I was quite surprised at Ripley's Game, just like a lot of people were, when this came out, as I was fully expecting something of a sequel to the amazing "The Talented Mr. Ripley" which starred Matt Damon and was directed by Anthony Minghella. Not only is it not a sequel, but has Ripley as a heterosexual, one which I'm not 100% sure I'm comfortable with.
Everyone's favorite Matt Damon substitute, John Malkovich, plays Tom Ripley this time out, who seems to have 'retired' from the con game, but is amused enough by a former business associate to have one more go at it, using the services of a unwilling assassin to get the job done.
That assassin, played by Dougray Scott, is actually the main focus of the movie. He is a carpenter suffering from leukemia and has family bills piling up. Although he doesn't want to, he takes the job that he is forced into, then finds himself in a trap next to impossible to get out of.
To be honest with you, I liked this movie a lot. Malkovich is great as always, as is Dougray Scott. The plot is interesting and everything moves along in a brisk pace. The one big problem I have is that there is absolutely NO mention about the goings on in 'The Talented Mr. Ripley'. I mean, wasn't this guy a murderer? Should he not be locked up somewhere still? And what OF his sexuality? There is some discussion on here that Ripley's sexuality is rather ambiguous, a mystery, just like Ripley himself. I'm sorry, I don't buy it. Damon as Ripley wasn't showing any interest in women in the original movie, and I had NO doubt he was gay.
Anyways, I've aired out what I had to say. Like I said, I liked this movie, but you should treat this as a separate entity from the "Talented" movie, and enjoy this movie on it's own merits.
Everyone's favorite Matt Damon substitute, John Malkovich, plays Tom Ripley this time out, who seems to have 'retired' from the con game, but is amused enough by a former business associate to have one more go at it, using the services of a unwilling assassin to get the job done.
That assassin, played by Dougray Scott, is actually the main focus of the movie. He is a carpenter suffering from leukemia and has family bills piling up. Although he doesn't want to, he takes the job that he is forced into, then finds himself in a trap next to impossible to get out of.
To be honest with you, I liked this movie a lot. Malkovich is great as always, as is Dougray Scott. The plot is interesting and everything moves along in a brisk pace. The one big problem I have is that there is absolutely NO mention about the goings on in 'The Talented Mr. Ripley'. I mean, wasn't this guy a murderer? Should he not be locked up somewhere still? And what OF his sexuality? There is some discussion on here that Ripley's sexuality is rather ambiguous, a mystery, just like Ripley himself. I'm sorry, I don't buy it. Damon as Ripley wasn't showing any interest in women in the original movie, and I had NO doubt he was gay.
Anyways, I've aired out what I had to say. Like I said, I liked this movie, but you should treat this as a separate entity from the "Talented" movie, and enjoy this movie on it's own merits.