On the day that the seriously postponed 2020 Summer Olympics begin, I settle down with Reindeer Games, which will be the last of my highly enjoyable Christmas crime/action/thriller stint. This 2000 thrill-fest from director John Frankenheimer was mauled by critics, most likely due to star Ben Affleck's mega-celebrity and the film's crazy twist ending. However, two decades on, for me the movie stands as a solid albeit far-fetched crime picture.
The plot concerns Affleck's ex-con who, fresh out of the joint, accidentally finds himself drawn into a scheme to rob a casino on Christmas Eve. This one is a smart movie, full of rug-pulls and double-crosses, though maybe tries to be just a bit too clever.
It's stacked with talent too, with Affleck making a decent, out-of-his-depth lead as Rudy who's just smart enough to stay one step ahead of the bad guys, though dumb enough to pull a stunt like posing as his dead cellmate to try and pull his hot girlfriend. Admittedly, that girlfriend is Charlize Theron who gives a sultry, multi-layered performance as Ashley who gets Rudy mixed up with her dim-witted but menacing criminal brother 'Monster' (Gary Sinise).
Problem is, they think Rudy is his dead pal Nick who worked at an Indian casino, managed by motor-mouthed Dennis Farina and they're gonna make him help them rob it. It's a fun premise - if he admits he's not Nick, he’s dead, so he has to think smart to figure a way out of this thing.
Affleck is fun playing an asshole who's easy to root for because he has many chances to escape but usually chooses the right thing to do to save lives. It's also all nice and Christmassy with the big heist going down on Christmas Eve with the gang all dressed in obligatory Santa garb. It's set in Michigan during winter withloads of ice and snow, leading to a thrilling chase on a frozen lake. Plus, there's something extra Noir-ish and cool about dead bodies in the snow.
The much-maligned twist ending is unnecessary but you know what? I appreciate it anyway. I won't spoil it, but it brings the entire plot full-circle and any film that ends with our reluctant hero, dressed as Santa, gifting wads of cash into people's mailboxes before making it home just in time for family Christmas dinner is all right with me.
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