Ben Affleck’s Action Movie ‘Reindeer Games’ Was a Christmas Failure

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I’ve always been a big fan of films that push the boundaries and take risks, but sometimes even the most daring directors can fall short. John Frankenheimer, a legendary filmmaker with an impressive resume, unfortunately didn’t quite hit the mark with his final feature, “Reindeer Games.

It’s reasonable to assume that a high-profile holiday action movie, spearheaded by a renowned screenwriter, director, and cast, would be a surefire hit. However, this wasn’t the case with “Reindeer Games” (2000). Unfortunately, this unsuccessful production marked the final feature film of acclaimed director John Frankenheimer, who was one of the most underestimated thriller directors in history. His career as a trailblazer in both television and cinema is hardly reflected in this disappointing project. The movie earned just $32M at the box office against its production budget of $42M, and it has since been criticized by both audiences and critics, leaving a negative mark on everyone involved.

Ben Affleck Celebrates Christmas in… February?

The poor performance of “Reindeer Games” in cinemas was not entirely surprising given its delayed release. Originally planned for release on Christmas Day, the movie was eventually moved to February, which isn’t typically a strong period for films heavily reliant on Christmas themes. In an attempt to rebrand, “Reindeer Games” was renamed “Deception” in the UK, but with scenes of numerous dead Santas covered in their own blood at the start, it’s challenging to distance the movie from its holiday roots.

The movie titled “Reindeer Games” revolves around the character of Rudy Duncan, a former convict portrayed by Ben Affleck. Instead of heading straight home for the holidays as planned upon his release from prison, Rudy adopts the persona of his cellmate, Nick Cassidy (James Farin), to win over Nick’s pen-pal girlfriend, Ashley (Charlize Theron). Later on, a criminal mastermind named Gabriel (Gary Sinise) coerces Rudy into participating in a heist at a Michigan casino where Nick previously worked. This is due to the belief that Rudy possesses unique knowledge about the building’s layout.

After attempting to persuade Gabriel, along with his associates Pug (Donal Loguee), Merlin (Clarence Williams III), and Jumpy (Danny Trejo) that he isn’t the real Nick, Rudy ultimately decides it would be wiser to play along with the deception as it might slightly improve his chances of avoiding being killed. Unfortunately, things didn’t turn out as anyone had hoped. The plot, which appears to make a suitable foundation for an action thriller, leaves one wondering why Reindeer Games turned out to be such a disappointing film.

‘Reindeer Games’ Suffered From a Poor Script

The main point of contention with the movie “Reindeer Games” is its screenplay. This work was penned by Ehren Kruger, who has since demonstrated his skills in screenwriting through his involvement in three Transformers films – “Revenge of the Fallen,” “Dark of the Moon,” and “Age of Extinction.” Notably, he was also nominated for an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for his work on “Top Gun: Maverick.” His English-language adaptation of “The Ring” was highly praised, and it’s likely he received a substantial sum for the script of the upcoming Brad Pitt film, “F1.

In my perspective as a passionate cinephile, I must admit that “Reindeer Games” wasn’t exactly the masterpiece that I had hoped for from director John Frankenheimer. Being only his third project, it seemed he was still finding his stride, and the movie suffered as a result. The dialogue was often burdened with too much exposition, the storyline felt forced, and some plot twists were simply too far-fetched to swallow. Even the renowned film critic Roger Ebert couldn’t hide his disdain for “Reindeer Games,” voicing his thoughts in a scathing review: it was not the movie he expected from such a talented director.

Following the initial setup, the story primarily revolves around characters elaborating their actions to each other. If only I could time it, I would measure the exact number of minutes during which one character points a gun at another’s head in a lengthy dialogue.

He does give credit to the actors, namely Affleck and Theron, for doing their best to deliver a serious performance with such absurd material to work with. Ebert also praised Frankenheimer for doing the best he could with what he had, but the director himself was rather pleased with his approach. Frankenheimer once said in an interview that he had wanted to get into the humor of the story (which is essentially an exaggerated case of mistaken identity). But he may have gone a bit too far. “Just a nudge, and the movie would fall over into self-parody, and maybe work better,” Ebert claimed.

Navigating the monotonous and intricate dialogue within the movie “Reindeer Games” would have been less laborious if its narrative hadn’t been so complex. Instead of delivering a handful of clever plot twists, the film subjects viewers to a story that remains plausible merely because the script dictates it. In its climactic scenes, it delivers a string of implausible surprises, which unfortunately don’t come close to justifying the 104 minutes invested in reaching that point.

The Stars of ‘Reindeer Games’ Know How Bad It Is

It’s well-known and understood by the cast of the film “Reindeer Games” that it isn’t highly regarded. In a 2007 interview with Esquire, Charlize Theron spoke candidly about her role, stating, “Reindeer Games. That was a terrible movie. But I got to work with John Frankenheimer. I wasn’t fooling myself – that’s why I took the part.” The opportunity to collaborate with such a prestigious director was enticing enough for the actress to become involved, making it even more unfortunate that it was his final film, particularly given his past achievements. “After all,” Theron continued, “he directed The Manchurian Candidate, one of the greatest films ever made.

I fondly recall my appearance in the 2001 film “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back,” where I had the privilege of working alongside my long-standing buddy and collaborator, Matt Damon. In a humorous scene between us, we exchanged the following banter:

Affleck: You’re acting like a kid. Remember what I’ve been saying? First, take the safe option. Then you can explore your artistic side. However, there are times when you have to do something for a friend because he thinks you owe him. And sometimes, you might need to revisit an old favor.

Damon: And sometimes, you play Reindeer Games.

Affleck: See, that’s just mean.

Frankenheimer Stood By His Failed Project

Despite some critics pointing out the flaws in the movie “Reindeer Games,” especially its writing, director John Frankenheimer remained a staunch defender of his work. In an interview with Cynthia Fuchs of Nitrate Online following its release, he shared his creative vision: “During rehearsals, we fine-tuned the script to ensure authenticity. I aimed for no one to question the film’s credibility, making the plot seamless and logical with a rationale behind every event.” He undeniably achieved this goal in terms of plot clarity, but fell short when it came to making the story seem plausible.

To experience some of John Frankenheimer’s top-notch work, consider watching one of the greatest political thrillers ever produced, “The Manchurian Candidate” (1962), his mind-bending masterpiece “Seconds” (1966), or his near-perfect final feature film, the captivating “Ronin” (1998). However, it’s suggested that he should have followed Roger Ebert’s advice on his last feature: “The chance to enhance ‘Reindeer Games‘ was at the scriptwriting stage, by selecting another screenplay.” Nevertheless, if you’re interested in watching the film, it can be streamed on Paramount+, or it’s available for free streaming on Pluto TV via the link provided below:

Watch Reindeer Games

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2024-12-24 18:02