Sean-Penn Movie Reviews

My brother-in-law lent us this DVD to watch. I ended up watching it twice in 2 days and then running out to get my own copy!

An absolutely fabulous documentary on the So. Cal. skateboarding scene in the 70's. Even if you don't skateboard, the stories on these athletes are riveting...in particular Jay Adams.

I can't say enough about the music in this movie. Great songs, one and all. Every song clicked perfectly with what was going on visually at the time.

Very impressive directorial work by Stacy Peralta.

This movie is a love letter to a sport that to those of us who've never skated, helped us understand the passion these people feel for it. With it's absolutely breath-taking visuals, very artistic still photography, and killer sound track, who could resist but be a bit envious of these sunshine golden-boys and their awesome talent? Learning the history behind each person's humble beginnings, and how their passion for a fading trend, helped launch a counter-culture extreme sport is exhilirating to watch. I have a lot of skater friends, and none of them are getting any younger, knees have been ravaged and bones are weary. This film allows those folks, who grew up in this era, and equally loved to skate, relive the reasons that drew them to skating in the first place. To see someone's eyes light up, and catch a glimpse of the sparkle in them, that this awesome sport incites is really beautiful to behold. And the movie definately shows we "non-skaters" why these guys have so much love for their boards! The movie truly is a work of art, beautifully filmed, with actual footage from the era, still photograghy that any world-reknowned photgragher would envy....watching it will make you want to go and grab a board and at least TRY and feel the love!! I just had tickets to Tony Hawk's Boom-Boom Huck Jam exhibition, and seeing this film, showed me he may be the Michael Jordan of the skate world, but he is simply carrying the torch, in a sport where it's founding fathers were all plain old kids from middle-class neighborhoods, who loved something enough, to help turn the sport into what it is today!!!! A MUST see movie!!!!!!!

This movie was the best overall skate documentary that I have ever seen. It showed everything about the gang. I reccomend it to anyone who loves true skateboard videos. It shows all of their struggles to big-time skatin'. Buy this movie!

Somebody commented that this movie would bore anyone who wasn't a skater. No way! I live in Canada, touched a board a couple of times and had no idea who dogtown or the z-boys were, but I loved this movie. The editing is wonderful, stylish without being too self indulgent, and the soundtrack is perfect. I never realised how beautiful skateboarding was to watch, I think because these guys really approached more like a cross between surfing and figure skating, it was more of an art than about tricks and getting vertical, as it seems today.

True, the movie is self-congratulatory and "gee, weren't we cool", but lets face it, these guys *were* pretty friggin cool, check out any of the fish-eyed Tony Alva photos from the 70's, that guy makes rock stars look like dorks, he had style ... The story is also pretty riveting, and the fact that there was so much footage from the time is great (vertical skateboarding was made for photography, you suspend yourself at rediculous angles for a split second, just long enough to take a shot).

This movie will pump you up and make you want to go carve some pools, even if you've never skated in your life which is a testament to the power of this film.

A friend highly recomended this documentary about skateboarding, and I was very doubtful going in because I do not skateboard and am not interested in it.

Surprisingly, I found the documentary to be entertaining, informative and definitely interesting. It's a very unique look into a group of unsung heros who unintentionally gave birth to a new sport and a worldwide counter-culture that has undoubtedly influenced several generations. This documentary is not just for skaters; anyone interested in the forgotten but influential events in history would like this film.

What these guys did in the world of early skateboarding is on the same level as the way the Fosbury Flop changed the high-jump in track and field, but even bigger because it was part of a cutural revolution that gave rise to a whole new genre of sport. Once the cat was out of the bag, the world could never go back. Equally important was the early promotion of the sport and the lifestyle, of which the writer/director was an early pioneer. He was also a member of the Z-boys, which provides a perspective that no one else could deliver. He personally knows all the early superstars of the sport and the guys behind the scenes, which seems to make those interviewed very candid and open.

You will not be dissatisfied with this film, even if you know nothing about skateboarding or have bo interest in it.

Almost 30 years before the world had heard of Tony Hawk, three-sixties, or even Jackass, there was a place called Dogtown, a singed wasteland of ruin in Venice, California where a then overlooked group of rebellious youthful outsiders shared one passion...Skateboarding.

Spearheaded by the unbelievable skating prowess of Tony Alva, Jay Adams, and Stacy Peralta (who also serves as director here), the Zephyr Team would go on to revolutionize the world of skateboarding in only a few short years, and bring what was once a passing trend into a national, and inevitably commercialized obsession.

"Dogtown and Z-Boys" passionately chronicles the skyrocket rise and subsequent fame of the Zephyr Team, particularly Alva and Adams with remarkable freshness and purpose. Rare and raw footage and pictures of the infamous Z-Boys blazing the asphalt and riding the dry-bone swimming pools of the early 70's is art in itself creating gripping visual moments set against a
soundtrack courtesey of Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Blue Oyster Cult, and Led Zeppelin, just to name a few. In any case, it's hardcore...a hardcore documentary experience that effortlessly recaptures a fleeting moment in history that will never be repeated, when a group of no-account skateboard outlaws rewrote the rules of the game and changed the way the skateboard was ridden forever.

Clever, engaging, and purposeful in its storytelling, "Dogtown and Z-Boys" is a fascinating documentary, and certainly worth checking out.

When the guys that brought you Scarface team up again what bad
things can happen.Brian De Palma and Al Pacino two of the biggest
stars on their film duties in Hollywood today.This movie really
has the 80's,disco feel scarface as but as the De Palma plot turn
and twists seen in Snake Eyes,Body Double,and Raising Cain so it'
s all very entertaining.Along with another De Palma regular Sean
Penn(Casualties Of War) plays the coke addicted wacko lawyer to
absolute perfection.This film not as violent as Scarface as more
plot twists which makes it almost more entertaining with a great
cast including John Leguizamo and Penelope Ann Miller Carlito's
Way is one of Pacino's,Penn's,and De Palma's best films ever so
if you like a mixture of The Usual Suspects and Scarface give
Carlito's Way a watch it's great.

This movie is both a serious film and sometimes a pulp-fiction style film. The portrayls by Al Pacino and Sean Penn & others reflect both qualities, but especially when the scene with Tony Taglialucci (Joseph Siravo) & David Kleinfeld (Penn) occurs at Riker's Island Prison Barge, the 'pulp' style shines through.

All the characters possess a richness that enables the film to stand on its own merits. But when viewed several times, it becomes obvious that Brian DePalma & Martin Bregman have anchored this film into their prior history. (Scarface) Many of the same actors appear in both films.

One scene stands out as offering the viewer such tight attention to detail that I could barely believe it. -At the disco, Benny Blanco (John Leguizamo) is making a noticeable entry into the front door with his gang. The reaction by the people who know AND don't know his is big. Benny Blanco is walking briskly and swinging his body back & forth. Discogoers who are flanking his entry down the hall all make flagrant notice of his entry, turning heads and turning around to see who this obviously important person is. Then there's Saso's (Jorge Porcel) reaction. He looks shocked when he sees Benny. Benny Blanco walks quickly right up to Saso, grabs Saso by the throat and demands his money and that he's not screwing around. Saso looks terrified and, with his throat held by Blanco's hand, shifts his eyes sideways to see what his gang is suggesting by Blanco's actions. Saso unconvincingly says to Blanco, "Are you kidding?" Blanco then says that he IS kidding, and kisses Saso on the cheek. You have to see Saso's reaction at this point; it is priceless.

I recommend watching this scene in slow motion.

Penelope Ann Miller is excellent as Carlito's girlfriend and confidante.

Seen them on video,would like to own them, but can't buy them as they will not play on Australia region 4 DVDs ( Toshiba players.Also Barbarosa,Good Thief,Blood Simple,Wild Bill,Extreme Prejudice,Iceman Cometh(both versions),Red Circle,The Killers,Any help would be appreciated to buy these on Net and play in Australia. Thanks Richard Boue

When the guys that brought you Scarface team up again what bad
things can happen.Brian De Palma and Al Pacino two of the biggest
stars on their film duties in Hollywood today.This movie really
has the 80's,disco feel scarface as but as the De Palma plot turn
and twists seen in Snake Eyes,Body Double,and Raising Cain so it'
s all very entertaining.Along with another De Palma regular Sean
Penn(Casualties Of War) plays the coke addicted wacko lawyer to
absolute perfection.This film not as violent as Scarface as more
plot twists which makes it almost more entertaining with a great
cast including John Leguizamo and Penelope Ann Miller Carlito's
Way is one of Pacino's,Penn's,and De Palma's best films ever so
if you like a mixture of The Usual Suspects and Scarface give
Carlito's Way a watch it's great.

This movie is both a serious film and sometimes a pulp-fiction style film. The portrayls by Al Pacino and Sean Penn & others reflect both qualities, but especially when the scene with Tony Taglialucci (Joseph Siravo) & David Kleinfeld (Penn) occurs at Riker's Island Prison Barge, the 'pulp' style shines through.

All the characters possess a richness that enables the film to stand on its own merits. But when viewed several times, it becomes obvious that Brian DePalma & Martin Bregman have anchored this film into their prior history. (Scarface) Many of the same actors appear in both films.

One scene stands out as offering the viewer such tight attention to detail that I could barely believe it. -At the disco, Benny Blanco (John Leguizamo) is making a noticeable entry into the front door with his gang. The reaction by the people who know AND don't know his is big. Benny Blanco is walking briskly and swinging his body back & forth. Discogoers who are flanking his entry down the hall all make flagrant notice of his entry, turning heads and turning around to see who this obviously important person is. Then there's Saso's (Jorge Porcel) reaction. He looks shocked when he sees Benny. Benny Blanco walks quickly right up to Saso, grabs Saso by the throat and demands his money and that he's not screwing around. Saso looks terrified and, with his throat held by Blanco's hand, shifts his eyes sideways to see what his gang is suggesting by Blanco's actions. Saso unconvincingly says to Blanco, "Are you kidding?" Blanco then says that he IS kidding, and kisses Saso on the cheek. You have to see Saso's reaction at this point; it is priceless.

I recommend watching this scene in slow motion.

Penelope Ann Miller is excellent as Carlito's girlfriend and confidante.

Seen them on video,would like to own them, but can't buy them as they will not play on Australia region 4 DVDs ( Toshiba players.Also Barbarosa,Good Thief,Blood Simple,Wild Bill,Extreme Prejudice,Iceman Cometh(both versions),Red Circle,The Killers,Any help would be appreciated to buy these on Net and play in Australia. Thanks Richard Boue

This movie dead man walking is a very controversial but impressive movie.It has a lot of different views invloved you get to see both sides of the story and feel both sides as well.It proves that we are all human and that we all all bleed the color red.It proves that love overcomes anything and that faith still in fact does exist.It also deals a lot with hope and pain.If you really want to watch a movie that makes you think and feel then I definetly reccomend this one its a dead winner!!!

"Dead Man Walking" is a drama that analyzes the death penalty from two angles: the perspective of the accused, and the perspective of the families of the victims affected by the loss of a beloved one. The movie stars Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon, both nominated to the Academy Awards for this movie (Sarandon won the best actress award), also the director Tim Robbins (Susan Sarandon's husband) was nominated.

Sister Helen Prejean (Susan Sarandon) is a teacher and an activist for the human rights. One day she receives a letter from Matthew Poncelot (Sean Penn), a prisoner accused of the rape and murder of two teenagers, and now sentenced to death. Matthew asks Sister Helen her help to get the pardon of the authorities and stop his future execution, claiming that he is innocent.

Through "Dead Man Walking", Sister Helen tries to save Matthew's life, but every day that passes seems more difficult to achieve it, so eventually she invites Matthew to search for his inner peace and to regret for his crimes. The movie shows the pain provoked to the families of the victims, as well as the pain inflicted to Matthew's family.

"Dead Man Walking" doesn't try to say if the death penalty is right or wrong, its only intention is to present the consequences of that penalty. An interesting drama with very good performances, particularly the Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon performances.

The Dead penalty is a babaric act.
In my humble opinion God is the only one that is allowed to give and to take live.
The state killing a person, independent of how cruel he or she may be or may have been, is not God's Justice. It is the work of man that also can make mistakes.
In my understanding innocent persons have been killed(This is not the case in the movie, but it happens in reality).
People on death row are almost always black persons without money to hire a decent lawyer(With was mencioned in the film).
A dangerous person you have to put in jail forever if this is necessary for the safety of society.
This was also what i saw in the movie.
It really touched me and made me cry.
Of course the suffering of the victims is horrible and this was also shown realy good in the movie.
I am a religous person and it is my conviction that one day all suffering will belong to the past and all souls will be saved.

The movie makes you think and touches your hart.

This movie dead man walking is a very controversial but impressive movie.It has a lot of different views invloved you get to see both sides of the story and feel both sides as well.It proves that we are all human and that we all all bleed the color red.It proves that love overcomes anything and that faith still in fact does exist.It also deals a lot with hope and pain.If you really want to watch a movie that makes you think and feel then I definetly reccomend this one its a dead winner!!!

I saw this in my High school law class. We had just finished discussing the death penalty. I had always been an eye for an eye person, but this movie is so brilliantly presented. It never assumes the role of being too sympathetic to the condemned Sean Penn nor does it outright say he deserves to die. Instead of doing the usual, director Tim Robbins presents every side of the issue, allowing for one of the best masterpieces of the film. The murder scene is never too graphic but is still chilling. My favorite scenes were Sarandon's attempts to win Penn over to Christianity, Penn's moments with his family, and Sarandon singing to Penn as he is being led to the execution chamber. I havenot yet bought this, but it will be in my collection very soon.

Table all pre-conceived notions of whether Capital Punishment is wrong or right. Set aside your personal opinions on how society views convicted killers. DEAD MAN WALKING examines all sides of the coin, from the eyes of the victims, their families, the legal system, religious counselors and finally the convict himself.

Sean Penn is almost scary in his portrayal of Matthew Poncellet. With convincing facial expressions, voice and demeanor, Penn nails every scathing, miserable characteristic of a "white trash" criminal with no remorse for his chosen way of life and his lack of respect for everything and everyone in his world. By the film's end, your heart can't help but bleed for him in is agony, but what a pity it took the tragedy of murder to bring him to his knees.

Susan Sarandon perfectly portrays a kind and gentle Sr. Helen Prejean (who makes a cameo appearance in the film at a candlelight demonstration outside the prison).

WARNING: This movie is very painful to watch, and certain scenes of violence, aside from the final execution by lethal injection, may disturb the faint-hearted.

This movie dead man walking is a very controversial but impressive movie.It has a lot of different views invloved you get to see both sides of the story and feel both sides as well.It proves that we are all human and that we all all bleed the color red.It proves that love overcomes anything and that faith still in fact does exist.It also deals a lot with hope and pain.If you really want to watch a movie that makes you think and feel then I definetly reccomend this one its a dead winner!!!

I saw this in my High school law class. We had just finished discussing the death penalty. I had always been an eye for an eye person, but this movie is so brilliantly presented. It never assumes the role of being too sympathetic to the condemned Sean Penn nor does it outright say he deserves to die. Instead of doing the usual, director Tim Robbins presents every side of the issue, allowing for one of the best masterpieces of the film. The murder scene is never too graphic but is still chilling. My favorite scenes were Sarandon's attempts to win Penn over to Christianity, Penn's moments with his family, and Sarandon singing to Penn as he is being led to the execution chamber. I havenot yet bought this, but it will be in my collection very soon.

Table all pre-conceived notions of whether Capital Punishment is wrong or right. Set aside your personal opinions on how society views convicted killers. DEAD MAN WALKING examines all sides of the coin, from the eyes of the victims, their families, the legal system, religious counselors and finally the convict himself.

Sean Penn is almost scary in his portrayal of Matthew Poncellet. With convincing facial expressions, voice and demeanor, Penn nails every scathing, miserable characteristic of a "white trash" criminal with no remorse for his chosen way of life and his lack of respect for everything and everyone in his world. By the film's end, your heart can't help but bleed for him in is agony, but what a pity it took the tragedy of murder to bring him to his knees.

Susan Sarandon perfectly portrays a kind and gentle Sr. Helen Prejean (who makes a cameo appearance in the film at a candlelight demonstration outside the prison).

WARNING: This movie is very painful to watch, and certain scenes of violence, aside from the final execution by lethal injection, may disturb the faint-hearted.

This is one interesting, thrilling film. It's definitley one of those films that you'll think about afterwards. Michael Douglas stars as a rich man(again?!), who is having his birthday. He's now at the age his father was when he comitted suicide. Sean Penn pops up as his brother, who offers him an interesting birthday present that needs him to play 'the game'. Before Michael knows it, the game is on and he doesn't know what's going on, what to do, or where to go. Along the way he hooks up with a waitress(Deborah Unger)who gets involved with him and this serious 'game'. There are twists and turns in this movie that are set up and executed very, very well. There are things that the audience won't expect. Douglas is very good when he gets to play icy millionaires. You can thank "Wall Street" for that. He is at his best here. Sean Penn does what he can with a pretty small role. Director David Fincher brings a moody, captivating presence to the film. This is a very good movie that will grab hold of your attention and not let it go until the very end.

Less than a full year before A PERFECT MURDER (1998) was released, Michael Douglas starred in THE GAME (1997), which is not simply a Michael Douglas movie, it's a David Fincher film-and you know what that means! From a screenplay by John D. Brancato & Michael Ferris, THE GAME is classic Fincher: dark, mysterious and with a constant sense of brooding danger in which lets you know that somehow, somewhere, something is not quite kosher.

In THE GAME, Douglas is Nicholas Van Orton; a man of great wealth and power and totally devoid of any human compassion (as evidenced by the cold and callous way in which he fires a longtime employee). If this sounds like Gordon Gekko to you, it's because Michael Douglas, at this stage in his career, plays cold callousness like no one else. Call it typecasting; I call it brilliant acting ability and being smart enough to stick with what works. However, Gordon Gekko in the legendary Oliver Stone-directed WALL STREET (1987) didn't have a younger brother; Nicholas Van Orton does. On Nick's 48th birthday (the same age at which his father died, hint hint), his black-sheep-of-the-family brother Conrad, as brilliantly played by Sean Penn, visits him in his sprawling, cherry-wood office and hands his older sibling his birthday present: a business card with the name Consumer Recreation Services (CRS) on it. "What is this," Nicholas cynically asks. The sly answer given by Penn is one of my favorite lines in the film, and one that tells us that his elder bro's life will never be the same, once he begins to play THE GAME.

Along the way, Nicholas Van Orton encounters CRS and its primary spokesman (or so he thinks) Jim Feingold (played with disarming confidence by character actor James Rebhorn), a mouthy cocktail waitress (Deborah Kara Unger) who seems to hold the secret to THE GAME, and a spooky-looking full-size inanimate clown who appears to watch everything he does. Also along the way are near-brushes with death that culminate with Conrad Van Orton's tearful admission that he "didn't know what the $#@! he had gotten them into" when he had signed his brother up for THE GAME. But that's still just the beginning...

Everyone is superbly cast in this film, including BABY DOLL (1956) herself, Carroll Baker, and the always-watchable Armin Mueller-Stahl. But the real star here is David Fincher; he is so adept at guiding us down a labyrinthic path of which only he knows the end, that all we can do is hang on and enjoy the rollercoaster ride on which he breathlessly takes us. He primarily relies on small, subtle signs of foreboding to generate suspense, as opposed to full-blown violence and gore. Although this is one of those films that relies on first-time viewers' lack of knowledge of what to expect, and thusly loses something on repeated viewings, it is still a very good film to re-visit on occasion, if only to experience Fincher's unique style (this film and A PERFECT MURDER are miles apart in this respect, believe me), Douglas and Penn's acting and the production values, which are first-rate.

See and experience THE GAME for yourself.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

THE GAME is definitely a director's movie. David Fincher (Seven, Panic Room, Fight Club) propels us into the nightmarish world of Michael Douglas' Scroogish investment banker. Nicholas is cold; lonely; bearing a lot of anguish over the suicide of his father, the seeming failure of his brother (Sean Penn in a rather small role, almost overacting, but tolerable). What in this movie is real and what is a game? The use of news commentator Daniel Schorr to set the rules for Douglas is very good, and unique. Deborah Kara Unger fills the role of Christine nicely, although sometimes she seems in a vague fog. Peter Donat as Douglas' lawyer is sturdy; James Rebhorn as the smarmy employee of CRS is also good.
The movie rests on Douglas' shoulders and thought it may be a combination of his other roles, he still does a commendable job in carrying the movie. It is bizarre, nightmarish, ominous and a director's triumph. Some of the things that go on toward the end of the movie and stretch the credibility factor, but I can't divulge those without spoiling the ending.
A good film, inventive and well done.

This is one interesting, thrilling film. It's definitley one of those films that you'll think about afterwards. Michael Douglas stars as a rich man(again?!), who is having his birthday. He's now at the age his father was when he comitted suicide. Sean Penn pops up as his brother, who offers him an interesting birthday present that needs him to play 'the game'. Before Michael knows it, the game is on and he doesn't know what's going on, what to do, or where to go. Along the way he hooks up with a waitress(Deborah Unger)who gets involved with him and this serious 'game'. There are twists and turns in this movie that are set up and executed very, very well. There are things that the audience won't expect. Douglas is very good when he gets to play icy millionaires. You can thank "Wall Street" for that. He is at his best here. Sean Penn does what he can with a pretty small role. Director David Fincher brings a moody, captivating presence to the film. This is a very good movie that will grab hold of your attention and not let it go until the very end.

Less than a full year before A PERFECT MURDER (1998) was released, Michael Douglas starred in THE GAME (1997), which is not simply a Michael Douglas movie, it's a David Fincher film-and you know what that means! From a screenplay by John D. Brancato & Michael Ferris, THE GAME is classic Fincher: dark, mysterious and with a constant sense of brooding danger in which lets you know that somehow, somewhere, something is not quite kosher.

In THE GAME, Douglas is Nicholas Van Orton; a man of great wealth and power and totally devoid of any human compassion (as evidenced by the cold and callous way in which he fires a longtime employee). If this sounds like Gordon Gekko to you, it's because Michael Douglas, at this stage in his career, plays cold callousness like no one else. Call it typecasting; I call it brilliant acting ability and being smart enough to stick with what works. However, Gordon Gekko in the legendary Oliver Stone-directed WALL STREET (1987) didn't have a younger brother; Nicholas Van Orton does. On Nick's 48th birthday (the same age at which his father died, hint hint), his black-sheep-of-the-family brother Conrad, as brilliantly played by Sean Penn, visits him in his sprawling, cherry-wood office and hands his older sibling his birthday present: a business card with the name Consumer Recreation Services (CRS) on it. "What is this," Nicholas cynically asks. The sly answer given by Penn is one of my favorite lines in the film, and one that tells us that his elder bro's life will never be the same, once he begins to play THE GAME.

Along the way, Nicholas Van Orton encounters CRS and its primary spokesman (or so he thinks) Jim Feingold (played with disarming confidence by character actor James Rebhorn), a mouthy cocktail waitress (Deborah Kara Unger) who seems to hold the secret to THE GAME, and a spooky-looking full-size inanimate clown who appears to watch everything he does. Also along the way are near-brushes with death that culminate with Conrad Van Orton's tearful admission that he "didn't know what the $#@! he had gotten them into" when he had signed his brother up for THE GAME. But that's still just the beginning...

Everyone is superbly cast in this film, including BABY DOLL (1956) herself, Carroll Baker, and the always-watchable Armin Mueller-Stahl. But the real star here is David Fincher; he is so adept at guiding us down a labyrinthic path of which only he knows the end, that all we can do is hang on and enjoy the rollercoaster ride on which he breathlessly takes us. He primarily relies on small, subtle signs of foreboding to generate suspense, as opposed to full-blown violence and gore. Although this is one of those films that relies on first-time viewers' lack of knowledge of what to expect, and thusly loses something on repeated viewings, it is still a very good film to re-visit on occasion, if only to experience Fincher's unique style (this film and A PERFECT MURDER are miles apart in this respect, believe me), Douglas and Penn's acting and the production values, which are first-rate.

See and experience THE GAME for yourself.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

THE GAME is definitely a director's movie. David Fincher (Seven, Panic Room, Fight Club) propels us into the nightmarish world of Michael Douglas' Scroogish investment banker. Nicholas is cold; lonely; bearing a lot of anguish over the suicide of his father, the seeming failure of his brother (Sean Penn in a rather small role, almost overacting, but tolerable). What in this movie is real and what is a game? The use of news commentator Daniel Schorr to set the rules for Douglas is very good, and unique. Deborah Kara Unger fills the role of Christine nicely, although sometimes she seems in a vague fog. Peter Donat as Douglas' lawyer is sturdy; James Rebhorn as the smarmy employee of CRS is also good.
The movie rests on Douglas' shoulders and thought it may be a combination of his other roles, he still does a commendable job in carrying the movie. It is bizarre, nightmarish, ominous and a director's triumph. Some of the things that go on toward the end of the movie and stretch the credibility factor, but I can't divulge those without spoiling the ending.
A good film, inventive and well done.

This is one interesting, thrilling film. It's definitley one of those films that you'll think about afterwards. Michael Douglas stars as a rich man(again?!), who is having his birthday. He's now at the age his father was when he comitted suicide. Sean Penn pops up as his brother, who offers him an interesting birthday present that needs him to play 'the game'. Before Michael knows it, the game is on and he doesn't know what's going on, what to do, or where to go. Along the way he hooks up with a waitress(Deborah Unger)who gets involved with him and this serious 'game'. There are twists and turns in this movie that are set up and executed very, very well. There are things that the audience won't expect. Douglas is very good when he gets to play icy millionaires. You can thank "Wall Street" for that. He is at his best here. Sean Penn does what he can with a pretty small role. Director David Fincher brings a moody, captivating presence to the film. This is a very good movie that will grab hold of your attention and not let it go until the very end.

Less than a full year before A PERFECT MURDER (1998) was released, Michael Douglas starred in THE GAME (1997), which is not simply a Michael Douglas movie, it's a David Fincher film-and you know what that means! From a screenplay by John D. Brancato & Michael Ferris, THE GAME is classic Fincher: dark, mysterious and with a constant sense of brooding danger in which lets you know that somehow, somewhere, something is not quite kosher.

In THE GAME, Douglas is Nicholas Van Orton; a man of great wealth and power and totally devoid of any human compassion (as evidenced by the cold and callous way in which he fires a longtime employee). If this sounds like Gordon Gekko to you, it's because Michael Douglas, at this stage in his career, plays cold callousness like no one else. Call it typecasting; I call it brilliant acting ability and being smart enough to stick with what works. However, Gordon Gekko in the legendary Oliver Stone-directed WALL STREET (1987) didn't have a younger brother; Nicholas Van Orton does. On Nick's 48th birthday (the same age at which his father died, hint hint), his black-sheep-of-the-family brother Conrad, as brilliantly played by Sean Penn, visits him in his sprawling, cherry-wood office and hands his older sibling his birthday present: a business card with the name Consumer Recreation Services (CRS) on it. "What is this," Nicholas cynically asks. The sly answer given by Penn is one of my favorite lines in the film, and one that tells us that his elder bro's life will never be the same, once he begins to play THE GAME.

Along the way, Nicholas Van Orton encounters CRS and its primary spokesman (or so he thinks) Jim Feingold (played with disarming confidence by character actor James Rebhorn), a mouthy cocktail waitress (Deborah Kara Unger) who seems to hold the secret to THE GAME, and a spooky-looking full-size inanimate clown who appears to watch everything he does. Also along the way are near-brushes with death that culminate with Conrad Van Orton's tearful admission that he "didn't know what the $#@! he had gotten them into" when he had signed his brother up for THE GAME. But that's still just the beginning...

Everyone is superbly cast in this film, including BABY DOLL (1956) herself, Carroll Baker, and the always-watchable Armin Mueller-Stahl. But the real star here is David Fincher; he is so adept at guiding us down a labyrinthic path of which only he knows the end, that all we can do is hang on and enjoy the rollercoaster ride on which he breathlessly takes us. He primarily relies on small, subtle signs of foreboding to generate suspense, as opposed to full-blown violence and gore. Although this is one of those films that relies on first-time viewers' lack of knowledge of what to expect, and thusly loses something on repeated viewings, it is still a very good film to re-visit on occasion, if only to experience Fincher's unique style (this film and A PERFECT MURDER are miles apart in this respect, believe me), Douglas and Penn's acting and the production values, which are first-rate.

See and experience THE GAME for yourself.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

THE GAME is definitely a director's movie. David Fincher (Seven, Panic Room, Fight Club) propels us into the nightmarish world of Michael Douglas' Scroogish investment banker. Nicholas is cold; lonely; bearing a lot of anguish over the suicide of his father, the seeming failure of his brother (Sean Penn in a rather small role, almost overacting, but tolerable). What in this movie is real and what is a game? The use of news commentator Daniel Schorr to set the rules for Douglas is very good, and unique. Deborah Kara Unger fills the role of Christine nicely, although sometimes she seems in a vague fog. Peter Donat as Douglas' lawyer is sturdy; James Rebhorn as the smarmy employee of CRS is also good.
The movie rests on Douglas' shoulders and thought it may be a combination of his other roles, he still does a commendable job in carrying the movie. It is bizarre, nightmarish, ominous and a director's triumph. Some of the things that go on toward the end of the movie and stretch the credibility factor, but I can't divulge those without spoiling the ending.
A good film, inventive and well done.