House of Games

Friday, February 28 - Sunday, March 2, 2014

35mm print

“In 1984, Joe Mantegna won a Tony for his portrayal of Ricky Roma in David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross. But when turning the play into a film, the studio wanted a bigger name: Al Pacino. Mamet broke the news to his old pal and, as an apology, offered him the lead in House of Games. It’s hard to imagine a better consolation prize.

“With a parlor-trick plot and neon-lit cinematography right out of Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks, Games is a con within a con within a con. And best of all, the audience is the unwitting mark in all of this delicious flimflammery. Lindsay Crouse (a.k.a. Mrs. Mamet at the time) plays a tightly wound therapist whose thirst for excitement leads her into the fly trap of Mantegna’s charismatic hustler, Mike Mancuso. Soon, he’s teaching her about poker and the art of the grift… and maybe, or maybe not, taking her to the cleaners in the process… Mantegna, smooth as Chinese silk, emerges in his first major screen role as a fully formed star. He oozes double-breasted sharkskin danger.” – Entertainment Weekly

• Country USA
• Rating R
• Year 1987
• Running Time 102 minutes
• Director David Mamet

IFC Center does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.