David Fincher: The Game

Director - David Fincher
Writers - John Brancato & Michael Ferris

Cast/Characters

Michael Douglas - Nicholas Van Orton
Sean Penn - Conrad
Deborah Kara Unger - Christine
James Rebhorn - Jim Feingold

The film starts out with a birthday party montage of Nicholas Van Orton's father and friends. He lives in a mansion, drives a BMW and is wealthy. His brother Conrad and he have lunch and Conrad funnily says he got a free jacket to which Nicholas says, "I'm sure they'll want it back." For Nicholas's birthday Conrad gives him an envelope. In it is a card for Consumer Recreation Services. Conrad says it will make Nicholas's life fun. Nicholas watches the financial news on TV. He is an investment banker. He is curt and insensitive to a woman who calls him. Michael Douglas is always great at playing the asshole. Nicholas is 48 - the same age his father committed suicide.

He goes to CRS. He meets Jim Feingold. They are newly constructed. Jim tells Nicholas it's a game specifically tailored for each participant. Jim tells him he'll either love it or hate it. We find out later he hates it. Nicholas overhears people at his country club talking about CRS. A guy asks him if he wants to know what the game is. He says John Chapter 9 Verse 25. Whereas once I was blind, now I can see. Everyone gives him vague answer to what the game is. A woman tells him over the phone his application from CRS has been rejected. He finds a huge mannequin like doll on his front driveway. In its mouth is a key from CRS. A guy from the TV starts talking to him. He gives a number to call for emergencies. He tells him don't call asking what the object of the game is. Figuring that out is the object of the game. The pranks start innocent enough but later on they are more sinister.

A guy needs toilet paper in the stall and Nicholas ignores him showing what an asshole he is. A lady named Christine spills wine on him and he is pissed. She loses her job and he apologizes. He comes across a man who faints and an ambulance takes him to a "hospital." Hundreds of people leave after lights go out and Nicholas explains to Christine its a prank by CRS. They use an elevator escape hatch to enter the building of CRS. The alarm goes off and they are chased by a dog. He climbs a ladder says he lost a thousand dollars. She asks if his shoes cost that much. He says, "that one did." Hotel Nikko says he left his American Express card.

He checks into the hotel. It's trashed. There is cocaine and Polaroids of naked people in a briefcase. A car follows him. A private investigator is paid to keep tabs on him. A great shot is of Nicholas's lawyer walking into focus which according to IMDB is one of David Fincher's trademarks. He comes home to his house trashed He calls a cab after leaving the house and finds out it is a CRS cab because it is California Regal Services. The initials of CRS. The cab driver drives the cab into the water after jumping out of the cab. He escapes and hires a detective and police.

He goes to Christine's house and he sees burning from a light bulb and a ticket for $8.99 on the bulb - probably bought from a thrift store. He goes to the sink to rinse his hands but there is no water. There is no food in the fridge. He realizes she is part of CRS.

After trying to warn Nicholas that a camera in the smoke detector is watching them, he breaks it and the CRS guys start shooting at them. The two drive away. at a cabin Christine drugs him and tells him those passwords he gave over the phone  to his Swiss bank were really given to CRS. He awakes in a cemetery coffin in Mexico. He sells his watch and catches a ride by bus into America. He goes to a diner and gives his remaining money ($18)  to someone who gives him a ride to San Francisco.

He goes to his ex-wife Elizabeth and borrows her car. He finds out Jim Feingold is an actor on television and contacts his agent to find out where he is which is at the zoo. Lionel Fisher is Jim's real name. He finds him and takes him to the building CRS is in. CRS owns the whole building and just moves from floor to floor. He goes to floor 25 and sees everyone (the actors) at tables eating and drinking . Security chases him to the roof. Christine tells him he saw special effects, squibs, like in the movies. He shoots his brother on accident and jumps off the building trying to commit suicide but is saved by an inflatable thing that breaks his fall. He finds out his friends were in on it and the lesson learned was to  appreciate life more and the people around him.