Ripley's Game (2002)

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.

Director:

Liliana Cavani

Writers:

Charles McKeown, Liliana Cavani,

Stars:

Ray Winstone, John Malkovich, Dougray Scott

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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 Dutsch	...	Dr. Wentzel (as Nikolaus Deutsch)
Wilfried Zander	...	Belinsky

Storyline

Tom Ripley - cool, urbane, wealthy, and murderous - lives in a villa in the Veneto with Luisa, his harpsichord-playing girlfriend. A former business associate from Berlin's underworld pays a call asking Ripley's help in killing a rival. Ripley - ever a student of human nature - initiates a game to turn a mild and innocent local picture framer into a hit man. The artisan, Jonathan Trevanny, who's dying of cancer, has a wife, young son, and little to leave them. If Ripley draws Jonathan into the game, can Ripley maintain control? Does it stop at one killing? What if Ripley develops a conscience? Luisa prepares for her concert.

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Plot Keywords:

concert | money | picture framer | murder | dying | 

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Taglines:

The talented Mr Ripley is back. Older. Wiser. More dangerous

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence and language, some sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Fine Line Features [United States]

Country:

Italy UK USA

Language:

English German Italian

Release Date:

7 February 2003 (Italy)

Also Known As:

El amigo americano

Filming Locations:

Aquarium, Tiergarten, Berlin, Germany

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$228,171 (Brazil) (16 April 2004)

Gross:

$228,171 (Brazil) (16 April 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Baby Films, Cattleya, Mr. Mudd

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Malkovich remarked in an interview with the BBC that before starring in this film, he came close to directing The Talented Mr. Ripley and that he was in negotiations to obtain the rights to direct a remake of the first "Talented Mr Ripley" adaptation, Purple Noon.

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Goofs

When Ripley and Trevanny leave the train station, they are supposed to have arrived in Düsseldorf. The approaching police cars have license plates with a 'D' designating them to be in Düsseldorf. However, behind the police cars, the letters "City Carré Passage" can be seen on a building. There is no shopping area with this name in Düsseldorf. They are still in Berlin, at the main train station.

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Quotes

Tom Ripley: I'm a creation. A gifted improviser. I lack your conscience and when I was young that troubled me. It no longer does. I don't worry about being caught because I don't believe anyone is watching. The world is not a poorer place because those people are dead. It's one less car on the road. It's a little less noise and menace. You were brave today. You put some money away for your family. That's all.
Jonathan Trevanny: If you lack my conscience, why did you help me on the train?
Tom Ripley: I don't know, but it doesn't surprise...

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Connections

Referenced in Be Kind Rewind (2008)

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Soundtracks

"You Are Everything"
Composed by Thom Bell & Linda Creed
(c) Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
By kind permission of Warner/Chappell Music Ltd.

User Reviews

Dougray Scott at the Center of a Fine Neo-Noir

The 2002 version of RIPLEY'S GAME compares favorably to Wim Wenders's film from 1977, THE AMERICAN FRIEND. Director Cavani is adept at staging scenes so that they are always interesting and compelling. The film has a sure sense of forward thrust, which is indispensible for this type of material. And Cavani conjures up some superior acting from all the principals in the cast. It is easy to be impressed with John Malkovich's quiet malevolence as Ripley. The mannered actor rivets his character from the opening, a marvelously paced sequence leading to a swift climax that hooks the viewer for the rest of the film. Ray Winstone and Lena Headey are more than adequate in their support as well. If Ripley is the brain of the story, it is Jonathan, Ripley's tormented victim, who must be the heart of it. And this is why RIPLEY'S GAME is so fascinating and involving. We are drawn to the machinations and danger, but also moved by Jonathan's tragic implication. As good as the superb Bruno Ganz is with Wenders, Dougray Scott in the present film may even be slightly better. This is the kind of role that demands everything from an actor, and Scott delivers it all with complete conviction. It's an example of perfect casting, and Scott deserves to be applauded for it.

Beautifully shot by Alfio Contini, and scored with genius by Ennio Morricone, RIPLEY'S GAME does not quite approach the stylistic brilliance of Wenders's mournful cityscapes in THE AMERICAN FRIEND. But Malkovich's performance is at least the equal of Dennis Hopper's and Dougray Scott gives Bruno Ganz more than worthy competition.

Highly recommended.