good back-story, and good acting

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

The acting in this film is good, Michael Douglas was really good. I liked the sound effects too. The plot is not entirely bad until Nicholas attempts suicide, but what happens after ruins all: the worst end of all time that makes this movie a mess with the worst plot ever. It turns out that Nicholas is brought to suffer, lose all money, risk his life, kill his brother and commit suicide, but in reality it was all a staging just because his brother Conrad considered him an asshole. WTF! In the end Nicholas also thanks Conrad and the other people that took part and also asks the woman who almost killed him to go out with him... This movies doesn't make any sense, it leads you to feel that it has one meaning for the whole plot, (the scene about the father that commit suicide, the gold wristwatch) but it has no meaning, the end scene ruins everything!

Good but I might see another movie instead of watching this over again. Encountered a few loopholes in the story but only minor ones. Eversince Sean Penn showed up I know something's about to unfold orchestrated by him. Halfway through the film you'll figure out the plot, then it drives you away from your assumption but it trolls you hard at the very end like saying "Sucker! you were right from the beginning". Of all the movies by Mr Fincher this has to be the most predictable twist.And yes that Neo-Noir score was kind of overused. It adds up really well with the tension and mystery element but it went stale and saturated overtime.Just a few of my gripes. Overall, still a watchable movie esp if you want to see David Fincher's early takes with the Mystery/Thriller genre.

Love this movie, and I don't like a lot of movies. Great acting & story - it makes you look at life differently after watching.

This is a long way from Fincher's best - but nor is it his worst. It is still better than _Benjamin Button_, with its infinite budget and Kubrick-style obsessive perfectionism.I don't want to discuss the film content - just what it was. This is like an extended Twilight Zone episode, with twist upon gotcha upon twist. While these were good, they weren't mind-blowing. The best descriptor is "competent". As far as his film's go, it's in my second tier of his selections along with _Panic Room_. Competent but not extraordinary. That said, it's still leaps above your typical Hollywood barf. Fincher managed to snag Michael Douglas for this, one would assume on the tails of the much superior _Se7en_from 2 years prior. That's a minus for me - I find it hard to take Douglas films seriously.But I nitpick. By general standards this is superb viewing for stay-at-home, night in popcorn viewing. It engrosses and keeps your attention. As such I do recommend. But by Fincher standards, it's pretty mediocre, nowhere near the heights he reaches in _Fight Club_, _Zodiac_ or _Gone Girl_. It's still well worth viewing.