Thriller/Drama
"They wouldn't let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games..."
John Frankenheimer has always been a director who made some interesting and
controversial films such as The Manchurian Candidate, The Gypsy Moths,
The Fixer, Grand Prix, Seconds, French Connection II, and
many more. REINDEER GAMES is a fun film but not one of Frankenheimer's best.
Don't misunderstand, the film was fun and fast paced but I found that the plot, which was
full of surprises, works only if you suspend disbelief. The plot's plot was just a little too
contrived. It became really hard to know who to cheer for especially when everyone were
such jerks or just plain mean. Things in this film are not what they seem right up to the
final scenes.
The acting was very good. It would be difficult to say otherwise with the likes of Ben
Affleck, Gary Sinse and Dennis Farina. Charlize Theron did an excellent job and
looks as beautiful as ever. Her acting improves with every film she is in lately. Dennis
Farina is always fun to watch no matter what he is in. I really miss the BUDDY FARO
TV show that Farina starred in.
Rudy Duncan (Ben Affleck) has fallen for his cellmate's female pen pal so when he gets out
he meets Ashley (Charlize Theron) and they have a torrid love affair which is interrupted
by a gang of robber wannabees. Gabriel (Gary Sinise) thinks he is the cellmate who used to
work at a casino they want to rob. After many threats on his life by this wacked out crew he
finally helps them even though he has never been in the casino. Life has become really
tough for Rudy, real fast, and all he wanted when he got out of jail was a cup of real hot
chocolate and a piece of pecan pie.
Rudy accidently discovers some unpleasant truths and now he realizes survival has the be
at the top of the list because no one is who they seem to be. The film becomes a bloodbath by
the time they rob the casino but the surprises are still not over for Rudy and the crew.
The cold wintery fringes of Northern Michigan is the setting for this roller coaster ride of a
movie. It has lots of snappy dialogue, intricate plotting and plenty of Santa Claus'.
Hey when you see the movie you'll understand the Santa Claus bit, okay. Charlize Theron
seems to have the best part in this film as she really gets to show us her different faces
with excellent skill. The casino scenes will give you thrills and laughs in a morbid way of
course. Really, this is not a movie that you can take too seriously but it is still a fun ride.
So in this case if you like guns, explosions, and bad guys doing it to bad guys then
REINDEER GAMES is the film for you.
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