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Home Equity and Line of Credit- home-equity.Interest.com. Compare current home equity interest rates for home loans Compare Equity Rates | Equity Trends | Loan Calculators Begin by selecting your state and type of program. Select a State Alaska Alabama Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Mexico New Jersey New York North Carolina North Dakota Oklahoma Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Select Loan Type Home Equity Loan Home Equity Line of Credit Improving Your Financial Literacy Source: Bank News - Dec 29, 03:08 AM As part of a nationwide survey of more than 1,300 homeowners conducted in August and released recently by Wells Fargo, respondents were questioned about their financial behaviors and attitudes regarding interest-only loans, the housing market and retirement planning.The WeUs Fargo second Annual Survey of American Homeowners found that of the 8 percent of homeowners with interest-only real estate- secured accounts, a 73-percent majority pay both the principal and interest at least some of the time. Read More... New-Home Sales Took Tumble in November Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution - Dec 27, 02:13 PM Dec. 24--Sales of new houses took an unexpected dive in November, falling to the slowest pace in a year and adding to evidence that the six-year real estate boom is ending. Home sales were down 11.3 percent from October, median and average prices were not much changed from a year ago, and the pool of unsold homes continued to swell, reaching a record 512,000. Read More... Warning on Interest-Only Mortgages Source: Buffalo News - Dec 23, 07:32 AM The Federal Reserve and other bank regulators said interest-only and other nontraditional mortgages pose a threat to the financial system and urged the nation's banks to tighten lending standards.Lenders are also letting home buyers fund down-payments with home-equity loans in what the industry dubs "piggyback" financing. Read More... Reverse Mortgage Could Help Senior's Finances Source: Cincinnati Post - Dec 21, 05:11 AM If anything defies the adage "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is," something called a reverse mortgage might be it -- especially for older homeowners who find themselves struggling financially while sitting on a big pile of home equity.If you own your home and are at least 62, a reverse mortgage might allow you to get your hands on that equity and continue to live in the home with no requirement to repay the loan as long as you stay there. Read More... How to Be an Armchair Economist Source: The Seattle Times - Dec 20, 02:01 PM Dec. 20--The housing market is likely to cool, but not collapse. And though continued high energy prices may depress consumer spending, sustained business investment should counterbalance that. Read More... Options on Taxes Invest in Income Source: Augusta Chronicle, The - Dec 20, 01:38 AM WASHINGTON - In presenting President Bush with two options to streamline the tax code, his handpicked advisory panel promises that most taxpayers can expect to pay Uncle Sam about what they pay today. Even though Mr. Bush and Congress will change the panel's plans, it's worth looking at the winners and losers the two options would create. Read More... View More Home Equity Headlines Home Equity Basics · What You Should Know About Home Equity Lines of Credit · See where the Prime Rate is and where it has been historically · Using a Home Equity Loan To Your Advantage · A Home Equity Loan May Be Tailor-Made To Meet Your Needs · Government Helps Buyers Fix Up Their Dream Home With the 203(k) · Deducting Mortgage, HELOC and Home Equity Loan Interest Home Equity Basics See where the Prime Rate is and where it has been historically Using a Home Equity Loan To Your Advantage A Home Equity Loan May Be Tailor-Made To Meet Your Needs Government Helps Buyers Fix Up Their Dream Home With the 203(k) Loan More Investing Basics Advertisement Mortgage Today's Rates Find Local Lenders Mortgage Calculators Mortgage Trends Lender List by State Reverse Mortgage Lenders Interest Only Mortgages Refinance Mortgages Mortgage Forms Real Estate Forms Legal Forms Real Estate Articles Auto Loans Auto Lenders Auto Trends Auto Calculators Credit Cards Credit Cards Credit Card Trends Calculators Home Equity Equity Rates Equity Trends Loan Calculator Bad Credit Find Lenders Loan Calculators Deposits Products and Rates Charts and Trends Calculators Subscribe for Free Mortgage Updates E-mail Newsletters Wireless/PDA Interest.com, as mobile as you are . - Free Latest News Feeds Mortgage Talk Forum-financial knowledge is a click away . 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Real estate prices on

2004-09-18 Qing Jie Real estate prices on the rise 2@webnews ,real estate# price# , 0 Housing Consumption /enpproperty-- Real estate prices on the rise Home News Center China Real estate prices on the rise By Qing Jie (China Daily) Updated: 2004-09-18 01:03 China's real estate prices continued to surge during the first eight months of this year due to increasing market demands and limited investment tools. Figures from the National Bureau of Statistics show the average housing price in China hit 2,749 yuan (US$331) per square metre from January to August, an increase of 13.5 per cent over the same period last year. While, the unit price was 3,421 yuan (US$412), 1,672 yuan (US$201) and 1,700 yuan (US$205) in the eastern, middle and western regions of China respectively, up 15 per cent, 14.7 per cent and 7.7 per cent in the first eight months of last year. "The price climbing is stimulated by booming market demands," said Chang Xiuze, a researcher with the Macro-Economy Research Institute of the State Development and Reform Commission. Along with income increases and living standard upgrades, most people first consider improving their housing conditions. To date, more Chinese people find the current interest rate level unsatisfactory and have become more reluctant to make new deposits. "Furthermore, investment channels in China are rather limited at present, thus consumers prefer pooling money into the property market," said Chang. Mou Xin, marketing supervisor of Xie-Cheng, a real estate consulting company, pointed out the booming market demand was also built up by some property developers, who said the price will rise sharply in the near future because land cost is expected to increase. But, both Chang and Mou believe the housing price will stay stable or only rise slightly. Due to the central government's restricted macro-economic control policy, the increase rate of loans extended to property developers declined. Meanwhile, bank loans to real estate enterprises still amounted to 211.2 billion yuan (US$25.45 billion) from January to August, a rise of 8.9 per cent year-on-year, with the growth rate dropping 50 percentage points. Close Today's Top News Top China News 'Garden of gardens' to undergo revamping English web platform launched Most US companies making profits in China Hurricane Ivan slams Gulf coast; 20 dead Fixed investment rises 30.3% China rejects US religion report FM spokesman: China intends no harm to neighbors Fireworks factory explosion kills 10 China refutes Japanese defense report Women entrepreneurs gather in Beijing China's new-generation rocket seeks approval Self-defending woman found innocent Go to Another Section select hot link News Center China World Business Life Sports Most Popular Photo Gallery Story Tools News Talk It is time to prepare for Beijing - 2008 Advertisement

Real Estate Investing

Bob Bruss Real Estate Center An Audio Message from Bob Bruss Subscribe to Bob's Weekly e-mail update and get this Free Report: 2005 Realty Tax Tips: 8 Chapters of Tax Savings for Homeowners and Investors First Name: Primary E-mail Address: >> Order Bob’s Special Real Estate Reports only $4.95 each! >> Ask Bob a Real Estate Question >> Subscribe to Bob’s Newsletters NEW REPORT! “Foreclosure and Distress Property Profit Secrets” >> Order Why pay upwards of $300 per hour for real estate legal, tax or investment advice? Bob Bruss, America’s most trusted real estate expert, offers Special Reports on a wide range of real estate topics for less than $5.00 each! Bob’s columns appear in over 150 newspapers across the country, including the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle. Bob draws on more than 25 years of real estate writing, teaching and investing to bring you unbiased information that will help you make smart real estate decisions. Click above & get a free 6-month newsletter subscription! Bob's Notebook SIX KEY REAL ESTATE NEGOTIATION TIPS FOR BUYERS, SELLERS Determining other party's motivation paramount to success The year 2005 has been very good for most property owners and realty sales agents. Home sales prices appreciated handsomely in most communities and the sales volume of new and resale homes were near-record. But 2006 promises to be more "normal" as mortgage interest rates slowly rise, resulting in a modest new home construction volume decline with a corresponding residence market value appreciation and sales volume slowing. Having been through many real estate market ups and downs over almost four decades, both as an investor, sales broker, and realty writer, I've learned that success in a slowing real estate market requires paying greater attention to negotiation skills. NEGOTIATE WITH PEOPLE WHO WANT TO NEGOTIATE . As a lifelong student of real estate negotiation techniques, because there is always more to learn, I've discovered it usually is a waste of time to attempt to negotiate with people who are not highly motivated to make a change. Most experienced real estate agents hate the situation when a home seller lists their desirable property for sale with a top price but they really don't have a good motivation for selling. These sellers often have the attitude "If we can get our price, we'll sell. Otherwise, we won't sell." Their homes often take "forever" to sell. But in 2005, many homes sold for above their asking prices because buyers wanted to purchase more than sellers wanted to sell. A strong motivation for many buyers was to beat the long-predicted rise in home mortgage interest rates. The result was a "seller's market" in many communities with more qualified buyers than motivated sellers. However, as the number of residence listings for sale has risen recently and is expected to continue rising in early 2006, especially after the customary holiday 2005 year-end lull in home sales, many real estate economists are predicting a more normal balance of motivated sellers and buyers. The result should put a premium on negotiation skills for home buyers and sellers, as well as their realty agents, to conclude successful sales. HOW TO ACHIEVE A SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATION . Whatever your role in a home sale, as buyer, seller or realty agent, you can't ask too many questions. Of course, the best negotiators inquire in a friendly manner interjected with compliments. Here are the six key questions to get answered for a successful home sale negotiation: 1. WHY IS THE SELLER SELLING THIS LOVELY HOME? One way or another, successful home buyers and their realty agents need the answer to this key question so the buyer can make a purchase offer which meets the seller's needs (of course, buyers should leave out the word "lovely" if the place is a dump!). As a long-time investor in rental houses, and my personal residences, I always try to tailor my purchase offers to meet the seller's needs (and mine too). For example, several years ago I bought a house from an elderly lady who was retiring. So I offered her 10 percent cash down payment and a 90 percent seller carryback mortgage to provide for her retirement income. When she saw my offer and how much she would receive from my payment each month, she accepted (although the listing agent previously told me she wouldn't carry back any mortgage financing). Another time a listing agent told me the retired sellers of an "el dumpo" house were living in a boarding house and needed cash. As a result, I figured they wanted an all-cash sale so I arranged 100 percent financing at a community bank. The sellers immediately accepted my low purchase price offer for cash. 2. WHAT WAS THE HOME SELLER'S PURCHASE PRICE? Buyers who don't find out the answer to this key question, either from the listing agent or their buyer's agent, are at a severe negotiation disadvantage. Here's why: If the seller purchased the home many years ago for a low purchase price compared to today's market value, that seller has lots of negotiation room. However, if the home seller bought within the last few years for a price not far from today's market value, there isn't much negotiation flexibility. Of course, if the seller has a high-motivation reason for selling, as disclosed by the answer to the first question, even a recent home buyer is often willing to sell in a quick sale for close to the seller's purchase price. Such a situation is an ideal candidate for the buyer to take over payments on the current mortgage with the lender's permission. 3. DOES THE OTHER PARTY HAVE A TIME DEADLINE? This is a question both home buyer and seller should ask of their realty agent. To illustrate, if one party has a job transfer, then purchase or sale of the home can be very important. But if the seller is moving to a retirement residence, time usually isn't so critical. However, if the seller already bought another home and needs to sell the current home to produce the down payment, then closing time is ultra-important. As experienced real estate agents know, the worst home buyers and sellers are those without any time deadlines. Those folks can take forever to make decisions. 4. HAS THE SELLER OBTAINED A PROFESSIONAL HOME INSPECTION REPORT? Today's smartest real estate agents suggest their sellers obtain a professional inspection report at the time of listing the home for sale. Then the seller is fully aware of most home defects and can either have the defect repaired or fully disclose it to prospective buyers, thus averting future lawsuits. Sharp home purchasers, and their buyer's agents, understand this trend. When a buyer is seriously interested in a house, always ask if the seller has already obtained a professional inspection the buyer can review before making a purchase offer. Even if the seller has obtained customary professional inspection reports, smart buyers should always include in their purchase offers a contingency clause for the buyer's approval of their own inspection report obtained at the buyer's expense. Most states now have some form of required seller disclosure statement revealing known home defects. However, many sellers are not aware of all their home's defects, or they might "forget" to disclose a defect. The old days of "caveat emptor" (let the buyer beware) have disappeared. Today, the new rule seems to be "let the home seller beware of the buyer and his lawyer." 5. WHAT IS THE BUYER'S MOTIVATION TO PURCHASE MY HOME? Just as home buyers need to know the seller's reason for selling, to create a harmonious negotiation situation, home sellers should ask why the buyer wants to purchase. Of course, there are many home purchase reasons. However, if the buyer has indicated a key reason why that particular house is under consideration, such as its great condition, outstanding school district, or need to move in quickly, the seller can use that information to enhance their negotiation position. 6. ASK AN OPEN-ENDED QUESTION, SUCH AS WHAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SHOULD I KNOW BEFORE MAKING A DECISION? There are many variations of this question home sellers and buyers can ask, especially of their real estate agents. To illustrate, a home buyer might ask their buyer's agent "What else should I know about this house?" Or the seller might ask their listing agent "If you were in my situation, would you accept or counteroffer the buyer's purchase offer?" SUMMARY : When negotiating a home sale, sellers and buyers can't ask too many questions to enhance their negotiation position. The prime reason is to determine how motivated the other party is to buy or sell. If there is weak motivation, you aren't in a strong negotiation situation. However, if the other party is highly motivated, then you are in a strong circumstance to negotiate your strongest price and terms. More details are in my special report, "How to Become a Super-Successful Real Estate Negotiator," available for $5 from Robert Bruss, 251 Park Road, Burlingame, CA 94010 or by credit card at 1-800-736-1736 or instant Internet PDF delivery at www.bobbruss.com . Back to top © 2005 Inman News Home | Real Estate Reports | Real Estate Newsletter | About Bob Bruss | Site Map

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Amazon.com: House of Games: DVD Your Store DVD See All 32 Product Categories Your Account | Cart | Wish List | Help | Advanced Search | Browse Genres | Top Sellers | New & Future Releases | Television Central | Life & Learning | DVD Essentials | Blowout DVDs | Movie Showtimes | Used DVDs Search Amazon.com DVD Web Search Join Amazon Prime and ship Two-Day for free and Overnight for $3.99. Already a member? Sign in . DVD Information Explore this item buying info editorial reviews customer reviews cast and crew fun facts Listmania! 10 top-shelf thrillers, after ... : A list by A. C. Walter "awalter" Add your List Ready to buy? Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering. A9.com users save 1.57% on Amazon. Learn how . MORE BUYING CHOICES 57 used & new from $6.99 Have one to sell? House of Games (1987) Starring: Lindsay Crouse , Joe Mantegna Director: David Mamet Rating: See larger image Share your own customer images List Price: $14.95 Price: $12.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. See details You Save: $1.96 (13%) Availability: Usually ships within 24 hours. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Only 4 left in stock--order soon (more on the way). Want it delivered Friday, December 30? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. See details 57 used & new available from $6.99 Edition: Other Versions and Languages Other Versions (VHS Tape) List Price Price Other Offers: VHS Tape House of Games $7.95 18 used & new from $1.63 VHS Tape House of Games 2 used & new from $7.77 Better Together Buy this DVD with Oleanna DVD ~ William H. Macy today! Total List Price: $34.93 Buy Together Today: $30.98 Customers who bought this DVD also bought The Spanish Prisoner DVD ~ Campbell Scott Oleanna DVD ~ William H. Macy Things Change DVD ~ Don Ameche Heist DVD ~ Gene Hackman Explore Similar Items : in DVD , in Video , and in Books Storyline Genres: Crime , Mystery , Thriller Tagline: Where the game is never over. Plot Outline: A psychiatrist's patient is in desperate need of money, so she agrees to help him. But... Plot Synopsis: A famous psychologist, Margaret Ford, decides to try to help one of her patients get out of a gambling debt. She visits the bar where Mike, to whom the debt is owed, runs poker games. He convinces her to help him in a game: her assignment is to look for "tells", or give-away body language. What seems easy to her becomes much more complex. Plot Keywords: Independent Film | Con Artist | Con Trick | Twist In The End | Neo Noir | Sting Operation | Psychiatrist | Seattle Washington | (Show all plot keywords recommended by customers) Product Details Actors: Lindsay Crouse , Joe Mantegna , Mike Nussbaum , Lilia Skala , J.T. Walsh , See more Directors: David Mamet Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Widescreen, Ntsc, Full Screen, Widescreen Letterbox Region: Region 1 ( U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats. ) Number of discs: 1 Rated: (Not for sale to persons under age 18.) Studio: MGM (Video & DVD) DVD Release Date: December 19, 2000 Run Time: 101 minutes Average Customer Review: Based on 54 Reviews DVD Features: Available Subtitles: Spanish, French Available Audio Tracks: English (Unknown Format), French (Unknown Format), Spanish (Unknown Format) From IMDb: Quotes & Trivia ASIN: B00004ZBVL Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,515 in DVD Theatrical Release Information US Theatrical Release Date: October 11, 1987 MPAA: Production Company: Filmhaus USA Box Office: $3 Million Filming Locations: Seattle, Washington, USA Editorial Reviews Amazon.com David Mamet's 1987 directorial debut was this mesmerizing study of control and seduction between two kinds of detached observers: a gambler who is also a con artist, and a psychotherapist who is also an emerging pop-psych guru in the book market. The latter (played by Lindsay Crouse) meets the former (Joe Mantegna) when one of her clients is driven to despair from his debts to the card shark. Mantegna's character agrees to drop the IOUs in exchange for Crouse's attention at the seedy House of Games in Seattle, a mecca for con men to talk shop and hustle unsuspecting customers. The shrink gets so caught up in the arcane rules and world view of her guide over subsequent days that she observes--with no false rapture--various stings in progress inside and outside the club. Mamet's story finally becomes a fascinating study of two people protecting and extending their respective cosmologies the way rival predators fight for the same piece of turf. The psychological challenge is compelling; so is the stylized dialogue, with its pattern of pauses and hiccups and humming meter. Mostly shooting at night, Mamet also gave Seattle a different look from previous filmmakers, turning its familiar puddles into concentrations of liquid neon and poisonous noir. --Tom Keogh Customers who viewed this DVD also viewed Spartan DVD ~ Tia Texada Glengarry Glen Ross (Special Edition) DVD ~ Jack Lemmon State and Main DVD ~ Michael Higgins The Grifters (Miramax Collector's Series) DVD ~ Anjelica Huston Explore Similar Items : in DVD , in Books Spotlight Reviews Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. 17 of 18 people found the following review helpful: A STUNNING PSYCHOLOGIAL THRILLER... , August 25, 2001 Reviewer: Lawyeraau (Balmoral Castle) - See all my reviews This is an absolutely mesmerizing film. A wonderful addition to that genre known as "film noir", the movie is superlative in every way. In his directorial debut, David Mamet shows a keen understanding of the concept "less is more". The two main characters in the film are a well known psychiatrist with a best selling book, Dr. Margaret Ford, played with chilly determinism by Lindsay Crouse, and a slick con man, known only as Mike, brilliantly played by Joe Mantegna with a sinister, charismatic charm. She is stiff and formal. He is casual and seemingly easygoing. Each is involved in a field of endeavor that requires a keen understanding of human nature. They meet by virtue of what each of them does for a living. Dr. Ford is treating a young patient, who claims to be despondent over getting in over his head financially, while gambling at a disreputable and seedy locale known as the House of Games. She is worried about her patient's potential for suicide, so she decides to go to the House of Games to see if she can straighten out the whole mess. There, she meets Mike, the person to whom the debt is owed. From the moment they meet, there is a latent, sexual tension between them and an aura of danger and seduction that permeates the air. Intrigued by him, she is drawn into his world, where things are not always what they seem. There are many twists and turns in this most unusual film, which deftly manipulates the viewer. The film is tautly crafted, and the dialogue itself is highly stylized with its own peculiar cadence. This serves to add to the air of mystery and suspense which infuses this film. There is an excellent supporting cast whose strong performances contribute to the overall quality of this multi-layered film. There is even a small cameo by William H. Macy. It is with good reason that this film was touted by critics as one of the best films for 1987. It meets the high standards set for this genre of film by the late, great director, Alfred Hitchcock. It is simply a stunning tour de force. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 5 of 7 people found the following review helpful: 4 Stars for the FILM, 1 Star for the DVD , September 2, 2005 Reviewer: Ziad R. Hakim (Beirut Lebanon) - See all my reviews Of course the movie deserves 4 stars, however I wish I could say the same for the DVD. What does it take for DVD company to release each DVD enhanced for 16x9 TVs? Nothing! Recently I bought a laptop with widescreen display and I have a collection of over 600 Dvds. I learned now about "Enhanced for 16x9 TVs" and how important it is, I did not care about it or even know about it since I own a standard TV, however all my Dvds are Region 1 and in widescreen, I never buy fullscreen Dvds. So I did an inventory on my collection and realized the following: Out of 600+ Dvds, 42 are NOT enhanced for 16x9 TVs and they really look horrible when I played them on my PC. Anyway, according to my inventory, MGM and Touchstone are the worst! Universal, Columbia, Twentieth Century Fox and Warner are the best and Paramount ranks in between. Here is some details: - 3 of the 42 are Universal (Please note that many of my Dvds are Universal so 3 of them, included Tremors, is not a big deal) - 12 of them are from Touchstone (such as Ransom, The Rock, What about Bob, Good morning Vietnam etc) Which is a high number compared to my small Touchstone collection. - 2 out of 42 from Warner Home Video. Note that I have around 100 Warner Dvds. The only negative thing about Warner is most of the DVDs come in digipak. However, the latest "2-Disc Special Edition" rate among the best in terms of quality and extras. - 14 of them are from MGM. Sadly, some of my favorite MGM movies are among them such as "A fish called Wanda", "Misery", "Graduate", "Prizzi's Honor", "No way out" etc. MGM Europe has released all those DVDs (Region 2) 2-Disc in special edition including 5.1 surround, widscreen enhanced 16x9. I hope one day soon MGM USA releases them in Special edition like they did with "Fargo", "Rain Man" and "Usual suspects". - 6 out of the 42 are from Paramount including good movies such as "Breakdown", "Ghost and the darkness", "Primal fear", "Private parts", "Coming to America" and "48 Hrs". The reason why they don't release every DVD in widescreen enhanced for 16x9 is beyond me since soon Widescreen Tvs will replace standard ones. Amazon should add in the description if the DVD is enhanced from 16x9 Tvs. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) Customer Reviews Average Customer Review: Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: You can't bluff someone who's not paying attention. , November 27, 2005 Reviewer: A. Gyurisin "good friend, damn fool" (The Flatlands of Illinois) - See all my reviews When I first began House of Games, I hated it. I hated the language, I hated the characters, I hated the tone, but then something changed. Mamet finally took control of this film and pulled the audience in by tricking all of us into thinking this was a film about a young love and the darkness of the world, when instead it was all about something deeper. If you go into this film expecting the classic 1980s clich of woman meets man, man is a criminal, woman changes man thus leading to a sloppy wet ending, you will be utterly disappointed. This structure is initially how I envisioned this film, and with the first half an hour filmed the way it was, there was no doubt in my mind that I had been suckered into just another average crime film. Then, midway through the picture, the tones and themes dramatically change. I didn't even see it coming, but when you least expect it, like the "con" performed in this film, it will blindside you quicker than a deer on the highway. House of Games leaves you with this perfect example of just how dark David Mamet is. This is a film that most will either hate or love. The reason that I say this is because the language of the film is extremely "stagey". Before this film, David Mamet had found his success with his plays. The power of his characters, the unjustness of his plots, and the vile of his villains were key elements to packing his plays full of patrons. In House of Games he attempts to bring the stage to the screen without any changes. You can literally hear the beats between the characters when they are talking. The language that they use feel and sound as if they are acting in front of a live audience, not just for the camera. This makes the words a bit stale at times. You can visually see this film as a play because of the language that is used. Again, some will hate this about the film, while others will see it as nothing short of classic Mamet. For me, I hated it at first, but as the film developed, I began to see the logic behind it. The quickness of the conversations between the characters gave more definition to the "con" that they were trying to perform. I always felt as if they were quickly getting something by me. About the middle of the film, I began listening to every word said afraid that I would miss a key element that would unravel this tight plot. I began waiting for scenes where Margaret (Crouse) would stumble on her words, change the meaning, thus allowing us to develop the evil that was within her. Slowly and steadily this "stagey" language worked for me, and it gave just a small addition to the characters. For anyone that has ever seen most of Mamet's film versions (and some of his stage performances) you will notice that he is notorious for using the same characters throughout. I like this quite a bit. Christopher Guest uses the same technique. While I have talked to some that think that it only shows the repetition of his originality, I think that it gives Mamet definition and substance. I loved watching this early film of Mamet's and see a young William H. Macy in a scene and his use of my favorite J.T. Walsh. It is fun to watch these actors grow in Mamet's films. Many of them you can see in State & Main and Heist. Does that mean that they are necessarily good actors then? I don't think so. While I liked the continual use of the same characters, some (more than others), have trouble with the characters. For example, in House of Games, it was obvious that Lindsay Crouse did not have control over her character. She seemed fake in her scenes, and did not counter will with Mantegna (who gave a great performance). She seemed on a different beat compared to the others in this film, and I think it hurt House of Games somewhat. She wasn't the strongest actress that Mamet could have chosen. While I loved the "con" throughout the film, I did feel as if the ending was a bit on the weak side. Without giving it away, it started to feel used before it was over. I knew deep within me where it was going, but I kept waiting for the big "hurrah", but alas, there wasn't any. That is where Mamet missed his mark. The ending needed to be stronger. I loved watching this simple woman transform into evil and the entire themes that went along with that, but I needed more. I loved the anti-romantic notion of this film, but I needed more. I loved the character interactions in this film, but I needed more. That was exactly how I felt about this film. I loved House of Games, but I needed more. Mamet ended the film without giving us closure, and while the rest of the film was exciting to watch, this ending just left me soured. Overall, I loved it, but I don't think that I could watch it again. Mamet is one of the greatest writers of our generation providing us with some very "cult" anti-Hollywood cinema, but this first film was a rough-cut. It was smart, intelligent, and overall a stage version of his play onto film. A stronger transition was needed from stage to screen. The characters were somewhat developed and the plot was sensational. The darkness by the end of the film caught me unprepared. I liked this film, but a second viewing is not in my future. I love David Mamet's work and cannot wait to submerge myself into more of his films later. Grade: *** out of ***** Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 1 of 6 people found the following review helpful: One Psychiatrist In Need Of Heavy Duty Medication And Therapy!!! , September 24, 2005 Reviewer: John Baranyai "Book Nerd And Ex High School Geek Member Of The Chess Club" - See all my reviews This is a sorry excuse for a movie which stars Lindsay Crouse in a very wooden performance playing a psychiatrist who gets involved with a con man played by Joe Mantegna.These two argue about wether they had Consentual Sex or Rape because Joe took Margaret under false pretences which is a pretty dispicable thing to do to a woman. I personally consider it to be a very cowardly rape .This should give you some idea of Mantegna's character in this movie.There are then a lot of twists and turns until Ms. Crouse becomes a Compulsive Kleptomaniac which just goes to prove my Theory that most psychiatrists are more "messed up" (that's the polite word) than their patients. I give this movie 5 stars because I have always liked Joe Mantegna even though he plays a very unlikeable character in this movie. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) Con Games Within Con Games, And Nicely Done , September 10, 2005 Reviewer: C. O. DeRiemer (San Antonio, TX USA) - See all my reviews On one level, House of Games is a fascinating con game, complex and convoluted. On another level, it's a little cold-blooded. Whether you like it or not may depend on your tolerance for having the wool pulled over your eyes and your willingness to get involved with people you probably won't care for. Margaret Ford (Lindsay Crouse) is a psychiatrist who decides to provide some direct assistance to a patient who has a big gambling debt. Late one night she goes to the House of Games, meets Mike (Joe Mantegna), who holds the markers and tries to talk him into doing the right thing. He eventually agrees, but only if she'll help him in a high stakes poker game. He wants her to keep an eye on a particular player's "tells," the give-away body language that will help Mike take the guy to the cleaners. She does...and finds herself in the world of cons within cons. We find ourselves in the same place. "The basic idea is this," Mike tells her later. "It's called a confidence game. Why...because you give me your confidence? No. Because I give you mine." She's fascinated and decides to write a book about how conning people works...the psychology of it. "Everybody gets something out of the transaction," Mike says one evening when he has demonstrated how to get a mark to give him money. "I gave that guy my confidence. I asked him for help. And what he gets...he feels that he's a good man." She's hooked despite herself, and soon finds herself drawn not only to Mike but to working with him to con a big take. But is Mike conning her? She wrote a best selling book, she's got money, and she obviously is drawn to the excitement and challenge. "I gave you my trust," Margaret says at one point. "Of course you gave me your trust," Mike replies. "That's what I do." There'll be no spoilers here. The cleverness and the fun of the movie, and the surprise of the violence, depend on the cleverness and surprise of the plot twists. Let's just say that, as Mike puts it, "you shouldn't trust nobody." This was the first movie David Mamet directed, and he did a fine job. While Lindsay Crouse may not be the most versatile of actresses, Joe Mantegna more than makes up for it with a performance that is tough, interesting and full of indirection. In small parts are a young William H. Macy and J. T. Walsh. Mike Nussbaum as Joey, an associate of Mike's in the con racket, and Ricky Jay as another, are both first-rate. This is a movie that you have to stay with for awhile before it kicks in. The last 40 minutes, however, pack a punch. The DVD picture looks fine. There are no extras. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: House of Games: another and evil purpose , April 6, 2005 Reviewer: John Galvin (Cincinnati,OH) - See all my reviews Margaret Ford is cool, detached, removed-an observer-traits that are the basis for her success as a psychologist and writer of well-paying pop-psychology. One of her patients, a gambler, is in debt to a fellow gambler and hustler named Mike. Confident in her powers to persuade others to act contrary to their immediate best interests, Margaret offers to talk to Mike. It is, of course, an act of hubris, an act of self-appraisal wanting correction--an act of pride inviting a fall. So that night, she makes her way to the House of Games, a seedy little bar in a dark, desolate corner of Seattle where Mike and his crew gather to play cards in a dark still--in an atmosphere resembling her own office. Mike is cool, detached, removed--an observer--traits that are the basis for his success as a gambler and con man. He makes a rather extraordinary offer: he will tear up the IOU's if Margaret will help him in the execution of his present hustle. Mike talks close, talks in a low knowing whisper. She's either in or she isn't. Then he gives her a glimpse of his method--he shows her how he watches for "tells"--little tics, twitches and hiccups, as it were, in the body language of his victim-unconscious signaling of what someone is thinking, what someone knows, what some had meant to hide from others. It must seem frighteningly familiar to a psychologist--but so very intriguing when applied to another and evil purpose. She accepts; and so begins a series of twists and turns that oblige you to wonder, till the very end, at which point the con actually began. The language of this film is characteristic of Mamet at his best. It is highly stylized, an endless succession of ellipses, faints, and echos. Every statement seems suspect, delivered in heavy quotes. There may only be a single additional second between sentences, but it seems so long, so otherworldly. Outwardly ordinary-looking statements seem busy with other meaning, with mystery and possible misdirection. It is a language befitting both psychologist and con man--observers who ultimately seek control over others, though admittedly for very different ends. But as the film gradually unfolds, you may find yourself laboring to discriminate between a con man who manipulates and controls and a psychologist who steers and directs. In the end, they only succeed in conning themselves, having forgotten that they are dealing with human beings who, possessed with powers of reason tempered and bent by emotions, often skid, slip and spin down unexpected, unintended and sometimes unlovely cul-de sacs. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) See all 54 customer reviews... Listmania! Great Movies with a great endi... : by "willrocks" 10 top-shelf thrillers, after ... : by A. C. Walter "awalter" Women Who Kill : by "reelgood" So You'd Like to... get to know the best 'conspiracy theory' movies : by Grouchy Smurf , Couch Potato Surrender to the BIZARRE!!! : by Zoogz Rift , Groovy dadaist and legendary underground rock rec... Watch Hidden Movie Gems : by jlstu9 , Movie Watcher Fun Facts from IMDb.com: Awards Click here to see more Awards London Critics Circle Film Awards: ALFS Award for Film of the Year, Screenwriter of the Year Venice Film Festival: Golden Osella for Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Nominations Click here to see more Nominations Golden Globes, USA: Golden Globe for Best Screenplay - Motion Picture Trivia Click here to see more Trivia The numeral 187 appears in the film in different instances. A license plate reads "HSX 187". Also it is the number of the airport locker used at the end. 187 is the police code for murder. The hotel room that Mike takes Margeret to is room #1138 which is yet another reference to George Lucas's THX 1138. Goofs Click here to see more Goofs Towards the end of the film, Margaret Ford returns to her private office and cuts herself. Several drops of blood fall on the cover label of a dossier lying on the desk. In subsequent shots, the blood stain jumps down the label and finally ends up on the back cover, leaving the label clean. Movie Connections Click here to see more Movie Connections Remade as: Qian wang qing ren Quotes Click here to see more Quotes Mike : I'm from the United States of kiss-my-***. Mike : Oh, you're a bad pony. And I'm not gonna bet on you. For more information about "House of Games" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) Look for similar items by category Browse similar items in: DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( C ) > Crouse, Lindsay DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( J ) > Jay, Ricky DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( M ) > Macy, William H DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( M ) > Mantegna, Joe DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( N ) > Nussbaum, Mike DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( S ) > Skala, Lilia DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( T ) > Taylor, Meshach DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( W ) > Wallace, Jack DVD > Directors > ( M ) > Mamet, David DVD > Genres > Mystery & Suspense > By Theme > Cons & Scams DVD > Genres > Mystery & Suspense > By Theme > Mind Games DVD > Genres > Mystery & Suspense > Crime > Con Artists DVD > Genres > Mystery & Suspense > General DVD > Genres > Mystery & Suspense > Mystery DVD > Genres > Mystery & Suspense > Neo-Noir DVD > Genres > Mystery & Suspense > Suspense DVD > Genres > Mystery & Suspense > Thrillers Suggestion Box Your comments can help make our site better for everyone. 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