In the late 90's, my mom and I rented five movies to watch over the weekend. We got through four of them by Sunday night, and wouldn't have time to watch our last one, "The Game". We thought it would be a waste of money if we didn't watch any of it. So, we told ourselves we'd watch 15 minutes, then go to bed. An hour and a half later, we were on the edge of our seats, completely engrossed. Besides being a fantastic film, it's such a good memory of my mom and I, and it's been one of my favorites ever since.
The impression this movie always gave me was that this wasnt about teaching him to be better, it was about breaking the hold his father's death had over him. His brother was afraid that one day Nicholas would end things the same way their father had, saw him headed down that path, and the point of the game was to for Nicholas to experience commiting the act "safely" and come out of it realizing that its no real answer and valuing his life more. Doesn't make the events themselves make more sense, but that, I believe, was the point.
Yeah it’s about setting him free from his traps-the money and the job and the power is a trap because it separates him from people and poisons his relationships, and he’s constantly thinking about his father’s death-and since he’s basically living many elements of his father’s life, he’s wondering if it’s only a matter of time before he kill’s himself too. At the end of the film, he’s survived all of his worst fears and eliminated distractions from real connections. He’s free.
Yeah, simulations beats actually “lose everything” sub trip the way that went down! And maybe, if a religion other than yours is correct, even more than just your life.
One word: CATHARSIS. This is what this movie is about. BTW I've watched this movie like a trillion times and always enjoy it. I think this is a cinematic piece of art.
This is still my favorite Fincher movie to date and one of the few film scores i ever actually bought and still listen to, to this day. the sparseness and ambient quality became a big influence in my own music. speaking of LOTR, you wouldn't imagine it's the same composer.. just goes to show how versatile Howard Shore really is.
32:43 I like the inclusion of this sign. It implies that they had a 21-minute window in which they expected "the guest of honor" to fall through the ceiling. It's astonishing that they were dealing with such uncertainty throughout the Game, and yet it's also mind-boggling how narrow a window that actually is.
The point was that when he lost all material possessions, he still kept going but when he lost his brother he had no more reasons to live so it made him realize the importance of human connection and that his priorities in life were messed up, that’s why he was seriously considering going with claire at the end
Ultimately what he got out of the game was through having everything taken away from him, he realized what mattered most to him: family, his brother when he realized he wasnt dead and his ex-wife when he realized how he had treated her. Also, this is one of those movies you wish you could forget, so you can experience seeing it for the first time again!
The idea with his dad is to let Michael Douglas' character feel the despair his dad did and thus identify with and forgive him. Not sure how logical that is but best I can see of what the game was going for.
Yeah, I think you nailed it. The questions about therapy are moot because his character would never have gone to therapy in the first place, as he didn't feel he had any problems.
This is one of my favourite films, so I've been looking forward to this reaction! "A game is a structured type of play, usually undertaken for entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an educational tool." The 'game' in this movie essentially deconstructs Nicholas' life completely; his control over things, his money, his home, his business, everything he deems important even though he lives a very empty existence with no partner and seemingly little in the way of close friendships or family relationships. And only by losing all those things does he get the clarity to recognise what really is important, and to realise that there are people who care for him even though his behaviour towards them has always been strained.
29:07 the late James Rebhorn lived in South Orange, New Jersey in the town my college was in; he did a little PSA thing as himself on our school's TV channel, talking about enjoying the freedom how to make the best of it. That was 20 years ago. Because I saw him in some many movies I couldn't tell if he was being himself or still playing a character.
The movie "The Game" revolves around stripping Nicholas of his fortune and powerful position, thrusting him into a common man's struggles. For instance, when he humbly seeks help in a coffee shop to return to San Francisco, it's his first time asking for assistance in years, if not ever. His usual shield of wealth and success prevented him from connecting with others, but with these removed, he's compelled to face unfamiliar challenges. The tragic loss of his brother serves as the final blow, leaving him with nothing. Each meticulously planned event forces him to release his past and embrace the present, facilitating a profound transformation in his life. Amazing movie.
This movie definitely dials up the level of suspension of disbelief that’s required but it’s so good. Almost feels like a twisted take on A Christmas Carol in some aspects
I remember watching it in cinema back in the day. How tense I was during the last minutes. What an ending. Douglas is great as usual. But I'm not a fan of Penn usually. But he's really good in this one. If you want to watch another Michael Douglas movie, then I'd strongly recommend "Falling Down" from 1993. What a ride! Btw the intro here inspired the intro to the hit show "Succession" on HBO. At times an almost frame-to-frame copy.
this movie i feel like was a big inspiration for Saw. putting people in a fight for your life game, creepy green lighting, and especially the clown puppet is like the saw puppet
I have so many friends that adore this movie, and it is really good. Falling Down is probably my favorite Michael Douglas Role , and Robert Duvall for that matter. Romancing The Stone is also great:)
"The Defense Secretary from Independence Day" haha... That's James Rebhorn (RIP) a fantastic actor imo who has been in so many iconic movies and shows, a true journeyman/character actor. Speaking of Mr. Rebhorn I don't think y'all have reacted to "The Talented Mr. Ripley" just yet, a film that's VERY worth your while. Cheers
The movie is a version of A Christmas Carol. Nicholas is Scrooge and, in a sense, haunted by the ghost of his father. He gets shown how his life could go, if he doesn't change his ways (ending up in a grave, the same way as his dad). He is pushed down as far as CRS can take it, and the Game does exactly what Nicholas is told at the start (which seems to usually be missed by most people who don't like the movie). There is one point where the Game is threatened; when Nicholas calls his lawyer and is told that his money is still available. Christine has to improvise her line that Sutherland is part of CRS and the Game, even though he's the only one who isn't.
I would argue that it's more influenced by Jules Verne's Tribulations of a Man in China. It's basically a story about a suicidal rich guy who hires his friend to kill him when he least expects it, but then regrets his decision but has no way of communicating with his friend to cancel it.
@@noxteryn That's definitely interesting, but my comment stems from the fact that David Fincher himself called The Game a "post-modern A Christmas Carol" and called Nicholas a modern-day Scrooge.
Making sense isn't a prerequisite for a great movie. Fincher achieves something otherworldly and pushes suspension of disbelief to the breaking point in service of a fine character study.
A gf of mine worked for Hotel Nikko in S.F. (c. 1990) and when this movie came out and the phone number was mentioned, I remembered the last 4 digits were indeed 1111. This movie, as it did for many viewers, hit me profoundly. I couldn't recommend it enough.
The Game started the moment Conrad sat down, and the point was to teach Nicholas to appreciate life and stop him from following his father off the roof.
Mosta the guests at his bday party weren’t in on it. They simply received invitations made by CRS on his behalf and showed up. The only close person in his life who was part of it was his brother.
Not just similar, it's functionally identical to a lot of the composition/scenarios in the Game's opening. Read enough to understand it's almost certainly deliberate.
This is all I could think about when I rewatched it. Honestly, a spin-off series where Kendall gets involved in The Game is something I would pay to watch.
This is one of my favorite movies ever. I had the same reaction when he hit the airbag. WTF? I immediately showed this to my friend, and he too had that wtf moment. It is so much fun.
There's a British illusionist named Derren Brown who does this stuff to people. He once staged it so a guy thought he committed a murder. There's another one where he stages a zombie apocalypse. Stuff like that. He also does fun stuff too--my favorite was when he trained a group of senior citizens to commit an art heist. Anyway, he's basically able to get away with it because people will willingly sign up to be part of a Derren Brown show, but he has them do it several months in advance. So essentially once you've been able to convince yourself that you didn't get selected is when you get selected...whether you know it or not.
I haven't been able to get into Derren Brown since he did the fake murder one. That poor guy looked legitimately scarred for life. It thought it was horribly unethical and way over the line for the sake of entertainment.
This was the first proper mind fuck of a movie I ever saw. Went to see it in theaters with my grandmother when I was like, 15. We loved reading mystery novels and stuff together. I've loved everything Fincher has made since.
Yeah, I agree the story works best when taken as a sort of modern-day fable, almost like a really noir-ish "Christmas Carol." The details are meant to be enjoyed rather than analyzed, and the overall vibe and effect is more important than the mechanics of how it happens. :)
"I got that reference" about meeting the wizard in The Wizard of Oz at 30:01 is a reference to Captain America's "I understood that reference" about the flying monkeys in The Wizard of Oz. It's all connected.
That was from The Avengers, also starring Chris Hemsworth, who was also in Thor Ragnarok, which also starred Jeff Goldblum, who was in Independence Day... BOOM
"The Game" really was the kind of movie one enjoys more by simply letting go, by going along with its logic, as illogical as it gets the further down the spiral it goes. If a movie is well-made, it will make you forget that it's a movie and David Fincher's films have been good at this despite the fantastical elements like the exaggerated camera motions and angles. It just totally immerses the viewer in the protagonist's experience. It isn't that Michael Douglas's character is wealthy but that he's actually smart. He has to be. For some people, therapy as we understand it won't help if the person has this intellectual fortress that's near impenetrable. They're tougher to get through because they're even capable of manipulating people into believing, at least half-heartedly, that they're stable. But the brother wasn't going to accept that, and needed to avert the disaster he felt was eminent.
This was basically replicated in the early days of internet and cell phones with a game called Majestic. You'd get random phone calls, instant messages, faxes, and emails giving you clues. It was kind of creepy at the time.
Yes ! I remember seeing that in a tech-magazine a very long time ago ! You make yourself a spy or something like this, and you "roleplay" it besides your whole life. But I never actually seen a witness of someone playing it
23:30 & 24:15 Did you notice the [C]able [R]epair [S]pecialists? Just like you'd seen with [C]alifornia [R]egal [S]edans at 22:19. I seem to remember this happening a lot in the film, though I didn't notice any others in this cut-down edit.
This one is my all time favorite.. I always saw all this as a shock to the system..or like catharsis.. basically if he hadn't been forced to participate in life that he would still be sitting in his study slowly dying inside.. ..I'd do this in a second.
this is one of my most favorite movies. I think you missed the guy that crossed paths with Mr Van Orton placed the hotel key on his pocket. this movie should come with a warning: "don't talk". Every line had a clue or a misleading statement. The driver of the taxi was the guy helping Maximus on the movie Gladiator
This is one of my favorite movies, it's such a great example of, "If you think about it for more then 5-10 sconds the movie falls apart, but you dont' care, because it's so good."
Much lower scale, but made me think of years ago, a firend, on my birthday took me to an NFL game.. not my fave team, but his and local, so OK. It was rainy, wet and cold, and he kept saying afterwards we should go back to my house, well, my mom's. I kept saying, Oh, I'll be fine, but he kept insisting. So we get there, and there are a lot of cars parked on the street, more than usual. I remember walking up to the door noticing one, "huh, that looks like my boss'"... SURPRISE PARTY! I remember my mom looking at me saying, "I know you hate surprises, but I just wanted to do this". And I love her for it.... but also, afterwards, I was like "Wow, they really pulled this off... and most of my friends are really good at lying to me to make this happen."
This is such a great film, and like all of Finch's work rewards multiple viewings. And it looks so good ! Check out Max Headroom for the reference to the TV guy.
Best parts , to me, George connects this movie back to "Independence Day", and Simone saying, "The moral of the story is...don't trust anyone, ever." Exactly what I said too, btw. GREAT reaction!
"Total Recall" (1990), from a Philip K. Dick story, has a similar premise, where the main character pays for a "fantasy trip" that is made up but feels real, and at times he wonders if something he sees is real or is just part of the "arrangement."
There are SO many logic gaps in this movie. But I approach it like Tenet (which I know confuses the heck out of everyone) Like the scientist at the beginning says - 'Don't try to understand it. Feel it.'
This movie is so cool. I had an experience that reminded me of this (though not so extreme, lol) called "En Route," through an Australian theater company called One Step at a Time Like This. Anybody reading this know what I'm talking about? I don't know if they still do it, but if you hear about it and have the opportunity, absolutely do not miss it. But also try not to read anything about it. Just trust me, okay? Fun fact: the Sean Penn role was originally going to be Jodie Foster. She starred in another Fincher film called Panic Room. I never hear anyone mention that, but I enjoyed it.
As my friend said as we walked out of the theater after watching this movie, "It's a good movie as long as you don't spend any amount of time thinking about it afterward." I have always agreed. Taken as-is it's a great, fun movie. But it does break down very easily if you think about it too much .
All movies operate on the basis of excising a pivotal point of reality to make the story work. Whether it is the actual procedures of the justice or medical systems or the logic and intelligence of a person under extreme stress and duress. The trick is to excise it in a way that is unnoticed because of ignorance or entertainment - most people are neither legal or medical or economic professionals and would be bored to death by a television show or movie that includes the nitty gritty of each unless it leads to a better experience, in which case they'll be more likely to invest in learning the nitty gritty or to suspend their disbelief.
The best part about it is that once you become paranoid, things that aren't part of The Game seem like they ARE part of the game. The woman picking up the baby rattle at the airport for instance. I really liked it and bought almost all of it. If you had enough money, you could cover all the contingencies. The only part that shattered my suspension of disbelief was the jump off the roof. How do you get him to step off at just the right position, and you can see a huge lattice of I-Beams in the skylight and I just couldn't buy that he would fall exactly between them. Other than that, pretty convincing.
Michael Douglas, a third generation American, son of actor Kurt Douglas guy his recognition as the star of the TV show The Streets Of San Fran Cisco. So it's cute that his character in this movie lives there. I remember the Hollywood media saying "He's just a pretty boy. Wonder if he can act.". He got a lot of flake for being the sun of a celebrated actor father. I've loved him in everything he's done. Falling Down (1993) is up there with his father's movie Ace In The Hole (1951). Kurt Douglas', his stage name, parent were Jewish immigrates from Russia.
Basically, "We love you, but you're an asshole, and that needs to change." I've watched this a few times, but it only just now hit me -- this is set in San Francisco, and Michael Douglas got his first big break co-starring with Karl Malden on the TV police show The Streets of San Francisco.
I think it’s also, “We love you, but you’re an asshole, we also think you might kill yourself, like your father did.” It’s pretty clear he was too closed off to go to a therapist (I’m sure he’d say he’s too busy), so Conrad decided to see if he couldn’t shake him out of his rut.
Extreme Exposure Therapy: Get you over the most traumatic experience of your life by giving you dozens more traumas! Each step was crafted though to slowly test his priorities with ever-increasing stakes, as well as to rely on his figuring things out within a specific window range of time. Each decision he makes reveals a priority that is subsequently taken away from him until he has nothing left he cares about, and decides to end it all.
Things got a bit strange when I quit drinking. I went to get a prescription filled at a supermarket pharmacy, which was screened off from the main shop floor. As I waited I could hear customers singing a Christmas song (it was June) but when I went to look, everybody was just shopping as normal. Hmm. Back in the pharmacy I heard the singing again, like the whole shop was a choir. Had a look.. normal shopping?! I tried to catch them in the act by jumping out.. normal shopping! Looked for hidden cameras in the pharmacy but didn’t find any, jumped out.. normal shopping??!! I was just about to run away when the pharmacist returned with my script and I left through a perfectly normal supermarket. I have always assumed I was hallucinating but maybe it was… The Game!
I always felt the purpose of the game was to teach the player what is truly important. All Nicholas cared about was work neglecting family, friends and anything fun. The game taught him that family and friends were more important and that he needs to actually live his life.
George saying that 555-1111 was the most movie phone number ever made me really laugh. I lived in a small town in Pennsylvania before you had to dial area codes for every call (even local ones) and all the phone numbers in town were in the 444-XXXX format, so you'd ask a person their number and they would just tell you the last four digits all the time, non locals were always very confused. The best part was that the local pizza place was 444-1111 so no matter what state you were in you could always remember the number to order a pizza, maybe the only pizza joint in a town of less than 5000 people that stayed open all night, I'm convinced it was because everyone knew the number .😊
In the late 90's, my mom and I rented five movies to watch over the weekend. We got through four of them by Sunday night, and wouldn't have time to watch our last one, "The Game". We thought it would be a waste of money if we didn't watch any of it. So, we told ourselves we'd watch 15 minutes, then go to bed. An hour and a half later, we were on the edge of our seats, completely engrossed. Besides being a fantastic film, it's such a good memory of my mom and I, and it's been one of my favorites ever since.
Good memories always make something, whatever it is, so much better bc now you can connect that thing to a special moment in time
Sounds like an awesome weekend! Spending time with family is what makes life joyful.
The impression this movie always gave me was that this wasnt about teaching him to be better, it was about breaking the hold his father's death had over him. His brother was afraid that one day Nicholas would end things the same way their father had, saw him headed down that path, and the point of the game was to for Nicholas to experience commiting the act "safely" and come out of it realizing that its no real answer and valuing his life more. Doesn't make the events themselves make more sense, but that, I believe, was the point.
that doesnt give him the right to manipulate someone like this.
I'm kinda similar in my way of thinking. But I think he never understood how his father could do something like that, and now he knows.
Good on ya! Excellent analysis
I never saw it like that, but now I have a different perspective that is very interesting!
Yeah it’s about setting him free from his traps-the money and the job and the power is a trap because it separates him from people and poisons his relationships, and he’s constantly thinking about his father’s death-and since he’s basically living many elements of his father’s life, he’s wondering if it’s only a matter of time before he kill’s himself too. At the end of the film, he’s survived all of his worst fears and eliminated distractions from real connections. He’s free.
Between paying for a "lose everything" simulator or buying a trip on a sketchy submarine, this probably works out as a better billionaire vacation.
Yeah, simulations beats actually “lose everything” sub trip the way that went down! And maybe, if a religion other than yours is correct, even more than just your life.
One word: CATHARSIS. This is what this movie is about. BTW I've watched this movie like a trillion times and always enjoy it. I think this is a cinematic piece of art.
This is still my favorite Fincher movie to date and one of the few film scores i ever actually bought and still listen to, to this day. the sparseness and ambient quality became a big influence in my own music. speaking of LOTR, you wouldn't imagine it's the same composer.. just goes to show how versatile Howard Shore really is.
32:43 I like the inclusion of this sign. It implies that they had a 21-minute window in which they expected "the guest of honor" to fall through the ceiling. It's astonishing that they were dealing with such uncertainty throughout the Game, and yet it's also mind-boggling how narrow a window that actually is.
The point was that when he lost all material possessions, he still kept going but when he lost his brother he had no more reasons to live so it made him realize the importance of human connection and that his priorities in life were messed up, that’s why he was seriously considering going with claire at the end
This movie blew me away when it first came out. Such a great film. Made me fall in love with Fincher and the cinematographers he used.
A Frontrunner for most underrated film of all-time, for sure.
This movie is the epitome of "it's just a prank bro"
😆
In promotional interviews, David Fincher described it as "the biggest cinematic mind-fuck ever".
@@jculver1674That describes just about every David Fincher film.
I used to work with a manager who would say really mean things to me. Then say "hey, it's just a joke" or something.
Ultimately what he got out of the game was through having everything taken away from him, he realized what mattered most to him: family, his brother when he realized he wasnt dead and his ex-wife when he realized how he had treated her.
Also, this is one of those movies you wish you could forget, so you can experience seeing it for the first time again!
The coffin scene is symbolic. Revolving around issues he had with his father and his father’s death, and the way he died as well.
If someone already mentioned this, my apologies. Jodie Foster was the first choice for the sibling played eventually by Sean Penn.
The idea with his dad is to let Michael Douglas' character feel the despair his dad did and thus identify with and forgive him. Not sure how logical that is but best I can see of what the game was going for.
Yeah, I think you nailed it. The questions about therapy are moot because his character would never have gone to therapy in the first place, as he didn't feel he had any problems.
Man I loved this movie. Not many people really remember it or liked it whenever I talk about it, but I think its fantastic.
This is one of my favourite films, so I've been looking forward to this reaction!
"A game is a structured type of play, usually undertaken for entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an educational tool." The 'game' in this movie essentially deconstructs Nicholas' life completely; his control over things, his money, his home, his business, everything he deems important even though he lives a very empty existence with no partner and seemingly little in the way of close friendships or family relationships. And only by losing all those things does he get the clarity to recognise what really is important, and to realise that there are people who care for him even though his behaviour towards them has always been strained.
I believe it was Socrates that first said, "There ain't no party like a David Fincher party cuz a David Fincher party's fucked up".
😂😭
WHOA! The hotel desk clerk is Daniel-san's nemesis from the Karate Kid II in Okinawa!
CHOZEN
"What's a-r-g?"
"It's what pirates say."
The joke was RIGHT THERE!!!
So stoked you guys watched this! This is one of my favorite twist-and-turns movie of all time.
A classic! I still have this vhs tape.
Fun little fact, the man portraying Michael Douglas’ father in the old footage is Charles Martinet, voice of Mario!
And Paarthunax in "Skyrim."
That's not how you spell Chris Pratt
Whoa!
@@yt45204 Footage of him falling of a building to suicide?
@@foljs5858he did play Van Gogh…
The music/score of this movie is next level!
29:07 the late James Rebhorn lived in South Orange, New Jersey in the town my college was in; he did a little PSA thing as himself on our school's TV channel, talking about enjoying the freedom how to make the best of it. That was 20 years ago. Because I saw him in some many movies I couldn't tell if he was being himself or still playing a character.
So glad you guys have made it to this one. I've been waiting for years, it's one of my favorites
The movie "The Game" revolves around stripping Nicholas of his fortune and powerful position, thrusting him into a common man's struggles. For instance, when he humbly seeks help in a coffee shop to return to San Francisco, it's his first time asking for assistance in years, if not ever. His usual shield of wealth and success prevented him from connecting with others, but with these removed, he's compelled to face unfamiliar challenges. The tragic loss of his brother serves as the final blow, leaving him with nothing. Each meticulously planned event forces him to release his past and embrace the present, facilitating a profound transformation in his life. Amazing movie.
This movie definitely dials up the level of suspension of disbelief that’s required but it’s so good. Almost feels like a twisted take on A Christmas Carol in some aspects
I remember watching it in cinema back in the day. How tense I was during the last minutes. What an ending. Douglas is great as usual. But I'm not a fan of Penn usually. But he's really good in this one. If you want to watch another Michael Douglas movie, then I'd strongly recommend "Falling Down" from 1993. What a ride! Btw the intro here inspired the intro to the hit show "Succession" on HBO. At times an almost frame-to-frame copy.
this movie i feel like was a big inspiration for Saw. putting people in a fight for your life game, creepy green lighting, and especially the clown puppet is like the saw puppet
34:02: "Wheel of Morality, turn, turn, turn, tell us the lesson that we should learn." lol
This reveal at the end blew my mind, the first time I watched this back in the day. Also great shirt George
I have so many friends that adore this movie, and it is really good. Falling Down is probably my favorite Michael Douglas Role , and Robert Duvall for that matter. Romancing The Stone is also great:)
"The Defense Secretary from Independence Day" haha... That's James Rebhorn (RIP) a fantastic actor imo who has been in so many iconic movies and shows, a true journeyman/character actor. Speaking of Mr. Rebhorn I don't think y'all have reacted to "The Talented Mr. Ripley" just yet, a film that's VERY worth your while. Cheers
Very underrated film,love it👍
A Frontrunner for most underrated film of all-time, for sure.
The movie is a version of A Christmas Carol. Nicholas is Scrooge and, in a sense, haunted by the ghost of his father. He gets shown how his life could go, if he doesn't change his ways (ending up in a grave, the same way as his dad).
He is pushed down as far as CRS can take it, and the Game does exactly what Nicholas is told at the start (which seems to usually be missed by most people who don't like the movie).
There is one point where the Game is threatened; when Nicholas calls his lawyer and is told that his money is still available. Christine has to improvise her line that Sutherland is part of CRS and the Game, even though he's the only one who isn't.
I would argue that it's more influenced by Jules Verne's Tribulations of a Man in China. It's basically a story about a suicidal rich guy who hires his friend to kill him when he least expects it, but then regrets his decision but has no way of communicating with his friend to cancel it.
@@noxteryn Oh wow that sounds super entertaining
@@noxteryn That's definitely interesting, but my comment stems from the fact that David Fincher himself called The Game a "post-modern A Christmas Carol" and called Nicholas a modern-day Scrooge.
The constant piano notes reminds me of playing LA Noire
Waiting for the clue jingle.
Making sense isn't a prerequisite for a great movie. Fincher achieves something otherworldly and pushes suspension of disbelief to the breaking point in service of a fine character study.
I feel like Falling Down, War of the Roses, and Wall Street should be on your list.
Falling Down 100%
All Michael Douglas movies?
@@sebswede9005 Yes
Disclosure good too.
GREED IS GOOD
A gf of mine worked for Hotel Nikko in S.F. (c. 1990) and when this movie came out and the phone number was mentioned, I remembered the last 4 digits were indeed 1111.
This movie, as it did for many viewers, hit me profoundly. I couldn't recommend it enough.
I saw this in the theater and loved it.
The Game started the moment Conrad sat down, and the point was to teach Nicholas to appreciate life and stop him from following his father off the roof.
I think Nick needed to sign some documents first before The Game could get started.
Mosta the guests at his bday party weren’t in on it. They simply received invitations made by CRS on his behalf and showed up. The only close person in his life who was part of it was his brother.
First time I saw the opening for Succession all I could think about was how similar it was to the opening of this movie
Not just similar, it's functionally identical to a lot of the composition/scenarios in the Game's opening. Read enough to understand it's almost certainly deliberate.
You can look it up, Im pretty sure one of the show runners said it was inspired by it
@@soxxel12 , me too! They HAD to get inspiration directly from this. Too similar.
This is all I could think about when I rewatched it. Honestly, a spin-off series where Kendall gets involved in The Game is something I would pay to watch.
This is one of my favorite movies ever. I had the same reaction when he hit the airbag. WTF? I immediately showed this to my friend, and he too had that wtf moment. It is so much fun.
Haha speaking of smashed burgers and Michael Douglas... A nice callback to one of his other movies Falling Down. A fantastic but quite tragic movie.
Yay! Excited for this one!
There's a British illusionist named Derren Brown who does this stuff to people. He once staged it so a guy thought he committed a murder. There's another one where he stages a zombie apocalypse. Stuff like that. He also does fun stuff too--my favorite was when he trained a group of senior citizens to commit an art heist. Anyway, he's basically able to get away with it because people will willingly sign up to be part of a Derren Brown show, but he has them do it several months in advance. So essentially once you've been able to convince yourself that you didn't get selected is when you get selected...whether you know it or not.
I haven't been able to get into Derren Brown since he did the fake murder one. That poor guy looked legitimately scarred for life. It thought it was horribly unethical and way over the line for the sake of entertainment.
This is one of those movies that is great the 1st watch and just gets better with each watch after that.
The car window handle: "This is a quest item, and cannot be removed from your inventory"
This was the first proper mind fuck of a movie I ever saw. Went to see it in theaters with my grandmother when I was like, 15. We loved reading mystery novels and stuff together. I've loved everything Fincher has made since.
32:22 George, I saw this in theaters back when it dropped in '97... and I said the exact same thing: "I'd've killed everybody in this MF!"
Yeah, I agree the story works best when taken as a sort of modern-day fable, almost like a really noir-ish "Christmas Carol." The details are meant to be enjoyed rather than analyzed, and the overall vibe and effect is more important than the mechanics of how it happens. :)
Hope you two are having an great and awesome day ❤
This film is definitely underrated. It has the misfortune to be sandwiched in between two David Fincher masterpieces Se7en and Fight Club
A Frontrunner for most underrated film of all-time, for sure.
I love this movie. A fantasy about the transformative power of play.
"I got that reference" about meeting the wizard in The Wizard of Oz at 30:01 is a reference to Captain America's "I understood that reference" about the flying monkeys in The Wizard of Oz. It's all connected.
That was from The Avengers, also starring Chris Hemsworth, who was also in Thor Ragnarok, which also starred Jeff Goldblum, who was in Independence Day... BOOM
Referenception
WAYTOODANK
Tagline of this movie was "What do you get for the man who has everything." So, they took EVERYTHING from him. I think the message was clear.
@yt45204....
And a giant steaming mug of hot insanity. Enjoy!
Emerging from the coffin is very symbolic. Also, notice how he was wearing a white suit. Rebirth
"The Game" really was the kind of movie one enjoys more by simply letting go, by going along with its logic, as illogical as it gets the further down the spiral it goes. If a movie is well-made, it will make you forget that it's a movie and David Fincher's films have been good at this despite the fantastical elements like the exaggerated camera motions and angles. It just totally immerses the viewer in the protagonist's experience. It isn't that Michael Douglas's character is wealthy but that he's actually smart. He has to be. For some people, therapy as we understand it won't help if the person has this intellectual fortress that's near impenetrable. They're tougher to get through because they're even capable of manipulating people into believing, at least half-heartedly, that they're stable. But the brother wasn't going to accept that, and needed to avert the disaster he felt was eminent.
This was basically replicated in the early days of internet and cell phones with a game called Majestic. You'd get random phone calls, instant messages, faxes, and emails giving you clues. It was kind of creepy at the time.
Like an actual irl thing or was it a movie?
@@MrFredsttReal. I remember being tempted to sign up because of this movie.
Yes ! I remember seeing that in a tech-magazine a very long time ago !
You make yourself a spy or something like this, and you "roleplay" it besides your whole life. But I never actually seen a witness of someone playing it
23:30 & 24:15 Did you notice the [C]able [R]epair [S]pecialists? Just like you'd seen with [C]alifornia [R]egal [S]edans at 22:19. I seem to remember this happening a lot in the film, though I didn't notice any others in this cut-down edit.
This one is my all time favorite.. I always saw all this as a shock to the system..or like catharsis.. basically if he hadn't been forced to participate in life that he would still be sitting in his study slowly dying inside..
..I'd do this in a second.
This is my favorite "just roll with it" movie. LOL
its so interesting that the 90's have a pure gold age of thrillers that even today are amazing.
Absolutely ☺
Those more adult minded films like this one would likely be streaming series that run two episodes too long today
this is one of my most favorite movies. I think you missed the guy that crossed paths with Mr Van Orton placed the hotel key on his pocket.
this movie should come with a warning: "don't talk". Every line had a clue or a misleading statement.
The driver of the taxi was the guy helping Maximus on the movie Gladiator
This is one of my favorite movies, it's such a great example of, "If you think about it for more then 5-10 sconds the movie falls apart, but you dont' care, because it's so good."
Much lower scale, but made me think of years ago, a firend, on my birthday took me to an NFL game.. not my fave team, but his and local, so OK. It was rainy, wet and cold, and he kept saying afterwards we should go back to my house, well, my mom's. I kept saying, Oh, I'll be fine, but he kept insisting. So we get there, and there are a lot of cars parked on the street, more than usual. I remember walking up to the door noticing one, "huh, that looks like my boss'"... SURPRISE PARTY! I remember my mom looking at me saying, "I know you hate surprises, but I just wanted to do this". And I love her for it.... but also, afterwards, I was like "Wow, they really pulled this off... and most of my friends are really good at lying to me to make this happen."
I've been on both ends of a surprise party, and so nerve racking to pull off. Glad yours went well 🥳
Did you notice that the music score was by Howard Shore, who later did the soundtrack of TLOTR?
*BASIC INSTINCT* starring Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone. The CineBinge guys would love it. 👍
Simone's cat: "Let me re-position that mic for ya!"
This is such a great film, and like all of Finch's work rewards multiple viewings. And it looks so good !
Check out Max Headroom for the reference to the TV guy.
This film has been in my top 5 ever since I first watched it. So good!
My favorite reaction from Simone so far: "Well what do you f***in' think?!?"
I love this film, just the creepy mystery of it is one of my favorite parts! Thanks for the review.
Best parts , to me, George connects this movie back to "Independence Day", and Simone saying, "The moral of the story is...don't trust anyone, ever." Exactly what I said too, btw. GREAT reaction!
Its wild George mentioned Squid Games during a Fincher movie because he's apparently making an english version of the show
One if my favorite movies!!! The 90s had some AWESOME "twist" movies!!
LETS GOOOOO!! 💪😎💪
"Total Recall" (1990), from a Philip K. Dick story, has a similar premise, where the main character pays for a "fantasy trip" that is made up but feels real, and at times he wonders if something he sees is real or is just part of the "arrangement."
There are SO many logic gaps in this movie. But I approach it like Tenet (which I know confuses the heck out of everyone) Like the scientist at the beginning says - 'Don't try to understand it. Feel it.'
One of the best movies I ever seen. Other great movies by Michael Douglas movies are Disclosure , Perfect Murder and Don't Say A Word.
This movie is so cool. I had an experience that reminded me of this (though not so extreme, lol) called "En Route," through an Australian theater company called One Step at a Time Like This. Anybody reading this know what I'm talking about? I don't know if they still do it, but if you hear about it and have the opportunity, absolutely do not miss it. But also try not to read anything about it. Just trust me, okay?
Fun fact: the Sean Penn role was originally going to be Jodie Foster. She starred in another Fincher film called Panic Room. I never hear anyone mention that, but I enjoyed it.
As my friend said as we walked out of the theater after watching this movie, "It's a good movie as long as you don't spend any amount of time thinking about it afterward." I have always agreed. Taken as-is it's a great, fun movie. But it does break down very easily if you think about it too much .
All movies operate on the basis of excising a pivotal point of reality to make the story work. Whether it is the actual procedures of the justice or medical systems or the logic and intelligence of a person under extreme stress and duress. The trick is to excise it in a way that is unnoticed because of ignorance or entertainment - most people are neither legal or medical or economic professionals and would be bored to death by a television show or movie that includes the nitty gritty of each unless it leads to a better experience, in which case they'll be more likely to invest in learning the nitty gritty or to suspend their disbelief.
I have never been able to enjoy it because it makes no sense
@@John-ir4idwhoosh was invented for people like you
@@larrote6467Are you old enough to have seen it in theaters?
The best part about it is that once you become paranoid, things that aren't part of The Game seem like they ARE part of the game. The woman picking up the baby rattle at the airport for instance. I really liked it and bought almost all of it. If you had enough money, you could cover all the contingencies. The only part that shattered my suspension of disbelief was the jump off the roof. How do you get him to step off at just the right position, and you can see a huge lattice of I-Beams in the skylight and I just couldn't buy that he would fall exactly between them. Other than that, pretty convincing.
Michael Douglas, a third generation American, son of actor Kurt Douglas guy his recognition as the star of the TV show The Streets Of San Fran Cisco. So it's cute that his character in this movie lives there.
I remember the Hollywood media saying "He's just a pretty boy. Wonder if he can act.". He got a lot of flake for being the sun of a celebrated actor father.
I've loved him in everything he's done. Falling Down (1993) is up there with his father's movie Ace In The Hole (1951).
Kurt Douglas', his stage name, parent were Jewish immigrates from Russia.
I’m SO GLAD the two of you would be upset. I have been told for years that I was crazy for not seeing things the way this guy did. 😂
OMG George.. not even a glance to camera when you missed your own "awww that's a sh*t thing to do"....lol
CRIMINALLY underrated film! 🔥😅
And I was guilty, having taken SO LONG to watch it
Basically, "We love you, but you're an asshole, and that needs to change." I've watched this a few times, but it only just now hit me -- this is set in San Francisco, and Michael Douglas got his first big break co-starring with Karl Malden on the TV police show The Streets of San Francisco.
I think it’s also, “We love you, but you’re an asshole, we also think you might kill yourself, like your father did.”
It’s pretty clear he was too closed off to go to a therapist (I’m sure he’d say he’s too busy), so Conrad decided to see if he couldn’t shake him out of his rut.
@@goldenageofdinosaurs7192 So if anybody doesnt like how someone else is, they can just force manipulation on them so they change?
@@goldenageofdinosaurs7192 Yeah. Basically a guy so stuck in his mindset it required something as extreme as this game to get him out of it
Extreme Exposure Therapy: Get you over the most traumatic experience of your life by giving you dozens more traumas!
Each step was crafted though to slowly test his priorities with ever-increasing stakes, as well as to rely on his figuring things out within a specific window range of time. Each decision he makes reveals a priority that is subsequently taken away from him until he has nothing left he cares about, and decides to end it all.
The Game: A Christmas Carol for the 90s.
Check out "Seconds" 1966. A sister film to this, it feels like a Twilight Zone homage.
Things got a bit strange when I quit drinking. I went to get a prescription filled at a supermarket pharmacy, which was screened off from the main shop floor. As I waited I could hear customers singing a Christmas song (it was June) but when I went to look, everybody was just shopping as normal. Hmm. Back in the pharmacy I heard the singing again, like the whole shop was a choir. Had a look.. normal shopping?! I tried to catch them in the act by jumping out.. normal shopping! Looked for hidden cameras in the pharmacy but didn’t find any, jumped out.. normal shopping??!! I was just about to run away when the pharmacist returned with my script and I left through a perfectly normal supermarket. I have always assumed I was hallucinating but maybe it was… The Game!
This movie is basically David Fincher’s version of A Christmas Carol
A great, underrated and under seen movie. I think it's one of Michael Douglas' and Fincher's best
This is one of my favorite films of all time... Of course the same could be true for Perfume the story of a murderer
Fincher sure can set a mood.
I always felt the purpose of the game was to teach the player what is truly important. All Nicholas cared about was work neglecting family, friends and anything fun. The game taught him that family and friends were more important and that he needs to actually live his life.
This movie is my Game. I wish i could go back and watch it for the first time all over again.
perfect gift for someone who has everything
1:51 that opening SCREAMS "Succession". If you've never seen the opening credits, check them out sometime.
18:30 please ask Simone to do an intro using that. "Hey everyone and welcome to 555-1111" 😂
George saying that 555-1111 was the most movie phone number ever made me really laugh. I lived in a small town in Pennsylvania before you had to dial area codes for every call (even local ones) and all the phone numbers in town were in the 444-XXXX format, so you'd ask a person their number and they would just tell you the last four digits all the time, non locals were always very confused. The best part was that the local pizza place was 444-1111 so no matter what state you were in you could always remember the number to order a pizza, maybe the only pizza joint in a town of less than 5000 people that stayed open all night, I'm convinced it was because everyone knew the number .😊
I moved from a big city to a small one 7-8yrs ago. Ppl do that here, pisses me off 😂 I kept my # (cell) so I guess that’s my payback