Review of Ripley's Game (2002) by Danielle S — 12 Jan 2009
Tom Ripley (John Malkovich) is spending his middle age in quiet comfort with his lover, Luisa (Chiara Caselli), in a posh Italian villa paid for by the spoils of his criminal youth. His peace is interrupted by the arrival of Reeves (Ray Winstone), his cockney cohort in a counterfeit art scam in Berlin three years earlier.
Reeves is having trouble with a crime boss and wants to hire his former partner for a hit. Ripley has no problem with murder, per se, but finds Reeves a dullard and doesn't want to renew their association.
Ripley's Game, involves two criminals who live outside both the law and the rules, in different ways and to differing degrees. One is a sociopath and the other is simply anti-social as they operate with self-awarded licence to get away with what they can, including fraud, extortion and murder.
John Malkovich's performance is restrained, witty, charming, stylish, and seductive. His demeanor might be described as viciously comic, or perhaps comically vicious.
This review of Ripley's Game (2002) was written by Danielle S on 12 Jan 2009.
Ripley's Game has generally received positive reviews.
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