August 13, 2001
Ain't It Cool News
Hanny reviews RIPLEY'S GAME with John Malkovich as Tom Ripley!!!

Hey folks, Harry here with a look at another film in the crystal orb, coming to theaters sometime in 2002... FINE LINE is producing this version a Patricia Highsmith novel about that wonderful Tom Ripley.... No Matt Damon this time, now we get John Malkovich... who is of course that brilliant internationally heralded genius puppeteer! This is, of course, an amazingly early look at the film... BEWARE OF SPOILERS, but from the sound of it the movie is coming along just grand! Here ya go...

Hello Harry! I thought I would drop you a line and tell you a little about the upcoming "Ripley's Game" starring John Malkovich. I was able to catch a screening of it last Thursday in NYC with a few friends.

As most of us already know, "Ripley's Game" is the sequel to "The Talented Mr. Ripley". This time it's John Malkovich playing Tom Ripley taking up where Matt Damon left off . From my understanding, "Ripley's Game" is the third novel in this series taking place twenty years after the events of "The Talented Mr. Ripley".

I know nothing of the novels and I'm not a big fan of the first movie but knowing Malkovich I figured I would get a good performance. That's when I saw another name attached to my little green ticket that would get me into this screening. The name?...........................Ray Winstone. Yes, the same Ray Winstone from "Agnes Brown" and this years best movie, "Sexy Beast". This got me excited! I thought Ray Winstone kicked ass in "Sexy Beast" and I would watch any movie of his now!

Let me cut to the chase and tell you a bit of the story. Tom Ripley is a different Tom Ripley than you saw in the first movie. He is more confident and sure of himself. He does things now in a smooth Hannibal Lecter kind of way showing no emotion at all. Dougray Scott plays a sickly fellow that insults Tom Ripley at a party not knowing Tom is standing right by the door. Malkovich comes walking into the room and everyone gets quiet and he pretty much intimidates Dougray Scott. Great Scene! Loved it and loved watching the fear that this new Tom Ripley imposes on people.

Tom's old hooligan friend (Ray Winstone) comes to see him and tries to convince Tom to get rid of some enemies of his. Exactly who these enemies were I couldn't begin to tell you. I know they were Russians and that's about it. Why he needed them dead was not explained either. This is one of the weakest parts of the storyline.

Anyway, Tom turns him down but convinces Winstone to approach Dougray Scott with the offer. This is Tom's weird way at getting revenge on Scott after being insulted by him at the party. This is absurd to Winstone because Scott's character is a straight laced guy who wouldn't harm a fly. Tom tells Winstone of Scott's medical condition and money troubles and wouldn't you know.....Winstone uses this info to try and persuade Scott to do the murders along with 50 grand. At first Scott refuses but Winstone brings up Scott's wife and child and how much they could use the money. Yep, Winstone is pure scum and I love it!

Mayhem, murder and an odd friendship ensue after this point in the movie. There is dark humor used throughout and there is a murder scene on a train that is thoroughly enjoyable. The final battle on Tom's compound was fantastic! Tom and Dougray Scott versus Russian mobsters! Can't get better than that! I won't ruin it with anymore spoilers but I do recommend seeing this film.

The movie was a bit long and definitely needed to be trimmed down. The pace was slow at times but it definitely kept your interest. The score was not complete but they used some creepy piano music in some scenes that I loved. There was an erotic scene with Tom and his wife that was down right dirty and sexy! It had nothing much to do with the story but I loved seeing it anyway! Scott, Malkovich and Winstone were excellent and at least one deserves an Oscar nomination.

I'd love to hear what others thought of this movie.

I'm writing this all in a rush because I'm late for an appointment........

Hanny