David Fincher's "The Game" -- What Makes This Movie Great? (Episode 173)

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Disclaimer: All reasonable comments are welcome, including reasoned disagreements. You will be banned for foolish talk, harassment, and hate speech on sight; it's a tremendous waste of life. I believe in freedom of association and, by extension, freedom of dissociation from you.

[@Nunov103]

An underrated gem of a movie, brilliant from start to finish and to me, of all of Fincher’s films, it has the most enigmatic ending.

[@GSXK4]

The Game is VERY entertaining Douglas's performance is perfection.

[@sebastiancpda]

Underrated film, probably top 4 Fincher for me

[@n_n_n_n_n_n]

You also get a cameo from Linda Manz and the last time I watched it, I spotted a signed photo of her from Days of Heaven hanging in the Chinese restaurant near the end. Great analysis, thank you.

[@shortycareface9678]

I watched this one at a recommendation from my dad -- he even lent me the DVD. I was enthralled from start to end. Definitely think this one was overshadowed by Seven and Fight Club.

[@princesmith8008]

Speaking of overshadowed Fincher movies, have you seen Dragon Tattoo?

[@CoinOpTV]

Fun movie - need more Fincher on 4K

[@jasonkraley]

in 1997, i was roughly 22ish, & my roommates & i just rented it (ah, the good ol days of dvd rentals) completely unaware of the plot.. it grabbed us w/intensity the moment of “the clown” & cable news manipulation (no spoilers really).. so watching it 26 years later - shocked it was David Fincher (now knowing his incredible filmography), it still sits well today.. yes, critically there are always some flaws or “what if it was done this way” moments, but overall, it intriguingly lasts the testament of time.. sure cellphones & dual authentication etc etc nowadays would alter this movie - like so many when we “look/watch back”.. but this is a fascinating movie to come from a screenplay.. not a book, play, etc.. it’s just pure cinematic originality - at the time it was made..

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you

[@attrage7545]

I'm watching it right now. I've always loved it. I get a kick out of just how ambiguous everything is, right down to the way the concierge at the hotel replies "I believe so" when Michael Douglas asks if they've met before. No one ever gives him a straight answer. And the brilliance of this film is that, although we sympathize with Michael Douglas' character, there's also something satisfying about seeing a rich jerk so fantastically out of his element.

[@aeoleaburwell7247]

All the world,s a stage, somebody said

[@SixFootTurkey_]

The biggest issue I take with it is that Deborah Unger's character is in the car with Douglas's, when he is on the phone saying secure financial passcodes out loud. I felt it strange that she would be given such information but ultimately do nothing with it. Also waking up in Mexico feels rushed/contrived. Overall I love it though.

[@meg_law]

Didn't she use that as an opportunity to set up the "we took all your money" bit?

[@Wishbone1977]

@@meg_law Yes, doubly so. She instigates it by saying "they took all your money" in order to get him to call and check, then goes from there to "now we are going to take all your money" before drugging him unconscious.

[@anastasiskatsoupas8309]

One of the best movie analysis channels on KZbin you deserve more subs

[@Mike-yg8ig]

Fantastic flick! In my top 5, and I've been around for a while.

[@yusefendure]

Van Orton is still in the matrix.

[@k.k8291]

Great analysis, as always. Keep up the good job.

[@MatheusOliveira-fy1gk]

Very underrated

[@Xylus.]

Shout out to Howard Shore for the amazing music. The motifs with whole tone scales and augmented triads are used to such great effect. They float through every scene, giving everything a distinct flavor of uncertainty. It's a masterclass in how to compose a musical question mark.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

yes! Mr. Shore is fantastic.

[@linkbiff1054]

My favourite “Gotcha!” movie ever.

[@clumsydad7158]

bold choice, was a movie that kind of seemed to fall on its face when it came out. i saw it a few years ago and it did keep my attention, although obviously a lot of parts felt/were contrived. i didn't hear your full review here, but maybe a movie i'll try again at some point, pondering the philosophical depth, etc. ... m. douglas was an actor i couldn't stand previously (some very 'corporate' movie choices in the 80s, etc.), but i've grown to appreciate him. also saw his pop kirk in paths of glory for first time recently, and was impressed by that movie.

[@Pancrasio-it9qd]

Great movie 😎

[@wychwoodmusic]

Great analysis. I kinda feel like it's a '90s cross of Parallax View with Christmas Carol - just with nothing to say politically or morally. As you touch on, what's the message of the movie - that obscene wealth can buy catharsis and psychological redemption?! I feel like it's a really big ask of the audience to sympathize with Douglas' character or find any satisfaction in his character arc. (Also, the psychological pay-off strikes me as pretty ridiculous. How would Douglas' character - or anyone else who's been through the game - not be completely traumatized by what he's been through and suffer from PTSD and a complete inability to trust anyone or that anything happening to him was real?) The movie's beautifully and skillfully made, but completely empty, I reckon. Maybe that postmodern emptiness and insistence there is nothing but surface is the point? Thanks for bringing up that point! I guess that's semi-interesting, but when I think just about every other film film from this era that plays with the question of "what is reality? is everything fake?" - Truman Show, Dark City, Matrix, Fight Club, etc - I think they all do it better. So I have to dissent from almost everyone here in the comments and say it's neglected status and Fincher's own dislike of the film strikes me as pretty justified.

[@123rockfan]

SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER When Christine is revealed to be an actor working for the company, I thought to myself “Oh is that why the dialogue and acting was really awkward?” And then afterwards I realized the script was written by the screenwriter duo of 2004’s Catwoman lol

[@johngaltjkt62]

Filmed beautifully, well acted just TOO many perfect coincidences it actually took me out of the movie...

[@princesmith8008]

My exact gripe with the movie, there are so many plot holes that it just breaks your immersion. Even though the movie has great direction and suspense building, it's not anyway near Fincher's best.

[@RevengeAvenger]

When Michael Douglas makes Sean Penn a side character. It's good

[@gary8031]

i enjoyed this movie, are there other 90s movies that you'd recommend which are in a similar vein?

[@princesmith8008]

I'd recommend The Silence of the Lambs, Jacob's Ladder, Cape Fear, LA Confidential, Dark City, Se7en and Eyes Wide Shut. You could also check out more underrated films like Naked Lunch, Safe, Open Your Eyes and Dead Ringers.

[@friedricengravy6646]

If u enjoy the old Twilight Zone series, I dare u to watch The Game in black & white. I have a preset dialed in & enjoy certain movies this way, in b&w. Shutter Island is a great example of how lighting & contrast work differently in black & white. Peter Jackson’s King Kong works really well. Even the older cgi looks better, but most of all, black & white highlights the use of era inspired affects such as hand painted back drops & hand made looking stage props. The fog during the moment they find Skull Island is very cool. Anyway, I love The Game & when u have seen it in color at least once or more?? Then try it in black & white, u wont regret the experience. ✌🏻

[@princesmith8008]

I wouldn't say it's great, the number of plot holes are just too many to ignore. But still, the interesting concept along with Fincher's excellent direction and use of suspense makes it a good movie. The Social Network, Zodiac, Gone Girl and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo are what I would call great.

[@kokomanation]

This film is not as great as Se7en but I think it is a great film.I watched this in 1998 on Cinema and I loved it I was 14 years old then.

[@kleins-v7v]

I’m not someone with an inability to suspend disbelief & i normally don’t care about plot holes or minor details, but this film is too much even for me. It’s an entertaining watch with a solid Michael Douglas performance but the moment you think about it too deeply it sort of collapses in on itself.

[@matthewfrederick3291]

Can you expand on that? I mean specific details of where suspension of disbelief takes you out of the movie? At face value, you can dismiss it right away, but similarly you can dismiss a lot of movies for unrealistic prescience/technology and for being "just so" stories. So as someone who usually doesn't let plot contrivance bother you, what in this movie (or really any movies) makes the suspension of disbelief more difficult?

[@kleins-v7v]

@@matthewfrederick3291 I think that because its being framed as a straightforward, sleak & serious drama directed by Fincher, Im more focused on it being grounded and somewhat realistic. Although some people see it as a dark comedy so it depends on the person. Stuff like superhero movies or the John Wick franchise Im alright with everything being elevated but I feel like The Game relies on coincidences that are way too absurd with how the rest of the movie is being portrayed. Like the amount of precise details that have to fall exactly into place for the entire "game" to work.

[@matthewfrederick3291]

@@kleins-v7v I think it's framing as serious is precisely why it works so well. It's compelling and easy to watch but does have flaws but the entire thing is just a movie and explicitly a meta commentary on movies. I also find it a bit weird to consider finchers other movies grounded and realistic. This is no more more offensive. Anyway, my larger point is about when and where suspension of disbelief fails. It's becoming increasingly bizarre over time when people consider lore and logical consistency more important than story telling.

[@JackMonroe]

This movie was subpar.

[@niceyization1]

This movie did not age very well. I think it was good for it’s time tho

[@princesmith8008]

Correct, it's not a top 5 Fincher movie. Hell, it's honestly not even top 6. TSC, Zodiac, Gone Girl, Dragon Tattoo, Fight Club and Seven easily destroy this movie.