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| Reindeer Games (Director's Cut) | 
 enlarge | Director: John Frankenheimer
Actors: Ben Affleck, Gary Sinise, Charlize Theron, Dennis Farina, James Frain
Studio: Dimension
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.99
Buy New: $3.15
You Save: $11.84 (79%)
Buy New/Used from $3.15
Avg. Customer Rating:  (93 reviews)
Sales Rank: 25760
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Director's Cut, Dvd-video, Widescreen, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD
Running Time: 124 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.1 x 0.6
MPN: D22395D
UPC: 786936151565
EAN: 0786936151565
ASIN: B000059HBA
Release Date: March 27, 2001
Theatrical Release Date: February 25, 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Description
Sizzling hot Ben Affleck (PEARL HARBOR) and Charlize Theron (THE CIDER HOUES RULES) team up with Gary Sinise (MISSION TO MARS) in this action-packed story of high-stakes crime and deception. Upon release from a stint in prison, Rudy (Affleck) impulsively decides to pose as his old cell mate Nick in order to make time with Nick's beautiful pen pal, Ashley (Theron). But Rudy's ruse blows up when he realizes that Ashely was double-crossing Nick ... and he's inescapably part of an armed robbery plot being hatched by her dangerously evil brother (Sinise)! Also featuring Clarence Williams III (LIFE), Danny Trejo (CON AIR), and Dennis Farina (GET SHORTY) -- don't miss this intensely entertaining, nonstop movie thrill ride!
Amazon.com
To fully enjoy Reindeer Games, it must be approached properly: your disbelief must be checked at the door, as this John Frankenheimer film needs be taken with a liberal dose of pure faith in the magic of movie plotting. Christmas approaches and all Rudy Duncan (Ben Affleck) can think about is the hot chocolate and pecan pie beckoning when he gets out of prison in a couple of days. But standing between him and his sated stomach is Ashley (Charlize Theron), an irresistible woman waiting for him upon his release. Without giving away any of the myriad twists of this thriller, Rudy falls for Ashley, thus becoming forcibly embroiled in a casino-robbery scheme helmed by Ashley's brother Gabriel (Gary Sinise). Frankenheimer, who excels at devious plot machinations, a la The Manchurian Candidate, goes far enough here to stretch the patience of even his most loyal fans. The script relies a little heavily on bad Christmas jokes, and the film is overwhelmed with close-ups. The convolutedturns become outrageous to the point of ludicrous; yet it's all done in the spirit of fun, and once you get past the implausibility, Frankenheimer takes you on a rousing ride. While Affleck doesn't seem quite hardened enough to be a convicted car thief, he does a superb job with a thin script, and Sinise is as sinister as ever. Theron provides more decoration than acting due to the lightweight plot, but my, what lovely decoration she is. For a thought-provoking evening, stick with the earlier Frankenheimer films; for an adrenaline-pumping evening, Reindeer Games has all the violence, chases, and sex scenes for a night of entertaining diversion. --Jenny Brown
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| Customer Reviews: Read 88 more reviews...
 IT'S SO BAD, IT'S FUNNY... December 3, 2006
One thing is to suspend belief, another is to suspend one's intelligence, which is what this movie requires. This movie is so bad, it is actually funny, at times. Replete with a bad script and bad acting, it revolves around a convoluted plot that has so many twists and turns, as to simply not be believable. The casting is bad, as well. Ben Affleck as a hardened convict? Come on...give me a break! He is simply not a good enough actor to play against type, charming though he be.
Rudy Duncan (Ben Affleck), a professional car thief who has just spent six years in the can, is looking forward to being released and returning to his family for Xmas. His cell mate of six years, Nick, is likewise looking forward to his own simultaneous release, so that he can join his beautiful girl friend and pen pal, Ashley (Charlize Theron), about whom he has talked to Rudy incessantly for years and to whom he has read all her letters. Unfortunately, two days before Nick's and Rudy's release, Nick is stabbed, ostensibly to death.
When Rudy leaves prison, he sees the beautiful Ashley waiting for Nick. Having heard all about her for years and feeling like he knows her, Rudy assumes Nick's identity, and hooks up with her. Unbeknownst to Rudy, Ashley has an evil brother (Gary Sinise). When Rudy meets him, somewhat unceromoniously, he forces Rudy to become part of a casino robbery, because he believe Rudy to be Nick and is counting on Nick's prior knowledge of the casino to help them plot the robbery. When Rudy confesses to not being Nick, Sinise does not believe him, and Rudy is forced to use his wits to stay alive.
The twists and turns continue. If you think the brother is evil, the viewer finds out that he has nothing on his sister, Ashley. Unfortunately, it gets so unbelievable, as to be ludicrous, and the movie spirals out of control. Like I said, it's so bad, it's funny. Rent it, Don't buy it.
 Very Entertaining June 20, 2006
3 out of 9 found this review helpful
"Reindeer Games" works on so many levels as an action film, it's damn near flawless. In fact, I think it is flawless except for the lame-brained twist that was thrown in at the end, but that didn't ruin it so I stick to my five stars. I'm going to have to start trusting Elmore Leonard a lot more, because his mini-review on the cover sums up everything well. "Reindeer Games Rocks! A High-Energy Thriller That Never Lets Go." He's more accurate than Stephen King has been about certain movies. Anyways, the movie stars Ben Affleck as Rudy; a prison inmate who listens to his cellmate Nick talk about his penpal. The penpal is Ashley (Charlize Theron) who waits for Nick to get out of prison. Rudy and Nick each get out on the same day (3 days) and discuss what they're going to do. Nick is going to meet up with Ashley, Rudy is going to get some hot chocolate. But then, Nick dies and Rudy assumes his identity and meets up with Ashley. Things click between Rudy and Ashley (she's under the impression he's Nick) but then things change again. Ashley's brother Gabriel (Gary Sinise) has read some of the letters and plans to use Nick to help him and his gang rob a casino. Explaining to them that he's not Nick, does Rudy no good and he ends up being caught up inescapably part of the plan. The movie also boasts an impressive cast that includes Dennis Farina (Get Shorty), Danny Trejo (The Devil's Rejects), and Donal Logue (TV's Grounded for Life). Now, besides the great plot and interesting twists; the movie is also fueled by some great performances. Affleck is believable as Rudy and Theron is perfect at going from good girl to deceitful b**ch. It's Sinise that really packs some punch though. This is Gary Sinise in top form and this is the role that he is meant to play. The long haired, bearded bad guy. Sinise truly delivers some great supporting work here. This is one of the most exciting action films I've seen in a long time and if you're not a big fan of action films, well there's a bonus...Check out Charlize Theron's nude scene (not a sex scene, but a pre-sex scene; You can count on seeing some t 'n' a though).
GRADE: A
IT'S SO BAD, IT'S FUNNY... April 16, 2006
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
One thing is to suspend belief, another is to suspend one's intelligence, which is what this movie requires. This movie is so bad, it is actually funny, at times. Replete with a bad script and bad acting, it revolves around a convoluted plot that has so many twists and turns, as to simply not be believable. The casting is bad, as well. Ben Affleck as a hardened convict? Come on...give me a break! He is simply not a good enough actor to play against type, charming though he be.
Rudy Duncan (Ben Affleck), a professional car thief who has just spent six years in the can, is looking forward to being released and returning to his family for Xmas. His cell mate of six years, Nick, is likewise looking forward to his own simultaneous release, so that he can join his beautiful girl friend and pen pal, Ashley (Charlize Theron), about whom he has talked to Rudy incessantly for years and to whom he has read all her letters. Unfortunately, two days before Nick's and Rudy's release, Nick is stabbed, ostensibly to death.
When Rudy leaves prison, he sees the beautiful Ashley waiting for Nick. Having heard all about her for years and feeling like he knows her, Rudy assumes Nick's identity, and hooks up with her. Unbeknownst to Rudy, Ashley has an evil brother (Gary Sinise). When Rudy meets him, somewhat unceromoniously, he forces Rudy to become part of a casino robbery, because he believe Rudy to be Nick and is counting on Nick's prior knowledge of the casino to help them plot the robbery. When Rudy confesses to not being Nick, Sinise does not believe him, and Rudy is forced to use his wits to stay alive.
The twists and turns continue. If you think the brother is evil, the viewer finds out that he has nothing on his sister, Ashley. Unfortunately, it gets so unbelievable, as to be ludicrous, and the movie spirals out of control. Like I said, it's so bad, it's funny. Rent it, Don't buy it.
 Good movie, needs more tho... March 16, 2006
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Its one of those movies, that you get hyped up on and you go up and down on during the movie, with the hype, if you havent seen it already watch it for the first time, its good...but after you've seen it more than once, everything falls in its own place, if this sounds good to you... pick it up.. its a 4 out of 5 in my book... well for first timers anyways then id say a 3 for the people who watch movies over and over like myself.
Sex, love & betrayal November 18, 2004
5 out of 12 found this review helpful
I've been after seeing this movie for quite a while, but never got round to buying it. I'm glad I borrowed it now - don't get me wrong, it's a good movie, but I doubt I'd watch it again. It's very Christmassy though. And we get to see Ben Affleck's butt - although he's got a bit of a fuzzy chest. Can't have it all, can we? There's a lot of butt to pinch there!
Most of the plot is very unbelieveable in this, and there's lot of violence that is in very bad taste. The ending is hinted at at the beginning - don't be eating at the start - and by the time the movie does finish off after a very long & dragged out process, there's been so many twists, that you're left wondering who's double/triple crossing who, and some twists reverse the direction you thought the film was travelling in. The twists are the cause for making the film less believeable, because they just wouldn't happen! And they're cliched to boot. Of course there's the usual, `I-won't-kill-you-now, I'll-give-you-an-exotic-and-elaborate-death-that-never-works' cliche along with countless others.
I loved the poster for this, although it looks airbrushed beyond belief. I loved nearly all the actors in this, although I didn't like Gary Sinise as the bad guy. He wasn't very believeable. Ben Affleck was great, showing off his tattooed arms, and Little Miss Blemish-Free, Clear Skin Charlize Theron shows she can hold a film, and also managed to get in some practice for her future film, Monster. Watching this, made me dig out Sweet November and have a good cry over that. If you blush easily, there's a rather saucy scene between Benny & Charlize, which practically made me blush! And his butt takes up most of the screen, that can't be a good thing! I'm not sure that scene was handled so well, it could have been done with a lot more taste. And after seeing Charlize so many times in Devil's Advocate, I'm sick of seeing her charms shall we say! Although I'm sure the guys aren't. If you've got it, flaunt it, as some people say it, and boy does she ever! Also, it's cold and boys, we girls would not go braless, cos certain things - well, put it this way, we have on as many layers as possible. Charlize must have been freezing throughout shooting!
There's not much to recommend about this movie. I assume from the theatrical to the director's cut, most of the saucier scenes were cut, as were most likely the shoot out scenes. It's a good movie to lose a couple of hours to, but if you're expecting a fast paced movie, then this isn't for you.
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