Ripley's Game

Starring:Ray Winstone, John Malkovich, Uwe Mansshardt, Hanns Zischler, Paolo Paoloni, Maurizio LucÃ , Dougray Scott, Evelina Meghangi, Chiara Caselli, Lena Headey, Sam Blitz, Emidio La Vella, Lutz Winde, Nikolaus Deutsch, Wilfried Zander, Hendrikje Fitz, Francesca Ventura, Yurij Rosstalnyj, Ronnie Paul, Thomas Bloem
Director: Liliana Cavani
Studio: New Line Home Video
Product Type: DVD

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The slippery protagonist of The Talented Mr. Ripley returns in another deadly guise in Ripley's Game, a well-appointed star vehicle. The star this time is John Malkovich, whose older Tom Ripley has settled into an Italian villa and a life of aesthetic contemplation (a little like Hannibal Lecter in Hannibal). A former partner (Ray Winstone) drags an innocent frame-maker (Dougray Scott), dying of leukemia, into the role of unexpected hit man. Ripley, for his own enigmatic reasons, helps. Liliana Cavani, of The Night Porter notoriety, directed this handsome if nebulous film (which has no connection to the Matt Damon picture, other than a Patricia Highsmith source novel). Malkovich exudes his usual oily disenchantment with the world; Lena Headey, like the location footage, is gorgeous. The same novel was adapted in very different style by Wim Wenders for his brilliant 1977 film, The American Friend, with Dennis Hopper and Bruno Ganz. --Robert Horton

Description

Mr. Ripley emerges from retirement to preside over one last deadly game, but can he persuade an innocent man to commit murder?

Customer Reviews:

Murder amidst sophistication arttistically done.......2006-12-29

Insults lead to bad tidings in "Ripley's Game", an Italian production that contrasts high art with everyday murder and thievery and effectively pulls off this dichotomy. John Malkovich stars as Ripley, a self-described "talented improvisor" that lives like a prince in an Italian estate thanks to his mischevious nature. His lifestyle as killer and art thief supports his girlfriend's high falutin' keyboard career in addition to his own very prosperous lifestyle.

When a 9-to-5 married picture framer unknowingly insults Ripley during a party, he sets up the schnook through lowlife partner Ray Winstone -- an earthy foil to Malkovich's refined character -- and he is soon knee deep in an enterprise of murder and mayhem that monumentally disrupts life for his lovely wife and young son. This, Ripley suggests, is "the game."

Soon the picture framer -- who is driven to murder by greed and his own cancer -- is led into a deepening morass of killing and greed where Ripley is both antagonist and protagonist. The action is carried out with worldliness, humor and subtlety, all very European. In the end it is never clear who wins or loses and which is really the bad guy. Almost everyone besides Ripley loses something, proving he is master of his own game.

My favorite John Malkovich movie was filmed in Italy and Germany. Ennio Morricone's alternately minimalist and lyrical score adds dimension to the mystery. This is a rewarding flick for anyone that likes mystery, murder and good filmmaking with a few plot twists. There are enough unexpected turns -- watch for Malkovich to exit a train's restroom at a critical juncture -- that the movie never gets boring.

"The thing is, I don't believe anyone is ever watching.".......2006-09-18

The always-superior Malkovich, as Tom Ripley, is the central piece in this mob-hit run amok, the sophisticated killer as blasé about his crimes as he is appreciative of the finer things of life, the elegant details of his Italian villa, his gifted harpsichordist/lover, his excellent taste in artifacts. In contrast, a gangster from Ripley's past, played perfectly by Ray Winston, a crude, deliberative criminal, orders executions to facilitate taking over key aspects of the Russian mob's trade. Miffed after an insult by a guest who is dying of leukemia, Jonathan Trevanny (Dougray Scott), Ripley submits John's name to the gangster as a potential assassin for the Russian hits, since the ill man is desperate for money. But Ripley's former Berlin crony (Winston) gets greedy, expecting the dying Trevanny to perform ever more outrageous acts, threatening his family if he fails to cooperate. Chastened, or out of some obscure gentleman's instinct, Ripley steps in to assist Jonathan and the best laid plans quickly spiral out of control when one of the Russians survives the garrote and the gunshot, coming to Italy in pursuit of his attackers; he hasn't come alone.

With his usual suave demeanor and penchant for downplaying the dramatic, Malkovich, as Ripley, takes it all in stride, preparing for the inevitable bloodshed. Violent confrontations ensue, bodies strewn across the Tuscan landscape, the usual fallout of mob conflict, desperate men and professional killers. The twists and turns of a well-plotted script enhance the believability of this film, but it is Malkovich's play all the way, as riveting as ever in his skillful rendering of a complex character who savors each moment of existence. While Dougray Scott can't compete with the master, he gives his role a good shot, the inimitable Ray Winston uncouthly memorable as is his wont. This unusual group makes a fine romp of what could have been a foolish film, each actor bringing his own subtle touches to bear. Luan Gaines/ 2006.

Malkovich is a natural as the conscience-less Ripley in dark little film.......2006-08-27

Thomas Ripley has been a literary star for years, but got his big Hollywood break in 1999 as Matt Damon portraryed him in "The Talented Mr. Ripley," also starring Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. That film, which was the first in the "Ripley" series, showed how a young, vulnerable Tom Ripley launched his "career" as a murdering con artist. Matt Damon was phenomenal at capturing the desperation of the young criminal genius balancing on the razor's edge and coming to terms with his own dark side.

"Ripley's Game" takes on Tom Ripley at the twilight of his career, and John Malkovich is the perfect casting choice. No longer is Tom Ripley vulnerable, or wondering about exactly who he is. No stolen identies, no phony back-stories, Tom Ripley now lives openly and well as himself, having made his millions, restored a gorgeous villa in the Veneto, and charmed his way into the heart of a nubile harpsichord prodigy (Chiara Caselli). He's still an enigma to his neighbors, all of whom are aware of him but none know him.

A poor picture framer, Jonathan (Dougray Scott) makes the misfortune of giving voice to his envy of the rich American millioinaire at a party. Unaware that Ripley is standing behind him, Jonathan complains that Ripley has "restored the soul out of" his villa, and he's the worst kind of American - rich but with no taste. Ripley stars at him with those reptilian eyes, and you can see the wheels of vengeance turning even as Ripley accepts Jonathan's lame apology.

And what revenge! It is an open secret that Jonathan is relatively poor but also has terminal leukemia. Married to the gorgeous Sarah (Lena Headey) and father to a young tyke, Jonathan is furious at fate and desperate to provide for his family after he is gone. So Ripley offers up Jonathan to an oily former colleague, Reeves (Ray Winstone, of "Sexy Beast") who needs a hit man to off a rival. Dangling money and the prospect of the best health care money can buy, Reeves soon has Jonathan committing murder for hire.

All this is a set-up for when things get really interesting after the first murder and things, as things always do, spin out of control. Ripley has to step in to help the floundering Jonathan as the bodies continue to pile up. But what happens as Ripley begins to form an attachment with Jonathan even as he tears Jonathan's life apart?

Malkovich is one of our best actors, and Ripley is a perfect role for him. Nobody can out-do Malkovich when it comes to conveying dark meanings with a simple glance, turn of the head, or innocent question. Beyond droll, beyond laconical . . . Malkovich carves a niche standing among other people, but outside of them. Ripley stares at his enemies as he would an interesting insect, and he stares at his "friends" in much the same way.

A creepy, sexy, violent movie, "Ripley's Game" is not for the faint of heart. There is much less of the [...] undertone that disturbed so many in "The Talented Mr. Ripley," but that's not to say that Ripley has become any more traditional or comforting. He is an amazing, repellent character, and this movie is a wonderful vehicle for him.

Same Talent, Different Ripley.......2006-08-15

"Ripley's Game" is the semi-sequel to Anthony Minghella's brilliant "The Talented Mr. Ripley." I want to say first and foremost, if you didn't like that film...Stay away from this one. Anyway, I call it a semi-sequel because there's no connection between either film besides the source novel by Patricia Highsmith. In Ripley's Game, Tom Ripley is much older now and living in Europe with a wife Louisa; But he's still up to his old tricks and he's still talented. The movie begins after Ripley has a disagreement with a man he's selling some drawings to; Ripley is dealing with a man named Reeves (Ray Winstone, 'Sexy Beast'), but what happens isn't even that important. Ripley makes it clear he doesn't want to see Reeves again which essentially sets the plot in motion. Three years later, Reeves returns and offers Ripley a large sum of money to kill a Russian guy. Ripley doesn't want to do it, however and suggests Jonathan Trevanny (Dougray Scott, 'The Legend of Zorro'). Jonathan barely knows Ripley and has no idea that Ripley has just suggested his name as a potential hit man, but when Reeves offers Jonathan the money...He eventually agrees, due in part to the fact he was just diagnosed with leukemia. This movie eventually becomes Jonathan's movie for the most part. Every event in the movie is basically guided by Ripley, but his screen time isn't what you would think it would be. This film, for the record, is not better than The Talented Mr. Ripley. It's not as beautifully photographed, nor as entertaining. But, John Malkovich is the definitive Tom Ripley. Don't get me wrong, Matt Damon was amazing as Ripley...He captured the many layers of Ripley's personality, being both charming and murderous. Malkovich does the same thing, but Malkovich has the icy cool stare and way of speaking that makes him the embodiment of Ripley. Malkovich just has this way of saying his dialouge, which I might add is great. There's some lines that a lot of actors couldn't do, Malkovich thrives on them. "Be careful with that watch, because if it breaks I'll kill every person on this train". But besides Malkovich; Scott, who I hated in Zorro, is surprisingly effective as Jonathan; Winstone is great as Reeves...The whole cast is great. The movie is entertaining; I think the train/death scene with Malkovich and Scott was very fun to watch. As I said, there's no relation between either film. There's not even a scene where Ripley reminisces...Despite that, looking at this as both a sequel and stand alone film it works.

GRADE: A-

This Was Just Terrible...........2006-04-17

I don't even know what to say. How this got such great reviews is beyond me. And it's not even just that it's so pale in comparison to the Matt Damon/ Jude Law film. This movie is terrible in and of itself.
First of all there's the cinematography that looks like it belongs on tv, scratch that, on tv in the 80s.
Then Ennio Morricone's score that sounds like a B horror movie. (And I'd like to state here that Morricone always disappoints I don't understand how he managed to write the haunting score to the Mission, which is surely one of the best in movie history, as every other soundtrack I've heard by him is just [...]) It's better to have no music and than bad music and this movie should have opted for plan B.

I feel that cinematography and music are among most important aspects of movie, not because they make a movie good, but because they can soooooo easily destroy a movie that would be good otherwise. If these two things are screwed up the only thing that can save the movie is the best script and actors money can buy. This movie has neither. I've never seen such over acting outside of a melodrama and as for the script, sometimes I thought it was going for a comedy and missed. To be honest I can't even imagine Patrica's original novel could have been any good in the first place as the plot is so silly.
At the start I said I don't know what to say and I've said a lot but really I think I could say it best by pointing out the fact the Mystery Science Theater 3000 has often featured better movies than this failure.

Average customer rating:

Murder amidst sophistication arttistically done
"The thing is, I don't believe anyone is ever watching."
Malkovich is a natural as the conscience-less Ripley in dark little film
Same Talent, Different Ripley
This Was Just Terrible....

Ripley's Game [Region 2]
Starring: Ray Winstone , John Malkovich , Uwe Mansshardt , Hanns Zischler , and Paolo Paoloni
Director: Liliana Cavani
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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