RIPLEY'S GAME (3+ outta 5 stars) Not actually a direct sequel to "The Talented Mr. Ripley"... this film is based on the third book in the Ripley series by Patricia Highsmith. (Dang... they have filmed the first and third books TWICE EACH... and they STILL haven't done the second book even once?) This time around Ripley is played, quite menacingly, by John Malkovich. Long after the events of the first book, he is living comfortably in Europe and engaging in little odd jobs of forgery, robbery and murder to maintain the upkeep on his fancy estate. After being insulted by a new neighbor and approached by a threatening ex-partner to do a murder that he really doesn't want to do... Ripley concocts an elaborate game of revenge whereby he will turn his neighbor into a conscienceless killer somewhat like himself. Unfortunately, to his consternation, Ripley finds that a conscience is something that one either has or doesn't have... it can't become lost. I'd really like to see Malkovich do more in the Ripley series... maybe after his movie career is over he'd contemplate a series of made-for-cable movies? (Since the producers wouldn't even release this movie to theatres in the first place!)
Review of Ripley's Game
