Review of House of Games (1987) by Aidan H — 23 Jan 2011

David Mamet's fame has never ceased to amaze me: his characters speak in the same soulless monotone, everybody stands around like chess pieces and his endings seem to be tacked on. In HoG, bland robot Crouse (as the disillusioned author and psychiatrist) is misled and robbed by a gang of attractive rogues who teach her life lessons at 80000 bucks an hour (she should have taken some elocution lessons too).

After overhearing the gang bad-mouthing her after the con she plans revenge but, in true Mamet fashion, she opts for the easier bullet-based variety instead of, for example, the rather more poetic vengeance of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels or The Sting.

That said, the tricks of the trade are revealed entertainingly enough, it's tantalising second-act twist reminiscent of Fincher's The Game as Crouse labours to make sense of her predicament. Although it remains one of the best con-artist movies ever made, it's sterile pace and less-than-satisfying ending loses it crucial stars.