This is the first film directed by David Mamet, whose writing credits include "The Untouchables," "Glengarry Glen Ross," and "The Spanish Prisoner." He has since directed a few more films of his own including "The Spanish Prisoner" and "The Winslow Boy." His writing in "House of Games" is very well done, and his direction in the film is top notch and certainly defines his own style. My only problem with the film, and it is certainly a big problem, is that throughout the whole film, the actors meticulously deliver their lines without evoking any emotion or real meaning to them.
The plot of "House of Games" begins as a psychologist and author Margaret Ford, played by Linsday Crouse ("The Insider," "The Juror"), is seen conversing with some of her patients. One of them reveals to her that he is afraid he will soon be murdered over a debt of $25,000. Ford soon goes to find the man threatening her patient, Mike, played by Joe Mantegna ("Bugsy," "Up Close & Personal," "Celebrity") and discovers him in the midst of a card game at a bar called the House of Games. The events that follow could easily be ruined by me revealing any plot detail to you, so I must not do so. Unlike a lot of people supposedly are, I must say that I was not fooled by many of the events that follow - perhaps if I had been, the film would have earned a higher rating from me.
The reason I decided to check out this film is that I noticed that Roger Ebert called it the best film of 1987. After seeing the film, I am led to believe that 1987 must have been a very bad year for films! All the dialogue in "House of Games" seemed to be delivered as if the characters were reading the script for the first time. Ebert notes that the dialogue and the acting are done in Mamet's own style. I certainly agree with him on this point, but I just don't think it is that great of a style to begin with.
The twisting plot and the originality of the film are very well done though, enough so to earn a recommendation from me.
Rated R for language
I'd give this film 3.5/5, but since I can't, I'll round up to 4/5 since it was Mamet's first direction job, and for the obvious lack of a budget, it was well made.
A by-th-book psychiatrist falls in love with a slick con artistand eventually becomes seduced by his dangerous way of life.Special features: theatrica...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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