Review of House of Games (1987) by Jay L — 20 Jul 2011

"The shrink vs. The shark.".

Director David Mamet's (Heist, State And Main) Directorial debut "House Of Games" is a full-blown mindgame where absolutely is nothing is as it seems. David Mamet is the king of these wicked mind-games, his films are searingly cerebral, marvelously stylish and are as unpredictable as the outcome of a poker game, and House Of Games is no exception. It's a spectacularly constructed con-game, a film that bluffs you and then bluffs you again with another bluff in an alternate game that's disguised as the truth, but might or might not be....the truth or maybe another game. Make sense? I thought not. This is David Mamet for you, and he's at his best in this one. House Of Games if full of his signature trademarks including the ever-present "Mamet Speak"-super snappy dialogue that might or might not make sense to you, stylish camera work and lighting techniques, vicious unpredictableness and dark humor. It's an intense psychologically maddening experience that gets better and better with every viewing, a film where nothing is as it seems and thbtruth is hidden very, VERY well. So if your in the mood to have you mind used, or to use your mind, pop House Of Games into the Dvd player and watch the games unfold. A cat and mouse game that's unlike anybother cat and mouse game that you've seen.

Lindsey Crouse and Joe Mantagna are excellent throughout, both give convincing performances for the duration.