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Patricia Highsmith wrote a number of novels featuring Tom Ripley, including The Talented Mr. Ripley and Ripley's Game. Much was made of the 1999 movie version of The Talented Mr. Ripley, which featured Matt Dillon in the title role. This chronicle of another Ripley episode, later in his life, remedies the problem many critics found with the Matt Dillon film- Mr. Dillon himself is just a little too wholesome to truly embody Mr. Ripley. Enter Mr. Never Too Wholesome, John Malkovich. Now, don't misunderstand - TTMR was a good film and maybe Matt Dillon's boyish innocence concealed the manipulations of his character just as Patricia Highsmith would have liked, allowing the viewer to start with a presumption of innocence, as it were, rather than one of creepiness. But by the time in Ripley's life of this story, we find him living in a restored Italian villa, occasionally doing some little job of not-very-niceness, while making a living as an art dealer. Without giving it all away, I can say that Tom Ripley has mellowed a little, if not too much, and is actually able to convince himself that he is helping someone, not just helping start a gang war in Berlin. He enlists a picture framer whose very innoncence and a convenient illness make him perfect as an assassin. Unfortunately, the trouble follows Ripley home from Germany. This film is actually the second time Ripley's Game was put onto the screen, the first being Wim Wenders THE AMERICAN FRIEND, which featured Dennis Hopper and Bruno Ganz. It is from Hopper's Lost Years (1977) and is interesting if for no other reason, to see what he really was up to. Like The American Friend, Ripley's Game never saw wide distribution in US theatres. It came here initially as a bootleg DVD, playable only on machines for other regions, but was then released directly on (region 1) DVD. It was directed by Liliana Cavani and, other than Malkovich, features actors best known to European audiences, Ray Winstone being a slight exception, if you saw Sexy Beast. This film is a must see for fans of either Malkovich or Highsmith and a good oddity for the rest of the world. The sets ans scenery are predicatbly beautiful- this is the home of a Corrupt American Art Dealer- and both Malkovich and Winstone turn in fine, menacing performances. I give it a four and a half of five on the Wentworth Tradd scale. Please consider looking at my other reviews and guides and voting on the helpfulness of this one. Thanks WTRead full review
this waS A fine movie fiinaly done. i can omly that much i,am notaa film person
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This movie i saw it once many years ago and i was trying to find it, this movie is amazing and very interesting with many twist.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Came fast good price favorite movie
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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