Having already looked back at 1997 movie Se7en and the 2014 adaptation of Gillian Flynn's incredible third novel Gone Girl, day three of our David Fincher movie marathon has seen me sit down with The Game. It's another Fincher title that I hadn't had the chance to check out before, despite it being one of the director's most celebrated works.
Written by John Brancato and Michael Ferris, The Game sees Michael Douglas take on the leading role of Nicholas Van Orton; an incredibly rich banker who lives alone in a huge house, and who has a strained relationship with his brother Conrad (Sean Penn).
When Nicholas's birthday comes around, Conrad gets back in touch to give him a once-in-a-lifetime gift that he says has already turned his life around. Though Nicholas is at first sceptical, his curiosities get the better of him and he signs up for what is promised to be the most immersive and mind-bending game he'll have ever played.
As his experience begins, Nicholas is immediately put off by just how exploitative the company behind the game can be. Though he does his all to beat the game masters, he quickly realises they're consistently a step ahead, and there may be an even bigger agenda at play.
A series of twists leaves viewers second guessing every little thing that happens, with Douglas doing an impeccable job of playing the paranoid and clutter-minded lead character.
As Nicholas is stripped of everything he holds dear - namely money and status - Douglas gives the performance of a lifetime. Though he's someone who is at first hard to empathise with, you can't help but root for him when the reality of his situation begins to dawn.
I must also mention Deborah Kara Unger's mesmerising portrayal of Christine. She's an instantly likeable woman of mystery who you can never unravel until the film's final moments.
Whilst the film is utterly ridiculous at times and had me rolling my eyes on more than one occasion, it is a lot of fun and, if you're willing to let the rational parts of your brain take a break and fully immerse yourself within the movie, you'll get a lot of enjoyment out of it.
Take a bow, Fincher. You've done it again.
Tagged in David Fincher