In his directorial debut, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Mamet creates a stylish cinematic puzzle of games within games, as con men are joined by a psychologist in creating the perfect caper. Dr. Margaret Ford ( Lindsay Crouse ), the writer of psychological self-help books, meets Mike ( Joe Mantegna ) as she attempts to help a patient who owes heavy gambling debts. When she herself is the victim of a con, she becomes intrigued by the psychological drama of the con game and joins in a complicated scam involving a suitcase of cash. Mamet directs his extremely complicated plot with skill and complete control until it is impossible to tell who is the con and who is the victim. The suspense builds to an amazing surprise ending which is both reasonable and believable but completely unpredictable. Crouse and Mantegna are outstanding as are all the supporting performances. Mamet and his cinematographer Juan Ruiz-Anchia create a visually stunning, compelling film that does justice to Mamet 's superbly written screenplay — Linda Rasmussen
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Lindsay Crouse | Margaret Ford |
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Joe Mantegna | Mike |
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Mike Nussbaum | Joey |
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Lilia Skala | Dr. Littauer |
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J.T. Walsh | The Businessman |
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Willo Hausman | Girl with Book |
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Karen Kohlhaas | Prison Ward Patient |
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Steven Goldstein | Billy Hahn |
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Jack Wallace | Bartender (House of Games) |
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Ricky Jay | George (Vegas Man) |
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G. Roy Levin | Poker Player |
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Bob Lumbra | Poker Player |
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Andy Potok | Poker Player |
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Allen Soule | Poker Player |
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Ben Blakeman | Bartender (Charlie's Tavern) |
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Scott Zigler | Western Union Clerk |
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William H. Macy | Sgt. Moran |
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John Pritchett | Hotel Desk Clerk |
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Meshach Taylor | Mr. Dean |
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Johnny 'Sugarbear' Willis | Hotel Doorman |
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Josh Conescu | Garage Attendant |
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Julie Mendenhall | Late Student |
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Rachel Cline | Student |
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Patricia Wolff | Patient (Ford's Office) |
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Paul Walsh | Man in Restaurant |
| Director | David Mamet |
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| Writer | David Mamet, Jonathan Katz | |
| Producer | Michael Hausman | |
| Musician | Alaric Jans | |
| Photography | Juan Ruiz Anchia | |
| Edition | Criterion |
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| Nr Discs | 1 |
| Distributor | Criterion Collection |
| Layers | Single side, Single layer |
| Edition Release Date | May 2019 |
| Regions | A |