108 - Ripley's Game

    Tom Ripley maneuvers a neighbor of his into performing a hit for money.
    I watched this years ago, and I remember thinking it was really dark.  This time through, it doesn’t feel quite as dark.  It feels straightforward, and nowhere near as complex as The Talented Mr. Ripley.
    The production is cheaper.  The photography isn’t as sharp.  The music seems awkward to my ear.  Malkovich does a great job as Ripley, playing things cool, and handling himself well.  What seems more puzzling about the movie is that Ripley seems more like a supporting character.  Most of the interesting development happens with the man he’s shepherding. 
    The most engaging aspect of the movie is trying to figure out the truth of Ripley’s motivation.  It seems obvious, but his skill in lying and directing events makes it hard to feel positive.
    Both Cathy and I felt like this character wasn’t the same as the one in The Talented Mr. Ripley.  Damon’s Ripley is a sympathetic character, even as he indulges in his darker impulses.  In this story, Ripley doesn’t bother concealing his inclinations.  There’s less time spent on careful manipulations of other people’s perceptions.  No imitation of other people.
    See, that’s the difference.  My immediate impression of Damon’s Ripley was that he was a guy without an identity.  I viewed it as him latching onto Dickie because he liked his identity.  After reading more about it, I’d found that most people view the story as being about Ripley sneaking into high society.  This version of Ripley has accomplished that goal, and in that sense, the character is consistent.