Review

An intelligent tale from start to finish.

Rating: 9/10

Let me just tell you that, as a middle aged film buff, I have seen my share
of flicks, good and bad. Very few rate as high as "The Game" in
entertainment value. "The Game" is most definitely one of the "most fun"
movies to hit the silver screen in a long time. Filled with plot twists and
turns, this film takes the movie-goer on a psychological roller coaster
ride
from the tile screens to the final credit roll.

"The Game" is truly an intelligent tale, sort of a brain teaser that you
get
to watch and listen to, with a time limit. You have just 128 minutes to
solve this, and chances are, like me, you'll be hanging on the solution to
this puzzle until the very end.

The script was well written by a writer who clearly understands the needs
of
an adult audience. Yes, we like our fun but we like to exercise our brains
once in a while also. And let there be no mistake about the great
performances offered here by Michael Douglas and his co-stars. I was
engrossed by all and couldn't take my eyes of the screen.

There is plenty for everybody here. Fun for all. A big winner in my book
and
definitely on my list of all time favorites. Get it and enjoy the
ride!