Ripley’s Game (2002): Liliana Cavani’s Version of Patricia Highsmith, Starring John Malkovich, Dougray Scott, Ray Winstone, Lena Headey

There have been several Ripley films, such as the French Purple Noon (my favorite due to star Alain Delon)), Wim Wenders’ The American Friend (the most brilliant), and Anthomy Minghella’s The Talented Mr. Ripley (the most lavished production).

And now comes Ripley’s Game, Liliana Cavani’s efficient (if not more) adaptation, which is suspenseful, but stumbles in plot, and lacks not only focused center but also soul.

Grade: B (*** out of *****)

Tom Ripley (John Malkovich) is a retired criminal living a lavish life in Italy. After he finds out that his partner Reeves (Ray Winstone) was planning to cheat him, Ripley convinces a dying man in need of money (Dougray Scott) to carry out a hit for Reeves on a rival mobster. However, not everything goes according to plan.

The main reason to see this version is the mesmerizing, elegantly malicious performance of John Malkovich, who projects threatening danger and sinister charm in equal measure.

As is known, Patricia Highsmith wrote five Ripley novels, and other actors have played the part, most recently and blandly by (miscast) Matt Damon in The Talented Mr. Ripley.

A bug commercial failure, the film grossed $6.2 million on a budget of $30 million.

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