Games People Play

This flick is a prime example of all that is wrong with independent film today. Take a damaged egomaniac, some money, and desperate actors and you get this disaster of a "film?" If you enjoy this consider therapy. Were it not for the publics insatiable appetite for the lowest form of entertainment (ie. reality tv) this turkey would be roasted for Thanksgiving. Mr. Whitney uses the cast to work out his own issues, probably masturbating during the process. What could be seen as "edgy" is in really just a desperate attempt to get on the radar. Support of this film constitutes acceptance of mediocre to horrible production values, and a cheap payoff as entertainment. Watch out there are more coming.

I just saw the film Games People Play: New York. In the wake of Janet's boob and the whole "Reality Television" craze, this film could not have come out at a better time. Every week we are subjected to a number of reality shows that offer us glimpse into the lives of people we've never met in person, but by the end of the season, we know what they eat, how they dress and even how they kiss. The only problem is that what we watch is cropped and watered-down so it won't offend the adults and or corrupt the kiddies. Reality is life and life never gets to be edited and restricted. Games People Play: New York is an unrated look into the uninhibited world of reality games where anything goes...including cursing and full frontal nudity. This film shows us exactly how far 6 actors are willing to go in order to be famous and win a cash prize...with a great twist. Check this one out of you really want to see the ultimate reality game.

James Ronald Whitney wastes no time in telling the audience that this film is a pitch for a possible game show, a game show that must be watched after the kids have been put to bed. Full-frontal nudity, a boatload of it, is the least surprising thing about the film. We are first made privy to the auditions for the film, which turn out to be very interesting in themselves. The entire film was shot in 72 hours, which is why the raw feel to its production is forgivable. If anything, it actually enhances the experience of watching it and lends some credibility to the film.

The question the film asks the audience directly is: What would people do to win $10,000? While that amount is minuscule compared to the grand prizes awarded on other shows, it will no doubt be higher if the show is picked up by a network. Once the foundation for the film is in place, 90 minutes of adult pranks, voyeurism and stunning confessionals follow. Where most "reality" shows are inflated and overly self-conscious, Whitney's film does not claim to be something it's not and it makes no apologies for its content. It has a rare kind of integrity to it and ultimately, the viewer is rewarded with a satisfying ending, one that has you secretly craving a little more.

It captured my attention and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was quite different from any other film I've seen. All the elements of creativity, deroulement, interaction among characters, and great writing came together to create a viewing experience that has yet to be experienced by many. Great job!

I had the chance to see "Games People Play" at the CineVegas Film Festival and was highly disappointed. I don't recommend this film to anyone. The hardcore reality show junkies will be disappointed at the unbearably slow pace and lack of originality while the raincoat crowd will be unaroused by the lack of eroticism in the quasi-comic situations.

The description the festival program gave the film sounded very intriguing, calling this it "an extremely explicit and graphic reality show where the contestants bare their skin and their souls." That was all I needed. Curiosity took hold of me and I readily admit that I trekked to the theatre immediately and hoped to see both.

In the nudity department, the film delivers. About 1/6 to 1/4 of the entire film has people in the buff. Full frontal, unabashed, male and female nudity. If that's all you want then you get it. Just don't expect it to be erotic because it's not. Regular people playing practical jokes in the buff is the furthest thing from a turn on I found. And that would be okay it the jokes were funny or shocking, but you see them coming from a mile away. The few times I found myself chuckling, my humor quickly left as I saw that the filmmakers intended to exploit their few original jokes past the maximum time allowable by law. All skits went on and on and on until they were far from funny and almost painful to watch. I had to wonder if the filmmakers had ever heard of the cutting room floor.

The cutting room floor is where the rest of the film belongs. It also is unbearably slow and boring. Every situation is dragged out for as long a possible. We see the filmmakers select the cast for the game show for what feels like a half hour. Boring. Then we get intimate portraits of each of the six contestants (3 male & 3 female). While they are supposed to be baring their souls as the advertisements promised, what actually comes across is a fake, melodramatic whining in a pitch that is not too unlike that of fingernails on a chalkboard. Painful The contestants then do their challenges (the aforementioned practical jokes) and compete for points to see who will win. Why anybody cares would've been a more suspenseful premise if you ask me.

Bad movie. Avoid at all costs.