For the follow-up to his dark crime thriller SEVEN, director David Fincher decided to remain in a film noir vein. The result is THE GAME, a fast-paced cinematic roller-coaster ride that stars Michael Douglas as Nicholas Van Orton, a joyless San Francisco investment banker who receives an unusual birthday present from his estranged younger brother, Conrad (Sean Penn). The gift enrolls Nicholas in CRS (Consumer Recreation Services), a company that designs elaborate real-life games for each specific participant. As the game begins, the reluctant Nicholas becomes the victim of a series of pranks that quickly turn malicious and dangerous. Stripped of his finances and convinced that he can trust no one, Nicholas realizes that this game may be an attempt to steal his fortune and leave him for dead. In a desperate bid to regain his life, Nicholas infiltrates CRS in order to uncover the secrets of the mysterious organization. Douglas is perfect playing the uptight businessman Nicholas, cleverly riffing on his Oscar-winning performance as the cold-blooded Gordon Gekko in WALL STREET. Fincher's Kafkaesque carnival show is an exercise in taut filmmaking that mischievously pulls a seemingly endless supply of rugs out from under both Nicholas and, even more impressive, the viewer.

Credits

Cean Chaffin, Steve Golin

Aaron Thomas Luchich, Alex Lynwood, Andre Brazen, Anna Katerina, Anni Long, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Bill Flannery, Bob Scott, Carlos Hey, Caroline Barclay, Carroll Baker, Charles Brankira, Charles Martinet, Christopher Cory, Christopher John Fields, Curtis Vanterpool, Daniel Schorr, Deborah Kara Unger, Duffy Gaver, Edward Campbell, Elizabeth Dennehy, Esan Pena, Faustina Alcantar, Florentine Mocan, George Maguire, Gerry Becker, Harris Savides, Harrison Young, Heriberto Norzagary, Hideo Kimura, Jack Kehoe, James Brooks, James Rebhorn, Jamie Midgley, Jarion Monroe, Jason Kristopher, Jay Gordon, Jeffery Michael Young, Joe Frank, John Aprea, John Cassini, John Hammil, Joy Ann Ryan, Kathryn Jean Harris, Keena Turner, Kimberly Russell, Linda Manz, Marc Siegler, Mark Junior Boone, Michael Douglas, Michael Lynwood, Owen Masterson, Pete Davidian, Peter Donat, Rachel Schadt, Rachel Steinberg, Robert J. Stephenson, Sara Davallon, Scott Hunter McGuire, Sean Lanthier, Sean Maloney, Sean Penn, Soh Froehlich, Spike Jonze, Stephen Cowee, Tammy Koehlev, Terence Ford, Tom Crowl, Tommy Flanagan Trio, Tracie May, Trish Sommerville, Victor Ferrerira, Victor Talmadge, Yuji Okumoto

Region 1
Keep Case
Widescreen - 2.35
Pan & Scan - 1.33:1

Dolby Digital - 5.1 - English
Dolby Digital - 5.1 - French

Scene Access
Interactive Menus

Biographies

Theatrical release: September 12, 1997

Filmed at various locations in California and Baja California, Mexico.

Sean Penn appeared in three major films in 1997--THE GAME, SHE'S SO LOVELY, and U-TURN. Before these films, his only screen appearance since 1993 was his Oscar-nominated performance as a death-row inmate in DEAD MAN WALKING.

Jodie Foster was originally going to appear in the film, but complications with another commitment led to her dropping out. A few year later, however, Foster signed on to star in Fincher's THE PANIC ROOM after Nicole Kidman left the project because of an injury.

Director-actor Spike Jonze appears briefly as an emergency medical technician. In return, David Fincher makes a cameo in Jonze's BEING JOHN MALKOVICH.

Editorial Reviews