7tavern: House of Games

House of Games

Sound (2)
2.5
Plot (2)
2.5
Cast (2)
2.5
Special Effects (2)
2.5
Length & Pace (2)
2.5
Cinematography (2)
2.5

Directors: David Mamet,

Writers: Jonathan Katz (story) &,   David Mamet (story) ...,

Release: 11 October 1987 (USA)

Tagline: Nothing is as it seems.

Plot: A psychiatrist comes to the aid of a compulsive gambler and is led my a smooth-talking grifter into the shadowy but compelling world of stings, scams, and con men.

Cast:  Lindsay Crouse - Margaret Ford,   Joe Mantegna - Mike,   Mike Nussbaum - Joey,   Lilia Skala - Dr. Maria Littauer,   J.T. Walsh - The businessman,   Willo Hausman - Girl with book,   Karen Kohlhaas - Prison ward patient,   Steven Goldstein - Billy Hahn,   Jack Wallace - Bartender, House of Games,   Ricky Jay - George / Vegas Man,   G. Roy Levin - Poker player,   Bob Lumbra - Poker player,   Andy Potok - Poker player,   Allen Soule - Poker player,   Ben Blakeman - Bartender, Charlie's Tavern

Runtime: 102 min

Country: USA

Language: English

Company: Filmhaus

Links: IMDb Profile

Categories: Crime, Thriller

Main

Trailer

Squish
Reviews: 740
Points: 0 (Level 1)
Reviewer

Sound:
Plot:
Cast:
Special Effects:
Length & Pace:
Cinematography:

2.5

House Of Games (1987) * Worst Hit *

1987's sexiest couple... Come on! I'm serious!

Genre: Crime Mystery Thriller

Starring: Joe Mantegna (Thinner; "The Simpsons"), Lindsay Crouse (Iceman)

Directed By: David Mamet (The Spanish Prisoner; Heist)

Overview: A best-selling psychiatrist promises to help a troubled gambling addict by visiting the bookie who holds the debt.
She soon find herself caught up in a web of lies and intrigue by the confidence man she meets.

Performance:

Is Joe Mantegna a terrible actor? I don't think so. Is he merely a BAD actor and the industry knows it so all he can muster up is crappy roles in shitty movies? Absolutely! Lindsay Crouse though? A woman who tries to look the least sexy possible in her short David Caruso haircut and ultra-professional business attire to such a degree that either she's a stonefaced advocate for women's rights (not like a piece of meat but like an inhuman emotionless piece of furniture...) or the director is in denial about his arousal of the content in Tiger Beat. *shudder*
Rating: 4

Cinematography:

Least memorable scenes include:

- A stairwell, the camera centered on the handrail as the people pass - ?!

- a flush poker hand perfectly fanned out, with a pistol lying across it. Can we say contrived?

-The constant and terrible outdated fashion and common filthy (but not filthy poetic) streets of the mire that was the 80s

- The climactic scene full of too-tight shots in the blandest, smallest, cheapest hotel room imaginable, not to mention the bland airport luggage room scene vast and equally bland.
Rating: 3

Script:

"Oh... you're a bad pony, and I'm not going to bet on you."

Was that supposed to be witty? It was somewhat laughable, but maybe it was Mantegna and his consistently terrible delivery. Only on occasion did the script provide an element of wit or interesting conversation, besides that is just moved the plot forward like a steamroller...
Rating: 5

Plot:

Imagine a movie where we clearly see the element of our character's 'conscience'. Guilt: it exists in her, that's established. Then have the climax. Her character changes completely. Dare I say to a psychotic point? No, this film doesn't dare delve into madness in such a cool way. It's just an easy excuse for a dramatic thriller-style ending, which by the way is atrocious. What a stupid joke on me.
Rating: 3

Mood:

How best to clearly illustrate how transparent this movie is? First of all the predictability was so obvious that I knew every scene for what it was. Oh and get this: when Mantegna seduces the woman (ugh!) and takes her to a hotel room, we see them go into the room, then all of a sudden she'd sitting on a chair buttoning up her blouse. Did I miss something? Not even a kiss? Worse yet, not even a hint of sweat or tussled hair on either of them. Could you please end this bad memory?! This movie sucked in every way possible. DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME.
Rating: 3

I mean come on how could you not find this man irresistable!?

Overall Rating: 36% (House Of Lames)

Aftertaste:
The only reason I ever heard of this movie is because it was on Roger Ebert's list of best 100 films. I thought I'd expand my 'must-see' list to include the mainstream favorites. Imagine the proud display on the film's coverbox: Ebert's quote: "The year's best film". Ebert, you're a puckering dolt. 1987 saw such films as Good Morning Vietnam and Kubric's Full Metal Jacket, two movies that are far better than this hunk of wasted celluloid. My guest also found this film just as stupid and irrelevant in the scheme of film. Not a yardstick of the con film, Rounders does it much better, so does Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels...

Thank God I bought this movie at a garage sale for $1.00.

Recommendations: Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino, 2009), Requiem for a Dream, Dawn of the Dead

2010-06-19 10:22:10

canneltoncritic
Reviews: 176
Points: 0 (Level 1)
Reviewer

Sound:
Plot:
Cast:
Special Effects:
Length & Pace:
Cinematography:

2.5

House of Games

House of Games - Directed by David Mamet, starring Joe Mantegna, Lindsay Crouse, and Ricky Jay - Rated R

This con movie had the Kurgan fooled a couple times, and that's good enough for him.

Once again, a very slow week for me, new-movie wise. Which is why the second review this week is over a con movie from 1987. I had never even heard of this movie until a few weeks ago when all the podcasts I listen to were reviewing the new Rian Johnson film, The Brothers Bloom (which I will eventually review myself, but I'm in southern Indiana and small releases never venture closer than three hours away), which is a con movie. All of these podcasters were talking about their favorite con movies and this movie showed up on multiple lists, so I gave it a try and since I liked it and I have nothing else to review, here it is.

House of Games is about a successful psychiatrist (Crouse) who, through one of her patients, gets involved with a group of con artists, led by Joe Mantegna. Like all con movies, this movie has its surprises and its fun moments, like learning how to steal small amounts of money by sending telegrams. If you're into movies in which you spend your time wondering what character to trust, then this is for you. It is certainly a top rate con movie. The cons are good and you might get fooled along with some of the other characters and that's all you can really ask for in a movie like this.

That's not to say that the rest of the movie isn't good as well. The cast does well, Mantegna being the most entertaining, and Ricky Jay stands out in his short scene during a poker game. David Mamet (Glengarry Glen Ross, Redbelt) isn't a fancy director or anything, but his dialogue is always entertaining and it almost always makes sense. In other words, a character never says something that seems unnatural or forced. I know he's always praised for the dialogue and it can get old, but I think the praise is deserved in this situation. Try this movie out if you have a slow week like I just had and want some good con artist fun.

(Read Less...)

Eric Harris - www.canneltoncritic.com

2010-05-10 21:56:31

Squish
Reviews: 740
Points: 0 (Level 1)
Reviewer

House Of Games (1987) * Worst Hit *

1987's sexiest couple... Come on! I'm serious! Genre: Crime Mystery Thriller Starring: Joe Mantegna (Thinner; "The Simpsons"), Lindsay Crouse (Iceman) Directed By: David Mamet (The Spanish Prisoner; Heist) Overview: A best-selling psychiatrist promises to help a troubled gambling addict by visiting the bookie who holds the debt. She soon find herself caught up in a web of lies and intrigue by the confidence man she meets. Performance: Is Joe Mantegna a terrible actor? I don't think so. Is he merely a BAD actor and the industry knows it so all he can muster up is crappy roles in shitty movies? Absolutely! Lindsay Crouse though? A woman who tries to look the least sexy possible in her short David Caruso haircut and ultra-professional business attire to such a degree that either she's a stonefaced advocate for women's rights (not like a piece of meat but like an inhuman emotionless piece of furniture...) or the director is in denial about his arousal of the content in ...

(Read More...)

2010-06-19 10:22:10

canneltoncritic
Reviews: 176
Points: 0 (Level 1)
Reviewer

House of Games

House of Games - Directed by David Mamet, starring Joe Mantegna, Lindsay Crouse, and Ricky Jay - Rated R This con movie had the Kurgan fooled a couple times, and that's good enough for him. Once again, a very slow week for me, new-movie wise. Which is why the second review this week is over a con movie from 1987. I had never even heard of this movie until a few weeks ago when all the podcasts I listen to were reviewing the new Rian Johnson film, The Brothers Bloom (which I will eventually review myself, but I'm in southern Indiana and small releases never venture closer than three hours away), which is a con movie. All of these podcasters were talking about their favorite con movies and this movie showed up on multiple lists, so I gave it a try and since I liked it and I have nothing else to review, here it is. House of Games is about a successful psychiatrist (Crouse) who, through one of her patients, gets involved with a group of con artists, led by Joe Mantegna. Like...

(Read More...)

2010-05-10 21:56:31

» = New Post

Movies you may like

Discuss House of Games

Log in to comment.