(1987) This film of flimfammery from director David Mamet, adapted from his stage play, reminded me of L.A. Confidential in its evocation (a deception in itself) through stilted dialogue and neon-lit dark settings of a '50s film noir, though the time and place is Seattle in the '80s.

In her attempt to help her young client, Billy Hahn (Steven Goldstein), a suicidal compulsive gambler facing what he says is a fatal debt, psychiatrist and author Margaret Ford (Lindsay Crouse, at the time Mamet's wife) pays a visit to the House of Games tavern where she makes acquaintance with Mike (Joe Mantegna), a professional con artist. After she foils Mike's attempt during a poker game to cheat her out of six thousand dollars, he and his partner Joey (Mike Nussbaum) intrigue her by demonstrating some of their tricks.

Frustrated with her life, looking for something more satisfying than listening to people she can't really help, the smart but staid Margaret decides to investigate the underworld of the confidence game as research and adventure for a new book.

The plot has problems of plausibility, but that's not the point. We get taken in by the story (or at least each of us can be duped at times by movies, theater, literature, luring us into believing in a world we don't inhabit), fooling us into releasing our feelings, trusting in the artist's apparent sharing of confidences with us.

According to a posting on IMDb: "The numeral 187 appears in the film in different instances. A license plate reads 'HSX 187.' Also it is the number of the airport locker used at the end. 187 is the police code for murder."

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in video and/or DVD format, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Copyright © 2009 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

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