Funny Games Review

I think Michael Haneke, director of Funny Games, is as brilliant as he is twisted.  Funny Games is a German film that is currently being made into an American film - by Haneke - so I thought I might write about the original before everyone goes to see the American version.

General plot:  A family is settling into their lakeside vacation home when a young man comes to the door asking to borrow eggs.  Immediately, you can tell something isn't quite right.  The young man asking for eggs is wearing a pair of white, plastic gloves - a creepy image, for sure.  The mother/wife is alone in the house while her husband and son are off swimming and deals with the man asking for eggs.  A friend soon joins the gentleman asking for eggs, and when the husband and son return, the pair takes the family hostage.  The two young gentleman begin to play sadistic games with the family for the rest of the film.  Without spoiling anything, it's pretty incredible what unfolds, definitely not a 'feel good Hollywood ending.'

Michael Haneke has directed a slew of disturbing films, most recently being Cache.  His films have an eerie, calm quality and I have enjoyed most of them quite a bit.  However, Funny Games is definitely my favorite of the bunch.

As stated before, an American remake of the film, also entitled 'Funny Games,' is scheduled to be released in the fall of 2007. It stars Tim Roth and Naomi Watts, and is also directed by Michael Haneke.  If Haneke is at the helm, I'm sure it will be just as good as the German original, but I would reco. checking out the German version.