Review of Reindeer Games (2000) by Alison O — 14 Dec 2003

VIDEO.

I didn't recognise 'Deception' as the name of a recent movie and it turns out that this went by the name of 'Reindeer Games' in the US. Or rather it flopped by the name (a 'Christmas' movie released in February? that shows the faith the distributors had in the film). I really did expect better from John Frankenheimer, the director of Ronin, but this 'comedy thriller' in the vein of 1998's Very Bad Things disappoints. Ben Affleck's shortcomings as an actor are exposed by Gary Sinese (reprising the 'loser years' of Lt. Dan from Forrest Gump) and Charlize Theron, both of whom make the most of their just-above-caricature roles). Affleck is doing time in a Michigan prison for grand theft auto, sharing a cell with James Frain. When his cellmate is fatally stabbed just prior to their dual release, Affleck assumes Frain's identity in order to hook up with the woman he was exchanging letters with while inside (Charlize Theron). A series of nonsensical plot twists later, the movie grinds to its dumb finish. A no-brainer that does none of those involved any good.