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Surviving the Game | Year: 1994 Classification: Action/Adventure Directed: - Ernest R. Dickerson Actors/Actresses: - Ice T - Ice-T - Rutger Hauer GREAT MOVIE WITH DEEP FAULTS For all this movie has going for it, nothing can overcome the weak dialogue and limp direction. Once the action kicks in it doesn't let up until the movie's climax and the villains are more than hissable. Ice-T turns in an okay performance as Jack Mason, a man unwittingly hired to be the human prey for a bunch of rich psychos who have nothing left to get pleasure from other than "breaking necks with their bares hands". The bad guys are plentiful and are better written than Ice-T's character. Gary Busey has (an unfortunately small) role as Doc Hawkins who killed his beloved dog when he was 12 and has never looked back in the kill=fun department. John C. McGinley is John Griffin, a Texas oil tycoon who is convinced that Mason is the man who stalked and killed his daughter. He really goes over the edge and becomes some sort of obsessive maniac. F. Murray Abraham is Mr. Wolfe, "the most feared man on Wall Street" who proves that not all suits are wimpy, upper-class and civilized and wants his son Wolfe Jnr (William McNamara) to be the same way. Rutger Hauer and Charles S. Dutton play Thomas Burns and Walter Cole, the men who organise and arrange the hunt but do not actually participate in it. With all this character set up there is zero dialogue that is even slightly memorable or quoteable and the direction leaves a lot to be considered. But Stewart Copelands ace musical score and the beautiful Pacific Northwest scenery make up for that. I suggest that you buy this DVD if you can get a good price on it.... The DVD is in Dolby 5.1 and is anamorphically enhanced at 1.85:1. Tries Too Hard...But Does the Job This movie is worth seeing for Ice T alone. He's brilliant. As an actor, he's not technically skilled...but he definitely gets himself into his role and does a lot more with his natural ability than many actors could do after years and years of training. As a modern day adaptation of "The Most Dangerous Game" (which is a truly phenomenal film -- if you watched this one, you should check that earlier film out -- you will be amazed for several reasons), this film shoots itself in the foot by giving the "game" away in the opening titles. But it makes up for that by developing the story of the central character played by Ice T and using that character as a more deeply imagined hero. As Mason, a way down and out homeless man, Ice T is very convincing. He seems to have been driven nearly wild even as the film opens...living on the streets surviving like an animal. Willing to stop at little or nothing to stay alive. But then life turns dramatically sour even for Mason and he wants a way out. Ready to kill himself, he is pulled back from the brink and offered a chance to get on his feet. Mason is a fighter and he accepts the offer. Grudgingly...but with the appreciation that this could be his only chance. He is then brought to a wilderness cabin thinking he will act as a hunting guide. The crew of actors who play the hunting group are amazing -- all of them have made careers out of being wonderful sociopaths. And at times, things get a little hammy but director Ernest Dickerson -- making a very interesting choice of projects here -- keeps things from going too far over the top. In no time at all, the hunt is on and Mason realizes what his role is in it. He must survive the challenge using his wits and his will. From that point on, the movie runs at a breakneck pace -- pausing shortly to catch its breath. Toward the end, there is one major continuity goof (night in the wilderness lasts only about 10 minutes and then the sun appears again approaching midday)...but you can ignore it and pay attention to the action. That's what films like this are about afterall. Enjoy the ride and don't examine it too much. One Of The Best Action Movies Out There For all of you who say this movie isn't worth it, this movie has been in my collection for some time now, and every once and a while I pull it out and watch it over and over. It is one of the best action movies out there...and its a break from the same old predictible movie that everyone always gets tired of. It gets five stars from me because it touches you and disgusts you because they hunt this man. It's a very exciting movie, and it leaves you at the end of your seat, which is a lot more I can say for some of the newer movies. Buy Surviving The Game at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on Surviving The Game Search with the Priority Search Engine on Surviving The Game This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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