Ripley's Game (2002)

95% of critics liked it
(21 reviews)
63% of users liked it
(7,297 ratings)

The cool and mannered sociopath Tom Ripley returns to the big screen in director Liliana Cavani's 2002 crime thriller Ripley's Game, adapted from the 1974 novel by Patricia Highsmith. Living a life of luxury as an art dealer in northern Italy with his musician wife Luisa (Chiara Caselli), Ripley… More The cool and mannered sociopath Tom Ripley returns to the big screen in director Liliana Cavani's 2002 crime thriller Ripley's Game, adapted from the 1974 novel by Patricia Highsmith. Living a life of luxury as an art dealer in northern Italy with his musician wife Luisa (Chiara Caselli), Ripley (John Malkovich) attends a party thrown by Jonathan Trevanny (Dougray Scott) and overhears the host making critical comments about Ripley's fashion sense. Enraged, Ripley immediately plots his retaliation for this slight, which comes via a reunion with his former business partner Reeves (Ray Winstone). Reeves seeks out Ripley's help in finding an unrecognized assassin to kill a Russian gangster, and Ripley suggests he talk to Trevanny -- whom Ripley knows has recently been diagnosed with leukemia and is also desperately strapped for cash. Trevanny reluctantly accepts the offer, in order to insure his family's security -- but is pressured into a repeat performance, which draws the ire of Ripley. The situation quickly spirals out of control to the point of drawing the attention -- and anger -- of the Russian mob, forcing Ripley to intervene. But the master criminal also develops a respect for his unwitting victim, forming an unlikely friendship under the most dire of circumstances. ~ Ryan Shriver, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 50 min.
Directed By: Liliana Cavani
Written By: Liliana Cavani, Charles McKeown
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Jan 1, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Mar 30, 2004
Studio: New Line Cinema

Critic Reviews

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
As slithery and seductive a thriller as you'll find.
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer
Arguably the most satisfying distillation of Highsmith's nastiness, ingenuity and humor, with the added dividend of Mr. Malkovich's diabolical charm and insouciance.
Anthony Lane, New Yorker
The movie may, late in Cavani's career, come to be seen as her best work.
David Rooney, Variety
Malkovich's elegantly malicious performance gives Ripley's Game a magnetic center.
Boyd van Hoeij, european-films.net
See this film for its story and for Malkovich' performance, or if you are easily distracted and irritated, buy the book and imagine everything yourself instead.
Brian Gibson, Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada)
Ripley's Game draws you in with its virtuoso performances and moody aura of menace.
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
Representative of the fear and loathing attendant to the death rattle of domestic culture.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Now we have the real Ripley: John Malkovich.
Matt Brunson, Creative Loafing
John Malkovich [delivers] a performance that's as playful as it is perverse.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Não é surpresa constatar que John Malkovich se revela o melhor entre os quatro intérpretes do personagem.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
Malkovich steals the show and director Liliana Cavani ... does a perfectly serviceable job.

Read all 11 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Lady D

My predicting rating: 3.5 A film that is reasonably slow moving in parts and yet still manages to be intriguing. It does lack a little psychological feel to it, but John Malkovich is one smooth criminal in this, watchable, but lacked a little something.
Film C

Uhhh well shocked really at how much i didnt really enjoy it compared with the reviews its had! Fantastic cast brilliant scenery , nice acting but the storyline just wasnt as good as id hope to be honest! for a psychological thriller its not very manipulative or physcho really i… More
Uhhh well shocked really at how much i didnt really enjoy it compared with the reviews its had! Fantastic cast brilliant scenery , nice acting but the storyline just wasnt as good as id hope to be honest! for a psychological thriller its not very manipulative or physcho really i mean first he doesnt like the guy and wants revenge so he pushes him into murder but then in the end he helps him out so i just thought it was a tad weird and confusing for a simple story to follow!! Its a bit slow and not that much action to be honest, apart from the near end with a shootout as such and is fairly amusing with Mahlkovich being brilliant!
Robert C

Good Cast...Great Locations...A Surprisingly Mediocre Film. I think if you go into this with no knowledge of any of the other "Ripley" films, you will probably enjoy this a lot more then I did. Having greatly enjoyed "The Talented Mister Ripley", this was a… More
Good Cast...Great Locations...A Surprisingly Mediocre Film. I think if you go into this with no knowledge of any of the other "Ripley" films, you will probably enjoy this a lot more then I did. Having greatly enjoyed "The Talented Mister Ripley", this was a little disapointing. To spite it's notable cast it seemed a little low budget and slightly dated, even though it is only a few years old. Not entirely without merit, just forget everything you you THINK you know about "Mr. Ripley" and enjoy the ride. Did make me more interested in reading some of Patricia Highsmiths other "Tom Ripley" books.
Jens S

Tom Ripley, formerly played by Matt Damon returns for another thriller, in this in the shape of John Malkovich. The look, feel and direction of the movie sometimes feels really old-fashioned, almost like a French film noir from the 70s. Accordingly the pace is rather slow, but the… More
Tom Ripley, formerly played by Matt Damon returns for another thriller, in this in the shape of John Malkovich. The look, feel and direction of the movie sometimes feels really old-fashioned, almost like a French film noir from the 70s. Accordingly the pace is rather slow, but the violence well timed and realistic. That's not awfully exciting but pretty entertaining and carried by an excellent Malkovich, giving cold-hearted, witty and arrogant comments in the cruelest situations, making the character his own. It is him who moves this film above average, but the rest of the cast is just as convincing. Not bad at all.
Stephen M

Already superbly adapted by Wim Wenders as "The American Friend", and with Anthony Minghella's stylish prequel "The Talented Mr Ripley" lingering pleasantly in the memory, the odds were stacked against "Ripley's Game" from the outset, but… More
Already superbly adapted by Wim Wenders as "The American Friend", and with Anthony Minghella's stylish prequel "The Talented Mr Ripley" lingering pleasantly in the memory, the odds were stacked against "Ripley's Game" from the outset, but it's still a disappointment given some of the talent involved. I've seen dafter stories than this lent credibility by a safe pair of directorial hands, but Liliana Cavani fails to create any tension, and even the best sequence--a reasonably suspenseful, blackly comic contract killing on a train--is lacklustre. John Malkovich is suavely languid as Tom Ripley, but he, Ray Winstone, composer Ennio Morricone and just about everybody else appears to be coasting half-heartedly. Chiara Caselli, as Ripley's lover, starts out as a sadistic, passive accomplice in his malevolent games, but her potentially interesting character is sidelined once Ripley and Trevanny (Dougray Scott) form their uneasy alliance.
Luke B

An intelligent thriller with fantastic turns from the main cast. Each chracter is well developed, allowing the audience to both fear Malkovick and sympathise with Scott. A sadly overlooked gem.
Jeffrey M

Though I'm not sure it's better than The Talented Mr. Ripley, I am sure that Malkovich is a better Ripley than Damon. Excellent deliberate and methodical pace, a smart movie that doesn't rely on cheap thrills, but on great source material and a good adaption. I was… More
Though I'm not sure it's better than The Talented Mr. Ripley, I am sure that Malkovich is a better Ripley than Damon. Excellent deliberate and methodical pace, a smart movie that doesn't rely on cheap thrills, but on great source material and a good adaption. I was also impressed with the direction and editing, giving the entire film a fitting atmosphere and appropriate mood.
Ivan D

Anthony Minghella's "The Talented Mr. Ripley" has vibrantly shown the eponymous character's descent into controlled insanity. But here in "Ripley's Game", although John Malkovich's portrayal of Tom Ripley was much more ruthless than Matt… More
Anthony Minghella's "The Talented Mr. Ripley" has vibrantly shown the eponymous character's descent into controlled insanity. But here in "Ripley's Game", although John Malkovich's portrayal of Tom Ripley was much more ruthless than Matt Damon's, the film unexpectedly delved into the character's resurging conscience and humanity. The film, like its unofficial predecessor, contains actors of great talents, and though Malkovich was perfect as Ripley, Dougray Scott gave the best perormance as the terminally ill picture framer. Tom Ripley is the player, and in his amoral world where art and music converges in an elegant harmony, his murderous con games is ever present, and usually comes with a price. Great piece of cinema.
David S

A very good thriller. Don't go into it expecting the same sort of thing as 'The Talented Mr Ripley' because this film has a completely different feel and mood to it. However the idea of a devil like character tempting this righteous man to commit murder is compelling… More
A very good thriller. Don't go into it expecting the same sort of thing as 'The Talented Mr Ripley' because this film has a completely different feel and mood to it. However the idea of a devil like character tempting this righteous man to commit murder is compelling and is made all the better by brilliant performances from Malcovich, Scott and Winstone. Wish they'd adapt a few more Highsmith novels now.
Tom S

Malkovich is good in an otherwise mediocre movie.