Reviews

I rented this film years ago because of the boat -- and found that I had stumbled upon a great little film. The plot might be a bit off-putting to those who do not know or do not like game theory. I bought a copy of the DVD today.

***SPOILER**** The film is a brilliant use of a classic 'game' in game theory -- The Prisoner's Dilemma (PD). When the first step of the game started, I was stunned -- and hoped I had guessed right that it was the underlying plot -- and it was. If you are interested in PD or game theory, you can find information on it by searching the internet. If you like Dead in the Water, see The Spanish Prisoner -- another game theory plot. I think House of Cards is also, but I haven't seen it in years.

Some of the commenters blame the actors for their acting ability* -- how could the usual cool/hip 'acting' portray the horrific binds that these characters put themselves into because they couldn't, or wouldn't, see one step in front of themselves?? It's not a nice story and these aren't people we want to know. Well, first you think you would like to know them and then you begin to realize that their beauty only goes so far. But that's the value of the story: disappointment in the friends' lack of character, and a bit of shadenfreude mixed with 'there but for the grace of god go I.' Usually when people do stupid things, nothing happens . . . . this time . . . it does.

I had a good laugh at the negative comments about the acting -- similar ones were made about Kevin Costner's "lack of acting" in Dances With Wolves, a huge number of people fell all over themselves to say that he couldn't "act like an Indian." They, of course, had never met a Native American or, if they did, didn't know it. I grew up with Native Americans, and Costner did an amazing portrayal of their reserve and dignity (and is part NA himself). So sad when Opinion and knowledge don't coincide!