House of Games

1987 Drama

In his directorial debut, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Mamet creates a stylish cinematic puzzle of games within games, as con men are joined by a psychologist in creating the perfect caper. Dr. Margaret Ford (Lindsay Crouse), the writer of psychological self-help books, meets Mike (Joe Mantegna) as she attempts to help a patient who owes heavy gambling debts. When she herself is the victim of a con, she becomes intrigued by the psychological drama of the con game and joins in a complicated scam involving a suitcase of cash. Mamet directs his extremely complicated plot with skill and complete control until it is impossible to tell who is the con and who is the victim. The suspense builds to an amazing surprise ending which is both reasonable and believable but completely unpredictable. Crouse and Mantegna are outstanding as are all the supporting performances. Mamet and his cinematographer Juan Ruiz-Anchia create a visually stunning, compelling film that does justice to Mamet's superbly written screenplay more..

Director: David Mamet

Starring: Lindsay Crouse,Joe Mantegna, Mike Nussbaum, Lilia Skala, J.T. Walsh

Reviews

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Awards

  • Best Screenplay - Motion Picture

    Golden Globes (1988)

     
  • Film of the Year

    London Critics Circle Film Awards (1989)

  • Best Classic DVD

    Satellite Awards (2007)

     
  • David Mamet

    Venice Film Festival (1987)