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Dangerous Game | 
 enlarge | Director: Abel Ferrara
Actors: Harvey Keitel, Madonna, James Russo, Nancy Ferrara, Reilly Murphy
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy Used: $2.02
You Save: $12.96 (87%)
New (61) Used (22) from $2.02
Avg. Customer Rating:  31 reviews
Sales Rank: 37620
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dvd-video, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
Rating: Unrated
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 109
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: MGMD1008147D
UPC: 027616921857
EAN: 0027616921857
ASIN: B0009JMKIW
Theatrical Release Date: November 19, 1993
Publication Date: 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
A new york film director working on his latest movie in los angeles begins to reflect the actions in his movie and real life especially when he begins an affair with the lead actress. Studio: Tcfhe/mgm Release Date: 04/12/2005 Starring: Harvey Keitel James Russo Run time: 109 minutes Rating: Ur Director: Abel Ferrara
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| Customer Reviews: Read 26 more reviews...
 Ferrara and Keitel reteam for this disappointing film October 27, 2008
This review is written from the perspective of a Ferrara fan and not a Madonna fan who I think is unbearable in this movie. She plays Sarah Jennings an actress who has just gotten the lead role in a film called Mother of Mirrors. The film concerns a husband and wife who have enjoyed a wild lifestyle of drugs and orgies. The wife has found God and doesn't want to engage in these sinful activities anymore. She wants to save her husband in the process but he ain't having that and begins to beat her and ridicule her for her newfound faith. Eddie Israel (Harvey Keitel) is the director who is going to make this film. What makes Dangerous Game worthwhile is the fact that Keitel is playing Abel Ferrara as the story of Mother of Mirrors mimics that of Abel and his ex wife Nancy Ferrara. (Nancy plays Eddie's wife in the movie.) Keitel has Abel down perfectly complete with long stringy hair, leather coat and shades, and his tenderness in directing Sarah and his violence in directing her husband Burns (James Russo). The film is like Inland Empire in that what is happening onscreen begins to happen to everyone in real life. Sarah and Burns are actually having a relationship that is violent. Burns really is an out of control addict offset. Eddie and Sarah are even sleeping together which he has to admit to his wife. It is confusing and grows tiresome because of the acting of Madonna and James Russo. Madonna is just so annoying frankly and James Russo overacts so terribly. Keitel is very entertaining to watch but he can't save the film as it just keeps going and going. The main reason to see this film for Abel fans is to wonder how much of what we are seeing is true. Your heart breaks for Nancy playing a version of herself in a scene where Eddie admits that he had sex with Sarah minutes before she and their son surprised him at his hotel. What makes the scene worse is that not only does he tell her that Sarah wasn't the first that there have been many others on set but he is confessing to her on the morning of her father's funeral. In another interesting scene Eddie ridicules Sarah and tells her that her career would stall if it wasn't for him but yet Madonna's Maverick company and her own high profile made this film a reality. It is a disappointing followup to Bad Lieutenant but just as raw in its attempt. There is a very nice scene towards the end when it looks like it's over for Eddie since he is now heavily drinking and using drugs himself where he watches a documentary with director Werner Herzog saying that even if he finishes his movie and everyone applauds it he will never be convinced that it was worthwhile and says that he should be put in an insane asylum. The ending didn't make much sense as all of the main characters meet their fate but by the time Bob Dylan pops up on the end credits singing Blue Moon you are glad to have seen some of the stuff in this film but are even happier that it's over.
 A sound riposte to Bad Lieutenant August 4, 2008
You know how Amazon ratings work, so you might understand that I under-rated this mess because the over-all mean was way too high. This is a fascinating film in some ways. It's OK. Keitel and Russo have some unusual acting contexts in which to strut their stuff. It was mean to cast Madonna. She's so awful that the film seems to endorse all the misogynistic violence towards her. Keitel has fun playing Abel Ferrara, perhaps partly in revenge for being Catholicly "exploited" in Bad Lieutenant. I remember when I first saw this in the early 90s right after Bad Lieutenant, the intertextual references seemed very graphic. Less so now, but the film, as sub-standard as it is, has to be appreciated as a reaction by both keitel and Ferrara to their impressive collaboration in the aforementioned Zoe Tamerlis-scripted masterpiece. James Russo is excellent with a weakly-scripted part. Whatever happened to Russo? Such a good actor. Nicholas St. John - a frequent collaborator of Ferrara - shows no real talent in this rather enervated Hollywood lampoon. And for that matter, whatever happened to Ferrara?
 Madonna's Finest (Celluloid) Moment July 10, 2008
It has become so commonplace for critics (professional and armchair alike) to trash Madonna's film outings that when she does deliver a solid performance, hardly anyone sees or hears about it. Such is the case with Abel Ferrara's 1993 box office bomb, "Dangerous Game". With a Hollywood backdrop, the film chronicles the agonies and ecstasies (mostly agonies) of a highly volatile and unstable group of people attempting to get a movie completed. As the tensions in the film spill over into the real lives of the actors and director, an atmosphere of escalating insanity develops, turning the movie set into a breeding ground for out-of-control behavior. Although "Dangerous Game" was produced by Madonna's (former) company, Maverick, make no mistake about it, this is an Abel Ferrara film all the way down the line. It is tough, dark, and uncompromising, which is probably one of the reasons why many people seem to hate this film. Ferrara gained earlier fame with the gritty "Bad Lieutenant" and "Ms. 45", so a viewer familiar with those films will already have an idea what to expect from "Dangerous Game".
Harvey Keitel, as always, does a stellar job. Here he plays a New York film director, leaving his family to fly to L.A. and make an extremely disturbing film about infidelity and abuse. Keitel, with his frazzled hair and craggy face, realistically portrays the increasing isolation of his character from his wife and son, eventually sinking into despair and disillusionment. James Russo, as the male lead of the film-within-a-film, excels at playing psychopaths, and here he's walking a fine line as a man descending into a drug and alcohol induced world of paranoid madness. He's a good actor and gives a convincing performance but his constant carrying-on in this film does get wearying. Of course, as stated above, the real revelation comes from Madonna's (pardon the pun) immaculate performance as the film's female lead. She is totally believable in a role that calls for her to exhibit acting chops I never dreamed she had. Too many bad roles in bad movies have, I believe, led most people to stereotype her as a bad actress, but that's really not true. She's done good work in other films ("Evita", Desperately Seeking Susan", "Dick Tracy") but she's won notoriety for "Swept Away", "Who's That Girl?", "The Next Best Thing",and "Shanghai Surprise", and that's what most people think about when they hear the words Madonna and movie used in the same sentence. In "Dangerous Game" she's a gorgeous, frightened, overgrown kid trying to act like a tough grownup, and, in the process, becoming an eternal victim. It's easily Madonna's best acting job, and it's obvious that she had to reach deep within herself to deliver a performance of this range and quality.
The film itself is too relentlessly despairing and depressing. Despite the fine cinematography, there's an underlying ugliness to the film; it's an extremely effective and disturbing film, without ever being enjoyable, and maybe that's what killed it at the box office. Worth a look if you're aware of what you're getting into.
 Credit Where Credit is Due December 29, 2007
OK, I am a Madonna music fan, not particularly a Madonna movie fan. This film is a very dark, gritty film that takes a deep looks into the core of the human soul. I must admit it is a difficult film to watch because of its dark style. This is not a film for fans of big Hollywood blockbusters (despite its cast). This is an artists film. Madonna delivers a very powerful dramatic performance leagues superior than any other role she has taken. Put aside your preconceived opinions of the pop princess,and you will be amazed at how she is entrenched in this character. As a reported victim of physical abuse, she brings chills to the role of a battered woman. This film made me believe there is room still for Madonna to conquer the big screen, as she has conquered the music industry.
endurance test August 27, 2007
10 out of 17 found this review helpful
Uneven. Have always liked Keitel and Russo, but not here. Both stiff. Awful.
Only one person to blame: the "director." Actually, two: the "writing" leaves a lot to be desired.
I have a suggestion: how about starting out with a sound, well-written screenplay next time?
You see, the screenplay is your foundation. Just like you can't build a house without a sound foundation,
you shouldn't attempt to make a film without a solid screenplay.
You, then, only then, build on that with good actors and a director with talent.
How about that for common sense?
And Madonna? To watch this woman try to act is agony beyond words. Not a single syllable that comes out of her mouth comes close to being believable.
Did she invest in this mess? Is that how she got the role?
Not that it matters.
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