Ripley's Game
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Movie Reviews of Ripley's Game
Movie Review: RIPLEY'S GAME never gathers enough steam to be totally absorbing
Summary: 3 Stars
When a film is more interesting for it's stylish look and soundtrack,then something is missing! Having read the complete "Ripley" series, and then seeing the two films made based from the books, I still conclude that these films, and now particularly RIPLEY'S GAME just doesn't build up enough steam to propel this train down the tracks! It starts...it moves a little...we see some action,but we see very little character development.The book,I still feel, is rather so-so and I don't think that the movie fares any better.
The "sociopathic" Tom Ripley is now older and has been living in a Villa, is married to a talented harpsichordist,and has become rather complacent in the last three years,not fooling any one,no swindles,no murders.Ripley (John Malkovich) feels insulted at a gala one night by art framer Jonathan Trevanny.At this point,Reeves (Ray Winstone), an ex-partner in crime to Ripley, proposes that a "hit" needs to be made on a Russian mobster.Ripley hatches the plan to entice Jonathan, who is rapidly dying of leukemia,to do the murder for a total of $100,000.Jonathan (Dougray Scott) wrestles with the idea and relents to do his first killing.Jonathan, though,becomes involved up to his dying neck in more crimes for money and that is the crux of the story!
Now...though this sounds possibly interesting,it only mildly gets sparked.This film is like watching a barely lighted fire that is always in danger of expiring if something or someone does not rekindle the flame,The flame is barely relit and the movie creeps its way to an end with mild promise, but little to recommend a second viewing.I personally do not find that John Malkovich (who seemed to be replaying his Valmont from DANGEROUS LIAISONS,only with less effect) as the older Ripley has made this character compelling enough to jump from the pages to the screen like Matt Damon did in the original THE TALENTED MR.RIPLEY.Ripley is neither interesting enough to hate or sympathetic enough to be loved.He is a most difficult character,on both page and screen, to really hold my attention in this installment.
Dougray Scott, on the other hand, does more with his gaunt,leukemia-stricken Jonathan, as he is the real heart of both the book and the film.BUT,there is still a lot that is not clear about Jonathan's motivations to taking on the kill thrill.
This is a handsomely made film.It is pleasing to the eye, and the soundtrack by Ennio Morricone is amply satisfying, but all-in-all RIPLEY'S GAME should be played elsewhere.As Amazon states,and I agree, the film is "nebulous."
Movie Review: fun (kind of) with john malkovitch
Summary: 3 Stars
malkovitch portrays a tom ripley far-removed from the tortured character portrayed by matt damon in the previous american installment. the creepily refined malkovitch plays ripley as a poor-man's hannibal lecter (if only because he lacks the suave british accent, and the medical degree.) this ripley, like lecter, is smooth, likeable, and sociopathic - but fair. after the success of the hannibal lecter series, and tv's the apprentice, its no surprise that the producers of this film recognized the market niche for the sociopathic but fair character. but if you're going to base an entire film around a deliciously witty villain, then SHOW HIM THE ENTIRE TIME. mike meyer's realized after the first austin power's that people just wanted to watch dr. evil do crazy sh*t. the writers of this film would have done well to do the same. the movie wastes too much time on portraying the moral downfall of its tortured protagonist, Trevanny, who, dying of cancer, is tricked into playing . . . RIPLEY'S GAME. films generally dont handle the transition from nice guy to crazy guy very well, and this film is no exception. early in the movie Trevanny has trouble even fathoming the idea of killing another man, 35 minutes later he's shooting at anything that moves. the film gives doesnt handle this transition well, leaving its viewers nothing to attribute this drastic change to. i was able to forgive this plot jump by convincing myself the character was just kinda stressed out about his leukemia, perhaps you can do the same. trevanny is played by the actor who was last seen playing the wonderful handsome prince in drew barrymore's atrocious "ever after." however sorry ladies, the past few years have not been kind to him. to quote the girl i watched the movie with he looks like "that dude who plays anakin skywalker, but on heroin." between the rings under his eyes, and his attempt to play a tortured innocent, this character was just kind of annoying, and less forgivibly, boring. anyway, listen, the movie's ok, but like hannibal, the weakest Lecter installment, this film ultimately buckles under its own sadistic inclinations and thinly veiled admiration of a sociopathic protagonist. its a trashy movie that would have done well to accept its trashiness. oh! but it does reference straw dogs!Movie Review: Interesting but Not Entirely Effective.
Summary: 3 Stars
"Ripley's Game" is the second movie adaptation of one of Patricia Highsmith's Ripley novels. Matt Damon played a young Ripley in the superb 1999 film "The Talented Mr. Ripley", directed by Anthony Minghella. "Ripley's Game" finds an older Ripley, played by John Malkovich, semi-retired and living a life of luxury with his wife on a grand Italian estate. A partner in crime from the past, Reeves (Ray Winstone), now a Berlin nightclub mogul, turns up on Ripley's doorstep seeking the favor of an assassination. Reluctant to do the job himself, Ripley decides to make a game of goading an ethical but desperate neighbor (Dougray Scott) into a life of crime.
"Ripley's Game" features two interesting performances: those of John Malkovich and Ray Winstone. Malkovich is always interesting, but Winstone may actually top him here. For one thing, even though Ripley is the most interesting character, he's nearly missing from the middle section of this film. Malkovich makes a superb Ripley, but we don't see enough of him or his manipulations. We see more of Ray Winstone and Dougray Scott, as manipulator and complicitous victim. The story is actually interesting, but Ripley is shortchanged by this script. Winstone gives a powerful performance, but there aren't enough layers to his character to compensate for Ripley's too often peripheral presence. And the neighbor, Jonathan Trevanny, is neither despicable or sympathetic. He evokes no reaction at all. Nice scenery, talented cast, interesting premise, but it doesn't come together effectively.
The DVD: Subtitles are available in Spanish and English. There is a DVD-ROM (Windows only).
Movie Review: MATT BECOMES MALKOVICH
Summary: 3 Stars
After you adjust to Matt Damon from THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY into the erudite John Malkovich, RIPLEY'S GAME becomes a moderately involving thriller. Although Malkovich's performance is benevolently malevolent and annoyingly monotonous, his skill as an actor makes us accept him as the consciousless Mr. Ripley. This time, the film focuses on dying leukemia framemaker Dougray Scott, who finds himself taking a job as a hitman for a previous associate of Ripley's (Ray Winstone in a sturdy performance). After a successful hit, Winstone uses Scott's family as a pawn to do another job. This hit however isn't quite successful and it's up to Ripley to get Scott out of the frying pan. Ironically, it was Ripley who recommended Scott to Winstone because he overheard an insult at a party hosted by Scott.
RIPLEY'S GAME's real strength lies in the tragic character of Jonathan, which Scott imbues with intense confusion, desperation and fear, and Scott steals the movie away from Malkovich. It's probably because Ripley continues to be such a cold and unfeeling character that even with his obvious "redemption" in the final scene, Ripley just isn't admirable. Lena Headey does a good job as Scott's wife and the score by Ennio Morricone is very good. RIPLEY'S GAME is not one of my favorite movies but one can't deny it's impact.
Movie Review: I love Ripley's Game! Sort of.
Summary: 3 Stars
Did I say John Malkovich was an aquired taste? I guess I've just aquired it, then. His mannered style is just right for this gem of a script. Actually, I loved this film the first time, but found it utter crap upon second viewing. Go figure. It's still pretty funny, though, if superficial.I was expecting a formulaic plot in which the Dougray Scott character is pulled into nasty machinations by Ripley and it ends with some sort of showdown between the two in which the Scott character probably comes off worse. I was totally right, but also, totally wrong. The way it goes is totally unexpected, and a laugh. Scott nails the whole British thing. The bulldog in him is prised out with chilling ease.
Both characters end up experiencing some sort of epiphany, and at the film's close you are left with questions you really don't want to begin to answer. I really like the final shot, it's great.