Movie Review: Reindeer Games

Reindeer Games 

Dimension Films, Marty Katz Productions, USA, 2000.

Rudy Duncan (Ben Affleck) and Nick Cassidy (James Frain) are released from prison. Nick is going to meet pen-pal girlfriend Ashley (Charlize Theron). Prisoner stabs Nick so that he dies. Because Ashley has not seen Nick in real life, Rudy decides to meet Ashley. Bow chicka wow wow. Hot romance follows. Rudy decides to tell the truth after Christmas.

Rudy and Nick

Ashley

Things get complicated when group of criminals come to search for Nick. Violent thug Monster (Gary Sinise) happens to be Ashley's brother. Danny Trejo appears as Jumpy, Monster's business savvy goon. Monster plans to rob casino where Nick worked. Casino Boss Jack Bangs (Dennis Farina) is rumoured to have a hidden safe full of money.  Rudy/Nick has no chance to but to partake in the robbery or Gabriel will kill him. 

Gabriel's gang puts Rudy in a tight spot

Bad Santas

The gang robs the casino wearing Santa Claus costumes. Coincidence or not but in the movie "3000 Miles to Graceland" released next year (2001) Elvis impersonators tried to rob a casino. This is John Frankenheimer's last theatrical movie and not one of his best. However it is a tight crime thriller about a small crook who gets into a bad situation. Noirish twists keep on coming and there is some subtle dark humour. It works well as "leave the brain in the cloakroom" entertainment. The Michigan snow and slush looks like Finnish winter.

Rating: Good 

Starring: Ben Affleck, James Frain, Dana Stubblefield, Mark Acheson, Tom Heaton, Isaac Hayes, Michael Sunczyk, Douglas Arthurs, Dean Wray, Ron Sauvé, Ron Jeremy, Hrothgar Mathews, Charlize Theron, Clarence Williams III, Donal Logue, Danny Trejo, Gary Sinise, Dennis Farina, Gordon Tootoosis, Lee Jay Bamberry, Franklin Dennis Jones, Jimmy Herman, John B. Destry, Ashton Kutcher, Ana Paula Piedade, Enuka Okuma, Eva De Viveiros, Ron Perkins, Joanna Piros, Robyn Driscoll, Lonny Chapman, Alonso Oyarzun, Rod Wolfe, Marcus Hondro, Sam Bob, Jacob Rupp, David Jacox, Anna Hagan, Ken Camroux, Terry O'Sullivan, Michael Puttonen, Paula Shaw, Don S. Williams, Jenafor Ryane, James Hutson, Wendy Noel, Blair Slater, Larry Lam, Govindini Murty 

Director: John Frankenheimer