OPENS MAY 23, CERT 15, 110 MINS Highsmith's sociopath playboy was last played by Matt Damon in The Talented Mr Ripley. Here, John Malkovich is superb?urbane and malicious, manipulating those around him out of a mixture of spite and boredom. It's a performance to rank alongside his best work. Now m...
OPENS MAY 23, CERT 15, 110 MINS
Highsmith’s sociopath playboy was last played by Matt Damon in The Talented Mr Ripley. Here, John Malkovich is superb?urbane and malicious, manipulating those around him out of a mixture of spite and boredom. It’s a performance to rank alongside his best work.
Now married and living in Italy, Ripley is something of a mystery to the local residents. He soon discovers what they think of him when he overhears picture-frame maker Jonathan Trevanny (Dougray Scott) make a disparaging comment about his lack of taste. Soon enough, Trevanny is drawn into a particularly sadistic and murderous game engineered by Ripley and his former associate Reeves (Ray Winstone).
Shot with a sophisticated sheen by Liliana Cavani, the film begins on shaky ground?Winstone falls back on his usual cocky Cockney routine, while a beret-wearing Malkovich seems content to impersonate Frank Spencer. But, as Highsmith’s well-crafted plot unfolds, Ripley’s Game becomes a fascinating study in innocence, guilt and revenge.