Search - Ripley's Game on DVD

Superb Psychological Drama....Malkovich is the Devil Incarna

The Jaundiced Eye | Texas, USA | 09/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The highest praise I can give to any movie is that, while watching it, I begin to dread the fact that it will end. I found this story to be THAT enjoyable....and then some.



The lead character, Ripley, is presented as a well-aged version of the sociopathic con artist played by Matt Damon in "The Talented Mr. Ripley". As played by the inimitable John Malkovich, this older, wiser Ripley is infinitely more sophisticated, sly, treacherous, and fascinating. He lives in a wonderful Italian villa with a gorgeous wife/mistress who knows and embraces his true nature. When publicly insulted by a neighbor, played by Dougray Scott, he initiates a plot to gain revenge, ultimately turning the innocent man into a hired killer who is then tortured by his own conscience....a punishment that could never affect the consciousless, sociopathic Mr. Ripley.



Malkovich is a unique actor, never content to merely show up and speak his lines convincingly, he actually BECOMES the character...and every devilish smile, lick of the lips, flash of anger, etc. becomes an expressive action by the character, not by the actor. He is so completely suited to this role that it is impossible to envision anyone else playing the part.



The dialog is wonderful....complex, intellectually stimulating, and natural. Indeed, some of the comments on the nature (and absence) of conscience and guilt achieve the level of fine literature. Conversations are generally riveting, the humor is generally very dark, and the suspense reaches Hitchcockian levels. As the Scott character, who is dying of leukemia, sinks deeper and deeper into the depravity of his hapless plight, he actually begins to seek, rather than fear, death.



This is a very sophisticated, emotionally involving story that will appeal strongly to mature viewers. It never received the attention it deserved, and ranks among the best of the "undiscovered" movies. I give it my highest recommendation."

Highsmith's Ripley Plays His Game

Diana F. Von Behren | Kenner, LA USA | 05/03/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Although I enjoyed the film version of 'the Talented Mr. Ripley with Matt Damon in the lead, John Malkovich's portrayal of an older more desensitized Ripley captures the essence of the Highsmith character more accurately. Bravo Mr. Malkovich! WHile Damon's Ripley ponders over his crimes with a sense of regret fueled by his need for love, Highsmith's and Malkovich's Ripley is too amoral to care. And while in this story, the third of the Ripley quintet, we do encounter a slight bit of conscience and perhaps a tad of regret as Tom maliciously involves a dying man in an assasination simply because he was overheard insulting him, we see Ripley in all his unsavory glory, taking control of situations with the swift precision of the sharpest meat cleaver.

The plot pretty much follows Hishsmith's novel; a slight change of venue from France to Italy and the substitution of an Italian wife rather a French one for Ripley does not change the opulent backdrop depicting the spoils resulting from Tom's doggedness to live a life of good taste and extravagent wealth.

If you are a fan of the Highsmith novels, I recommend this as a must-see. If you are not acquainted with the books, do become so---get to know Tom's malignant audacity and then check out Malkovich's rather on target portrayal. Would love to see Malkovich as Ripley in 'Ripley Goes Underground' where his art deal scam is explained more thoroughly."