Ripley's Game (2002)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Liliana Cavani

Writers:

Liliana Cavani (writer)
Patricia Highsmith (novel)

Release Date:

7 February 2003 (Italy)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Older. Wiser. More talented.

Plot:

Tom Ripley persuades a man to commit a murder for a large sum of money. The situation goes out of control, and that man must escape trouble.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Money | Train Guard | Breakfast | Anti Hero

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Ray Winstone	...	Reeves
John Malkovich	...	Tom Ripley
Uwe Mansshardt	...	Terry
Hanns Zischler	...	Art Dealer
Paolo Paoloni	...	Franco
Maurizio Lucà	...	Franco's Assistant
Dougray Scott	...	Jonathan Trevanny
Evelina Meghnagi	...	Maria
Chiara Caselli	...	Luisa Harari
Lena Headey	...	Sarah Trevanny
Sam Blitz	...	Matthew Trevanny
Emidio La Vella	...	Shoe Shop Owner (as Emidio Lavella)
Lutz Winde	...	Ernst
Nikolaus Deutsch	...	Dr. Wentzel
Wilfried Zander	...	Belinsky

Also Known As:

Il gioco di Ripley (Italy)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence and language, some sexuality.

Runtime:

110 min | Argentina:112 min

Country:

Italy | UK | USA

Language:

English | German | Italian

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | Portugal:M/16 | New Zealand:R16 | Australia:MA | Brazil:16 | Finland:K-15 | Norway:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | Germany:16 | Argentina:13 | Ireland:18 | Canada:18A

Filming Locations:

Aquarium, Tiergarten, Berlin, Germany

Company:

Cattleya

Trivia:

This films serves as a sequel to The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), in which Matt Damon (born 1970) played Ripley. John Malkovich (born 1953) took over the role of Ripley in Ripley's Game (2002). The gap in age between Malkovich and Damon, The (17 years) roughly matches the gap between the publication date of the books The Talented Mr. Ripley, The (1955) and Ripley's Game, The (1974).

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When the train which Trevanny takes to Duesseldorf leaves Berlin, a historic building can be seen through the windows. This is the "Theater des Westens" which is located just north of the tracks and west to Zoo Station. So the train is traveling east while to reach its destination it would have to go in the opposite direction.

Quotes:

Reeves: [tucking into eggs] Mmmm, exquisito!

Movie Connections:

References "Candid Camera" (1953)

Soundtrack:

Pio Mentiroso

Solid Highsmith

It's clear that some reviewers of this film missed the point of both the film and the novels (if they had the wherewithal to read them). The character of Tom Ripley is not for the feint of heart nor for the morally pre-possessed. Having said this, Malkovich is clearly the best realized personification of this disturbing character to date. For cinastes, one should watch the American Friend, Wim Wenders' version of the same novel and draw ones own conclusions. This is a very well made European film that had no real theatrical release in the States yet was probably one of the better films of the year. Directed artfully yet without pretension and always with an eye to the wry humor of the author, the film deserved better. There is an especially brilliant scene in a men's room after the train scene that will leave Malkovich fans quite satisfied. A terrific performance by same.