Criterion has confirmed its release, according to Criterion cast. My guess is that it will be a fall or winter release.
A decent relaease,I’ve seen it many times,not by far my fav fincher film and I’m sure criterion will make a nice profit from it,although there r other ones I would much rather have(Amores Perros and Y TU Mama Tambien)any word on those being released still/yet???
I think it’s a great understated movie…definitely not Fincher’s best but it’s not one of those “ive seen the twist, now I cant rewatch” movies. I was just watching the dvd and it’s non-anamorphic, horrible transfer. I think it’ll be a great addition to Criterion as one of those “lost” classics. I much prefer this to Panic Room.
Anyway, really hoping it’s still released this year as a blu-ray was only released in Europe and, like I said, the current dvd is horrible. Although, I did just notice it was re-released in 2010, I’m guessing to make in anamorphic? Either way I’m sure the transfer is still horrible overall. This would def be on the top of my list for a criterion release. Love Amores Perros but really tough to rewatch…
Yes the game Is much better then panic room I don’t like. That film.Panic room and alien 3 r his worst films imo
Yes the game Is much better then panic room I don’t like. That film.Panic room and alien 3 r his worst films imo
I do think The Game’s ending is a bit of a burst bubble and I don’t really care that he goes with the chick to the airport. I agree with the criticism that there’s not really a lot of emotional investment in Douglas’ character. I’m invested in his journey, but I don’t REALLY care if he changes….we’re not really shown too much of his life to really care.
I’m sure people would have liked the ending to be more ambiguous, but that woulda been too tough. He assumes it’s the game, we assume it’s the game. If it were open ended then we would wonder “if it wasn’t the game who was it?” and we weren’t really given any clues except that the game was possibly evil. I don’t really view it as a twist ending…same way I don’t really see Unbreakable having a twist ending. You can see them coming a mile away, and it’s not about the ending. It’s about the journey there.
“there’s not really a lot of emotional investment in Douglas’ character.”
That’s by design, though, and we’re held back from identification largely because we’re aware that at least some part of what happens in the film may be “the game”and not Nicholas’s “real.”
I can see that. I mean I’m not knocking the film and I really love Douglas in the part. I just mean, we’re never really given a WHOLE lot about his life. Basically he’s a super rich, but incredibly lonely guy who is divorced. That’s basically all we get about his character. It’s not like we’re necessarily rooting for him to get back with his ex wife or we’re really like “he needs a life changing adventure!” If anything we identify with him because like him, we can’t really tell what’s real and what’s the game. Which is awesome.
But again, due to that emotional detachment we’re also not really rooting for him to “get the girl.” Which is why I always found that part a big “meh.” I didn’t really care about the two of them specifically. But I just view it as, they won’t necessarily get together it’s more that he’s actually interested in ANY woman. Still a really great film, and I’d say while not FIincher’s best, it’s one that keeps drawing me back in. If anything, he really nailed the mood.
What? A Criterion release of The Game on Blu-ray? Wow, now that’s exciting! Can’t wait!
Spoiler
I loved The Game. I thought the point of the film was to see his character come to terms with the actions of his father. He never really forgave his father for committing suicide and leaving them and couldn’t understand how he could do it. By the end of the film Douglas is pushed to his limit and ends up making the same decision as his father. Thus coming to terms with it and freed from this lifelong quandary. He can now move on.
Wow, awesome Chad. I woulda thought I could have put that together after like 20 viewings but I never have. Odd, seems so obvious now and I always pick up on that. That makes me love it even more, especially the ending!
Anyone heard anything more about this?? I thought it would be announced for 2011. I guess there’s still December…but they released it on blu-ray in the UK and I’m tempted to buy it. If only because the DVD is SO horrible. But I’ll hold off if this is really happening. Anyone have some insider info?
“That’s by design, though, and we’re held back from identification largely because we’re aware that at least some part of what happens in the film may be “the game”and not Nicholas’s “real.””
it’s also because he is meant to be an empty, egocentric prick ;-)
so yes, it’s by design, i agree!
But at least we emotionally connect to the fact that he’s emotionally withdrawn due to the fantastic opening credits in which we see the haunting “memory”/filmstrip of the father’s obviously traumatizing suicide set to on of Shore’s most successful, spare scores.
Fincher wisely sets up the audience’s distance from the character in the film’s first MINUTE…before we’ve even met him!, thus exhibiting an unreal level of storytelling economy, and keeping this as one of my favorite Fincher’s (not to mention it’s one of his most bleakly humorous movies).
That opening is definitely something, that much is certain. Stuck with me vividly and I haven’t seen the game in many years.
Yeah, the opening really establishes the whole dark, overcast mood of the film well.
There’s a magnificent film somewhere inside THE GAME, but it only occasionally rears its head (ala the clown/key/television scene).
The ending would have been wonderful were it not for the closing suggestion of romance. That party is marvelously surreal.
so no ones heard anything about the criterion release?
“so no ones heard anything about the criterion release?”
Nope. Nothing for about a year now.
I’ve heard rumors of an early 2012 release…..
@ RYAN H.
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. The opening and that scene feel heads and shoulders above the rest of the film, save maybe the party (Which in concept should be just a bad twist, but somehow within The Game it almost works. Almost.)
Love it all. One of the ultimate shaggy dog tales to come out from Hollywood in years. A wicked sense of humor , played to deadpan perfection by Fincher and Douglas….it’s clear why it’s so hated.
A few of the Criterion Laser Discs and the early dvds back in the day were rumored for years before coming out, so it must just be a matter of getting around to doing something I guess. I would also think they might release it this December since Fincher has a movie coming to theaters(The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo). It a good marketing ploy since there will at least be a few people associating him with The Game even though they havnt seen the film in more than a decade.
Its the same thing Miramax does for Tarantino every time he releases a new film. They always start dumping tons of product in stores to sell catalog titles every time.also considering the current DVD of the Game is so awful, non-anamorphic to boot. It was just released on blu in the UK and I’m tempted to grab it cause it’s one of my favs but I’d rather hold off if a criterion is coming. It’s one of my favs to watch before bed. As messed up as it is there’s some sort of calm feeling throughout.
I have a hunch that all of Michael Douglas’ bad luck in The Game is some sort of failed pre-emptive punishment for Wall Street 2.
So I guess they didn’t push it for Dragon Tattoo..which probably wouldn’t have helped since it wasn’t a huge hit (despite being a really solid Fincher film). This is still at the top of my Wishlist since it’s such a good movie. Maybe not Fincher’s best or most thought provoking, but a really solid thriller through and through. I don’t think the “twist” ending ruins it at all. I think it has great repeat value when you realize it’s not as much about the mystery as it is a character piece about Nicholas. Hope there’s some news on this soon.
Criterion recently posted this video of Harris Savides visiting the DVD closet. Why would Harris be at Criterion’s offices? Could it be b/c he was working on the upcoming release of The Game? Makes sense to me!
This is great news Santino! Thanks for the heads up. I just borrowed the Special Edition UK dvd from a friend and it seems to have most of what was on the Criterion Laserdisc.
Tron
Didn’t Fincher leak quite a while ago that The Game would be released this year? Has there been any news on this? Releases have been announced through most of the year.