Mamet’s ‘House of Games’ Opens the Window on Deception

Seeing is believing, but only if you can trust what you see--as psychologist Margaret Ford learns in “House of Games,” a dark story of greed, death and deception.

Written and directed by David Mamet, the well-known playwright (“American Buffalo,” “Speed-the-Plow”) who also penned the screenplay for “The Untouchables,” the story starts slowly but builds suspense as Margaret (Lindsay Crouse, Mamet’s onetime wife) first seeks out the con man’s world and then tries desperately to escape it.

When one of her patients says that he’s racked up $25,000 in gambling debts, she attempts to get him off the hook by confronting his bookie, a slick con man named Mike (Joe Montegna).

In return for forgiving her client’s debt, Mike elicits her help in a high-stakes con. Intrigued by the con artist’s world, in which it’s often hard to tell who’s being conned, she begins to observe firsthand how he and his buddies work.

“Never trust anyone,” Mike tells her after showing her how easily a person can be tricked into giving money to a total stranger. And when she asks him to teach her more, he obliges by allowing her to join a series of larger and more dangerous cons.

But before long, she wonders if she’s gotten in too deep and if there’s any way out.

Montegna’s portrayal of Mike is excellent, bringing to life the charisma a con artist must have, as well as underscoring the sociopathic nature of a man who lives by stealing from people who trust him.

However, Crouse overemphasizes her character’s cool and analytical demeanor, often making Margaret seem far too removed from the people and action around her.

Still, this suspenseful story of duplicity and intrigue is as interesting to watch as it is complex, which is saying a lot.

“House of Games” 1987, written and directed by David Mamet. 102 minutes. Rated R.