Review of House of Games (1987) by Nikolai E — 18 Jan 2009

Not bad by any stretch, just more insubstantial than most of Mamet's work, amounting to a plain con film genre exercise. There's a bit thrown in about self-actualization or something, which gives some insight into Mamet's own value system, but it's not enough to elevate the film.

The script is great of course, but it's hard to love the acting, as every line and gesture seems mechanical, which is actually sort of hypnotic once you get into it. It's the kind of thing that would work well on stage.

Anyway, con films come a lot worse, but Sleuth, Heist and The Spanish Prisoner leave it miles behind.