Must See Movie...

As Good As It Gets

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

I had the pleasure of seeing this film at Amsterdam's Eye Filmmuseum, and can heartily recommend the experience. Game delivers a great story with surprises and twists and a taut suspense line throughout. The acting is great, and intelligent use is made of the (essentially) single location - a handsome canal house on one of Amsterdam's beautiful inner 'grachten'.Most important to remember, to my mind however, is how much these filmmakers managed to achieve given so little - time, money, and general resources - to complete their film. This is movie-making by professionals who know how to craft a solid story in the writing phase, how to act it and dress it in the shooting phase, and how to craft it again in the last phase of editing and post-production. Hats off to one and all who were involved, and shame on you to many larger studios and production houses who pour millions into projects, only to have them deliver movies one tenth as enjoyable as Game. Find a screening or hassle the filmmakers to stage a screening, and see this film!

Looking at this film from the perspective of my more than 50 years in international human rights, 25 with the United Nations, I found Game to be strong and intense and it captured and held my attention. Camera great and actors very, very good indeed! Very interesting and challenging story, initially unexpected but which evolved. Important social commentary or awareness raising story.Tension began almost immediately and grew throughout. Beginning as a question of African member of the family, parents unsure of how to act and the tension clearly reflected in the face and acts of the daughter. Different views in the home and close-ups and distance heightened the sense of not understanding; shots of the faces and acts of the daughter, but also parents, intensified tension. Filming eloquent in transmitting atmosphere.Then, slowly evolving change of subject which kept interest and tension; what is this all about? Where are we going? Scenes toward the end were most unsettling, fearing the worst; again, the shots of faces and their actions were great at keeping us glued to the action.Wow, the ending resolved the sense of conflict and tension and let me come away relieved. It was a strong film, a challenge to me to watch.