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Stars: John Malkovich, Dougray
Scott, Ray Winstone, Lena Headey, and Chiara Caselli
Writers: Charles McKeown and
Liliana Cavani
Based On The Novel By: Patricia
Highsmith
Director: Liliana Cavani
Feature length: 110 minutes
Extras: Trailers
Languages: English DTS Digital 5.1
Theatrical Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, and Dolby Surround
Sound
Subtitles: English Captions and
Closed Captions and Spanish Language Subtitles
Packaging: Keep Case
Chapter Stops: 23
Sound: DTS Digital 5.1 Theatrical
Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, and Dolby Surround Sound
Year of DVD Release: 2004
Theatrical Distributor: Fine Line
Features
Home Video Distributor: New Line
Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: R
Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera
Don’t piss off Tom Ripley! Yes
that’s right! The sociopath that charmed his way into the lifestyle of the
wealthy and privileged is back in Fine Line Features adaptation of Patricia
Highsmith’s third novel in the “Ripley Series” entitled “Ripley’s
Game.” Set in present day Europe, an older and colder Tom Ripley (John
Malkovich) overhears a neighbor (Dougray Scott) make fun of his tastes at a
party and upon finding out this neighbor is suffering from a form a leukemia, he
decides to make sport of him by involving him in the affairs of a hood with
policy of making offers no one refuses. In doing so he destroys a bunch of
peoples’ lives, but still makes it just in time to watch his wife play a
vintage piano in front of a captive well-to-do audience.
While “Ripley’s Game”
features the same character dramatized by Anthony Minghella in “The Talented
Mr. Ripley,” this is not a direct sequel to that film. So it is best to try
not to compare the films as hard as that might be. I have not read any of the
books so I cannot comment on them, but as far as “Ripley’s Game” is
concerned, I found the film to be very compelling throughout and despite the
fact the movie takes place in the present, there is a certain quality to the
film that in many ways gives the film a bit of a period feel. Malkovich does a
fine job at chewing up the scenery and he seems just cunning enough to make one
believe he is capable of doing the things he does in the film. Dougray Scott
brings a great sense of tragedy to his role of a family man who essentially is
doomed no matter what he does.
What I found difficult to stomach
in the film was the fact that it essentially glorifies Ripley’s character in
way that leaves no room for any real sense of empathy or sympathy for him. There
is no morality or even subversive underpinning to appeal one’s sense of irony
and justice. Our own faults as human beings are what make us all interesting in
my opinion. These faults are the basis for any character driven drama in any
genre. Malkovich is just too cold in character for anyone to even think he is
human let alone a believable antihero so as compelling as the film is, in the
end it left me feeling empty.
Presented in an anamorphic
widescreen (1.85:1) aspect ratio, “Ripley’s Game” has little to no visible
artifacting of any kind and is generally solid throughout with nice contrasts.
The English DTS Digital and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtrack options are
equal in quality. One does not overwhelm the other. An English Stereo Soundtrack
and English Captions and Closed Captions for the hearing impaired as well as
Spanish Language Subtitles are encoded onto the DVD as options too. The
theatrical trailer (1:58) and bonus trailers for “Laws Of Attraction,”
“Dinner Rush,” “About Schmidt,” and “Secondhand Lions” as well as
DVD-ROM links are the only additional materials encoded on to the disc. The
interactive menus are well rendered and easy to navigate.
“Ripley’s Game” will debut
on DVD-Video on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 at retailers on and offline from New
Line home Entertainment.
© Copyright 2004 By Mark A.
Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
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