This video segment is mentioned in Gavin De Becker's book "The Gift of Fear". It illustrates the use of "Forced Teaming" used to manipulate people. (C) MGM.
I loved that they played out, in great detail, cons I've heard about. These cons sound half baked and flimsy until you see them run. Also Stars Ricky Jay, one of the greatest card tricksters ever. Go watch some of his videos showing his skills honed over decades.
Whenever I hear Joe Mantegna say money, I can't help but think of Fat Tony. "I'm afraid I must insist. You see, my wife, she has been most vocal on the subject of the pretzel monies. "Where's the money? "When are you going to get the money?" "Why aren't you getting the money now?" And so on."
In addition to teaching her and giving examples of cons, he's also subtly charming her so that she's letting her guard down with him more and more, by throwing the fish back in the water with the Marine con. As if saying to her, "I'm not such a bad guy deep-down. I have some sense of honor, too..." (this builds upon the earlier scene where he says "I think we owe her one" to his fellow con men by revealing "The Flu" con to her on the sidewalk)...Isn't it a meta-level example of his main point to her at the beginning: "Because you give me your confidence? No. Because I give you mine."
Here, Joe is intentionally putting his code of ethics on a higher level than Lindsay is able to do. Her character is actually a kleptomaniac, and although she is a successful shrink/author, she has very little self-control or discipline. She is petty. Kleptomania plays into their relationship and it also reveals something about her near the end of the movie which is again related to her lack of discipline.
6.9 out of 10, for House of Games. A few plot holes, but a good ending.........so the main con of the entire film rested on her begging to go along on a con that was developing within seconds, despite Mantegna telling her to go home, and that he was busy.......so if she'd said yes, and gone home, since they'd already hung out the whole day, that would have busted the con. Awesome.
The main con is in motion from the very first scene of the film. Her patient is part of the gang and they're baiting her with him from the word go. I guess you missed that detail.
We don't want to con you into listening to our review of this movie, but I have to tell you, it is pretty sweet: czcams.com/video/0HXWSngKN-M/video.html
great writing from Mamet as usual, the only thing for me that undid the magic of Mamet's script was Lindsay Crouse's performance, she just put so little emotion into allot of the scene's she was in. This scene was great though.
Godzilla52 my guess would be that it was either the direction, or the writing. I know that at one point David Mamet and Lindsay Crouse were a couple. Actors will discuss a scene with a director, asking what the director is looking for. Rarely doesn't actor just do their own thing. she had to have carried that demeanor for a reason
It's a modern day film noir, where the woman is sort of the Philip Marlow character, and the femme fatale rolled into one. The whole story pivots around her in a way that requires her to be incredibly strong. This kind of movie very rarely has women in pivotal roles other than in relation to the men. That's what makes this so special. It's a brilliant story/script.
@Godzilla52... I totally agree.She was stiff as a board.Granted,her character was a out-of-the-loop person but she still came off as stiff. Mind you,Mamet's next wife was just as bad IMO eg Rebecca Pidgeon.She irritated the bejesus out of me in The Spanish Prisoner & the Gene Hackman movie 'Heist'.She never got better at it and her acting was much like Scarlett Johansson in the way of 'Hey,I'll give a 1000 yard stare and wait for your line & then I'll respond in an emotionless reply'.. UGH!
After having seen several of Mamet's films, I'm convinced it was intentionally directed that way. Being someone who comes from stage theater, he wants the dialogue to be center stage, so he has muted the actors' performances so that your focus is completely on the weight of the dialogue and the words.
Two of the most underrated actors in cinema history... Studs!
The marine he was about to fleece was none other than William Macy!
Him and Mamet are pals.
An epic performance by Macy-- right up there with Daniel Wormald in Better Call Saul.
Epic??
They don't make movies like this anymore.
Best con movie ever
I loved that they played out, in great detail, cons I've heard about. These cons sound half baked and flimsy until you see them run. Also Stars Ricky Jay, one of the greatest card tricksters ever. Go watch some of his videos showing his skills honed over decades.
"Yeah, I was there."
“Were you in the shit?”
“Yeah, I was in the shit.”
Whenever I hear Joe Mantegna say money, I can't help but think of Fat Tony. "I'm afraid I must insist. You see, my wife, she has been most vocal on the subject of the pretzel monies. "Where's the money? "When are you going to get the money?" "Why aren't you getting the money now?" And so on."
Classic David Mamet! The main guy's one cool actor!
It's a, 'main man,' production
If you're watching it, it's for you.
I'm really happy he didn't take this guy's money.
It wasn’t because of any moral reason. There was a specific reason he didn’t take it -but it ties into the films end so I won’t give it away.
@@MegaBecks1981 how did it tie into the end?
@@blacjackdaniels200 She’s the mark. He didn’t take that guys money because he wants to gain her trust so he can take HER money.
Great old movie!
If they had been waiting so long for money to come in, as they told the Marine, why are they getting up and walking out?
It makes sense in the whole movie. He’s teaching her - a journalist - how cons work.
He didn't want the money. It was an example.
In addition to teaching her and giving examples of cons, he's also subtly charming her so that she's letting her guard down with him more and more, by throwing the fish back in the water with the Marine con. As if saying to her, "I'm not such a bad guy deep-down. I have some sense of honor, too..." (this builds upon the earlier scene where he says "I think we owe her one" to his fellow con men by revealing "The Flu" con to her on the sidewalk)...Isn't it a meta-level example of his main point to her at the beginning: "Because you give me your confidence? No. Because I give you mine."
Here, Joe is intentionally putting his code of ethics on a higher level than Lindsay is able to do.
Her character is actually a kleptomaniac, and although she is a successful shrink/author, she has very little self-control or discipline. She is petty.
Kleptomania plays into their relationship and it also reveals something about her near the end of the movie which is again related to her lack of discipline.
6.9 out of 10, for House of Games. A few plot holes, but a good ending.........so the main con of the entire film rested on her begging to go along on a con that was developing within seconds, despite Mantegna telling her to go home, and that he was busy.......so if she'd said yes, and gone home, since they'd already hung out the whole day, that would have busted the con. Awesome.
The main con is in motion from the very first scene of the film. Her patient is part of the gang and they're baiting her with him from the word go. I guess you missed that detail.
@@sumyunguy4150 "Go home, I'm busy"
"Okay".
Oops, there goes the whole plot.
Barry with a nod to this scene in s03e04
I bet this movie inspired Breaking Bad.
I bet it inspired other con movies written by David Mamet.
What the heck do you mean ?
Oh, you betcha.
We don't want to con you into listening to our review of this movie, but I have to tell you, it is pretty sweet: czcams.com/video/0HXWSngKN-M/video.html
great writing from Mamet as usual, the only thing for me that undid the magic of Mamet's script was Lindsay Crouse's performance, she just put so little emotion into allot of the scene's she was in. This scene was great though.
Godzilla52 my guess would be that it was either the direction, or the writing. I know that at one point David Mamet and Lindsay Crouse were a couple. Actors will discuss a scene with a director, asking what the director is looking for. Rarely doesn't actor just do their own thing. she had to have carried that demeanor for a reason
It's a modern day film noir, where the woman is sort of the Philip Marlow character, and the femme fatale rolled into one. The whole story pivots around her in a way that requires her to be incredibly strong. This kind of movie very rarely has women in pivotal roles other than in relation to the men. That's what makes this so special. It's a brilliant story/script.
@@aaronwalderslade - He was calling out her performance, not her character.
@Godzilla52... I totally agree.She was stiff as a board.Granted,her character was a out-of-the-loop person but she still came off as stiff.
Mind you,Mamet's next wife was just as bad IMO eg Rebecca Pidgeon.She irritated the bejesus out of me in The Spanish Prisoner & the Gene Hackman movie 'Heist'.She never got better at it and her acting was much like Scarlett Johansson in the way of 'Hey,I'll give a 1000 yard stare and wait for your line & then I'll respond in an emotionless reply'.. UGH!
After having seen several of Mamet's films, I'm convinced it was intentionally directed that way. Being someone who comes from stage theater, he wants the dialogue to be center stage, so he has muted the actors' performances so that your focus is completely on the weight of the dialogue and the words.
czcams.com/video/Dr-vQuDP-lo/video.html фокус, показанный на улице из фильма "Игорный дом"