MovieChat Forums > Surviving the Game (1994) Discussion > Was Ice T Adlibbing?

Was Ice T Adlibbing?

posted 20 years ago by Quammy
5 replies | jump to latest

So I watched "Surviving The Game" last night, the first time I've seen it since back in '94. Whew! When I saw the VHS at my local thrift/pawn shop, I thought "Oh boy, haven't seen this in awhile!" I should have saved my $5 and spent it on, well anything else.

While I was watching this movie, I couldn't help but see so many problems with it. Man, it was like they had a good-if-not-overused idea for a movie and they had a few "name" actors and a few dollars to put behind it, but somewhere along the way they just gave up on making a decent movie.

Take for instance Ice T's big dramatic sequence in the mine shaft with his captive. Ice T attempts to deliver an emotional dialogue concerning his late family and his reasons for being homeless. During the speech Ice T turns from his captive. It was probably supposed to look dramatic, but it just looked like Ice T was reading his lines from a cue card or he was trying to make them up as he went along. I don't want to say Ice T can't act, I haven't seen everything he's done, but that had to be the worst near adlibbing I've ever seen.

Does anyone else have some thoughts on this?

http://quammy.blogspot.com

[–] pale69rider 20 years ago

I agree, it was awful. I actually like alot of Ice-T's acting (see "R Xmas" or the great "Trespass"), but he was embarassing here.

It should be pointed out that EVERYONE sucks in this movie, especially F. Murray Abraham and Rutger Hauer, two actors I have great respect for. Don't get me started on the kid (McNamara), ugh.

Only Gary Busey shines in his brief storytelling moment. He suggests what the movie SHOULD have been - disturbing.

Ernest Dickerson is a great cinematographer (Spike Lee's flicks), and "Juice" was a decent film. However, he really dropped the ball on this one.

"Hard Target" is by far the better film, with not a hint of the acting potential in "Surviving The Game". Go figure.

Walsh

[–] guayabera 20 years ago

I agree, Busey was the only actor in the movie I was impressed with, particularly when he tells the story about his scar to Mason. Its a shame because F. Murray Abraham and Rutger Hauer both are these huge film veterans, but I was very disappointed with Hauer. Watching this again the other day made me realize just how much Hauer fell off since his Bladerunner days.

As far as Ice-T adlibbing, that scene in the cave bothers me. Its almost like you're watching a man trying to act, it seems so forced. For some reason I like the movie, but Ice-T does a pretty bad job, he overracts.

[–] maxlovespants 19 years ago

It's a good movie, but Ice T can't act.

why shoot the breeze about it, when you could be about it

[–] fightclub9060 16 years ago

Whoa whoa whoa! Neither of you even mentioned McGinley! The only man in this film to give a truly great performance.

[–] 16 years ago

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