The Game (1997)

4 / 5
Tagline: Players Wanted.
Directed by: David Fincher
Written by: John D. Brancato, Michael Ferris,
Actors include: Michael Douglas, Sean Penn, Debra Kara Unger
Genre: Thriller, Action, Adventure
Length: 128 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
For Nicholas' (Michael Douglas) 40th birthday his weirdo brother gives him a ticket for a game called CSR (see Nicholas is a bit of a recluse and his brother wanted to engage him in something). He goes to the company and soon after life becomes pretty ridiculously awful. See it's sorta like a conspiracy or some sort of nightmare that Nicholas can't wake up from. It's very much a psychological thriller, we really aren't handed the answers but we must piece this together as things get more and more twisted. It's actually rather fun to watch and to try to guess what's happening, it's not quite as tricky as some but it's rather well written and interestingly assembled. I guess my only advice is to watch it, but don't give up on it because of confusion...holding on will pay off big time so long as you are patient!

Availability:  On DVD

The Net (1995)

3.5 / 5

Tagline: Her driver's license. Her credit cards. Her bank accounts. Her identity. DELETED.
Directed by: Irwin Winkler
Written by: John D. Brancato, Michael Ferris
Actors include: Jeremy Northam, Sandra Bullock, Dennis Miller
Genre: Thriller, Action, Crime
Length: 114 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
A software engineer Angela Bennett (Sandra Bullock) who does everything on the computer so she doesn't have to leave the house winds up in a predicament after being sent a virus from a friend. Her friend was supposed to fly out and visit her but he died in a crash on the way. She decides to go on vacation to the beach but it's then her life turns into a nightmare when she meets a charming young suitor. Suddenly she's in a very dangerous situation and she learns her identity has been stolen...but who can vouch for her? Barely anyone knows her or has seen her...how can she get out of this one? It's a decent enough little no brainer thriller, it's maybe a little less effective in this day and age because computers have advanced a fair bit but identity theft is still something folks can relate to. Not great but still decent enough as far as time passers go.

Availability:  On DVD