Ripley's Game Movie Review:


Would someone who looked like Matt Damon as a younger man grow up to look like John Malkovich?

After putting his talents to good use, Tom Ripley (Malkovich) is $4 million richer and he never has to work with the unbearable Reeves (Winston) again. Three years later Reeves shows up to ask a favour. He wants Tom to kill someone but the talented Mr Ripley has another idea. To get away with murder, you need a complete innocent who is desperate for something. Enter terminally ill Jonathan Trevanny (Scott), who wants to leave his family financially secure after he succumbs to leukaemia. Changing people's lives forever, is all part of Ripley's game.

Matt Damon grows up to look like John Malkovich in the second movie based on the novels by Patricia Highsmith.

Ok so you wouldn't have expected someone who looked like Matt Damon in their youth to grow up to look like John Malkovich, but there is no denying that this older character is Tom Ripley. This is a Ripley that through the events of his life, has grown up without a conscience, bending situations to his whim and living his life on other peoples misfortunes. In other words, playing his game. John Malkovich is an excellent character actor and he brings a lot to Ripley. When his clam, pleasant exterior suddenly erupts into a murderous rage, Malkovich comes into his own. He gives the character an unpredictable menace that makes Tom Ripley a great protagonist and a villain who you don't want to get caught.

There is good support from Dougray Scott, as the desperate Jonathan. He captures the characters fear, anger and redemption perfectly. Ray Winstone is as good as ever, as wannabe Berlin crime king Reeves. Creepy and downright vulgar, you can see why Ripley despises him so and this is testament to Winstone's talent. Lena Heady and Chiara Caselli are fine as Jonathan and Ripley's wives, with Heady playing the more emotional scenes very well.

What lets the movie down is the very slight plot. The whole premise seems to be stretched out too much and it does have the complexity and drama of the first movie. The riveting performances make up for some of it but you can't help feeling that there could have been more to it.

Ripley's Game is entertaining and the lead character is extremely intriguing. Beautifully shot by director Liliana Cavani, the one-dimensional story is the only let down. Having not read the book I can't comment on why this is so but I still hope this isn't the last time we see the talented Mr Ripley on the silver screen.

Jamie Kelwick

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