Playing God

An acclaimed Los Angeles surgeon named Eugene Sands loses his license after a reckless procedure performed while he was high on amphetamines. Disgraced and adrift, he leaves behind the life he knew and gradually drifts toward the shadowy world of crime. His chance encounter with Raymond Blossom, a ruthless counterfeit kingpin, pulls him into a risky arrangement: he becomes the run-of-the-mill doctor who can be called to treat gunshot wounds without drawing attention. As Sands is drawn deeper, his moral compass wavers and the boundaries between healing and harm blur. A charged affair with a key player complicates his already fragile hold on legitimacy and safety. The movie keeps the tension tight through brisk editing and raw, intimate confrontations.

Directed by Andy Wilson, the film is an adaptation of Mark Haskell Smith's story. Released in 1997, Playing God pairs a bleak urban mood with a hard edged thriller sensibility that suits its Los Angeles backdrop and features tight pacing.

Critics offered mixed notes, praising the atmosphere and the performances of Duchovny and Jolie while finding some pacing and tonal shifts uneven. The film meditates on ambition and moral compromise as medicine collides with crime, and on how quickly a respectable life unravels. The score and cinematography heighten the tension.

It never became a touchstone in pop culture. There are no widely cited lines or iconic scenes that echoed beyond the theater, and the movie remains a solid late 90s crime thriller footnote for fans of its cast. Its legacy is a reminder of the era's LA crime drama aesthetic.

The film did not garner notable nominations or wins from major awards bodies. It stayed out of the awards circuit, serving primarily as a showcase for its star power rather than as an awards contender. Many viewers remember it for the performances rather than trophies. Its influence on thrillers endures.