Ripley's Game
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Movie Reviews of Ripley's Game
Movie Review: It's good, but takes patience.
Summary: 4 Stars
Often this film is criticized for its slow pacing and laborious character development. How is that? I enjoyed being able to watch these actors, especially John Malkovich, sink their teeth into the characters. One great payoff, if one is interested, is that it does not talk down to your intelligence and makes the film slightly more believable. It helps if you think you know a character. It is more of a film, rather than a skit, like so many of these Hollywood pictures turn into.
My only criticism would have been a more fulfilling end sequence, but, hey, maybe I am preconditioned to by-the-number endings.
Also, the dialog in this film is impeccable, as is John Malkovich's acting. Give it a shot.
Movie Review: A Terrible Hero
Summary: 4 Stars
John Malkovich plays villianous Tom Ripley to perfection in a quirky, action filled, improbable suspense thriller filmed on beautiful location in the Italian countryside and in darkly modern Berlin. As Ripley says, when he realized he didn't have a conscience, it bothered him for a time, then it didn't. And so Ripley goes through life, spreading mayhem for his own benefit. But in the end of this one, he realizes that his fellow man, at least, are ultimately good. An entertaining ride.Movie Review: Ripley to your aid?
Summary: 4 Stars
I like movies to follow the book which is not the way this started, but having said that, it did follow the book for the most part. I thought Ripley was portrayed well as the socialpath he is, unlike other Ripley movies. Overall a well done effort.Movie Review: 3.5 stars out of 4
Summary: 4 Stars
The Bottom Line:
Ripley's Game is an intelligent thriller with a superb turn by Malkovich in the lead and capable support from the rest of the cast; a worthy addition to the handful of Ripley movies, it's a sadly-underappreciated film.
Movie Review: A decent thriller that fails to live up to its potential...
Summary: 3 Stars
When comparing `Ripley's Game' to Wim Wenders' `Der Amerikanische Freund' there are a few things the audience notices. First, Cavani's `Game' is a much glitzier, glossier piece than Wenders' `Freund'. The plot is less confusing, much easier to follow than Wenders' original (which had me asking all sorts of unanswered questions in the end) but in a downswing `Game' looses some of the unnerving terror that Wenders created with `Freund'. Despite not understanding what was going on at times, I never felt anything but on edge throughout `Der Amerikanische Freund', whereas with `Ripley's Game' my interest waned a tad in scenes.
Sadly, both films fail in one similar area; Tom Ripley. I don't know if maybe I've just been spoiled by Matt Damon's orgasmic portrayal of the twisted psychopath in the far superior `The Talented Mr. Ripley' but neither Hopper nor Malkovich have been able to impress me. Malkovich has a little more charm and polish than Hopper had, but he is far too brash for me to appreciate his madness (and I really need to read the novel because `The Talented Mr. Ripley' made it very clear that his interests were towards men, not women). Their concept of Ripley comes off more studied and clichéd, as if they took everything we think someone of their nature would be like and then just give it to us `textbook'. Damon was a stark contrast to this, giving us an awkward, gullible man who fell in love too fast and trusted too much and gave way to his insanely carnal desires at the expense of others. Malkovich and Hopper come off a little too confident. I know that Ripley is supposed to be older and wiser in this film (and `Der Amerikanische Freund' as well) but I can't help but feel negatively towards the depiction of him in the two films. Damon's character was ruthless in the end but he possessed this natural awkwardness that made him likable. I don't see any likable traits in Ripley in either of these films. Why anyone would warm up to him is beyond me.
When the film started the first thing I noticed was that Dougray Scott was in this film. What ever happened to this guy? He was charming in `Ever After' and domineering and sinister in `MI:2' and then he just disappeared. Here he is a bit of a let down, giving the audience a clichéd impression of grief and guilt. Bruno Ganz was brilliant in `Der Amerikanische Freund' and I wanted Scott to be as well. In fact it wasn't until the final scenes where I saw some real, honest emotion from his character (most notably while he sits in the car watching Ripley set another car ablaze).
The best thing about this movie, by far, is Ray Winstone. His performance is electric, commanding and dominating. He is an actor I am eternally smitten (his performance in `The Proposition' is the work of gods) and here he continues to prove me right about him. Winstone has this natural charm and charisma that draws you to him, even when he's playing scum. I can't help but he culled into his voice those beady eyes. As Reeves, he plays the gangster role with exquisite precision, creating a supporting character that is carries this film on its shoulders.
One thing I didn't enjoy was the omission of the subway murder scene that is so etched in my mind from `Der Amerikanische Freund'. This time the murder scene takes place in an insect exhibit and is short and bland. I remember standing in front of the TV during the subway scene in `Der Amerikanische Freund', watching Ganz walked aimlessly, following his victim, stalking him, for minutes that passed so slowly, so anxiously. That scene is flawless. It's not here and I found myself feeling empty after I realized that.
In the end `Ripley's Game' is a decent thriller that has some chills and a nice steady flow, but it never reaches the levels that both `Der Amerikanische Freund' and especially `The Talented Mr. Ripley' had achieved. Winstone is a gem of an actor and his performance makes this film worth watching. Malkovich is fine, as is Dougray, but neither of them match the brilliance of the actors that came before them (Damon and Ganz respectively). Give it a watch, especially if you are a fan of Highsmith and or the `Ripley' series. It is far from a bad film, it is just not a great one.