Being a psychologist and needing to maintain a level of professionalism, Margaret Ford (Lindsay Crouse) has never done anything purely for the thrill. She's always had the desire, but never the opportunity. This changes however, the day she meets Mike (Joe Mantegna).

When one of her patients confesses to owing a considerable gambling debt to a man named Mike, Margaret decides to help. She sets off for the "House of Games" bar, where Mike and his friends play cards. Mike tells Margaret that the debt will be forgiven if Margaret sits in on a game of poker and looks for an opponent's "tells": nervous little gestures that a person makes when he is bluffing. After helping him win the game, Margaret asks Mike to teach her more. She wants to learn the art of the con, but she may end up learning much more than that when it's all over.

I truly enjoyed "House of Games". It is a smart drama that surprises you until the very end. You cannot place your trust in any of the characters, as you are never totally sure just who the "bad guys" are. Many popular cons are played out during the film, so you get to see exactly how con artists make a living duping people out of their money.

There was one thing that bothered me about the film, however. Margaret, the main character, seems to only speak in monotone. She never shows much emotion. In some scenes, she even reminded me of a robot, mechanically spitting out her lines. I have seen Lindsay Crouse in other movies, so I know that she is not like this all of the time. She is a wonderful actress. The director most likely is the one to blame. At the time, David Mamet was married to Lindsay Crouse. You'd think he could've let her show off her true acting abilities instead of making her sound like a prototype from IBM.

 

Stars: Lindsay Crouse, Joe Mantegna

Director: David Mamet

MPAA Rating: R

Why You'll Know It's From the 80's:
Collaboration between director David Mamet and
actress Lindsay Crouse during their marriage

Dog Appeal:
Poker, a popular game in the dog community, is played throughout
the film. (Recall the famous portrait, "Dogs Playing Poker".)

Daisy's Rating: 

 

 

  

 
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