I won't spend time on the plot, THAT's what the Plot Outline's for... Rather, I'd like to point out a few aspects of this film that struck me. Uno. Considering it's production and directorial source (Italian), this film captures the English/American/Italian cocktail surprisingly well! For a change we're not in Rome or corny Tuscany, but in the austerely handsome Veneto, a far more likely habitat for the cold-blooded likes of Mr. Ripley. Due. Considering the fact that the film's director is a woman, and over sixty, the film surprises for its near Hitchcockian skill in handling violence and suspense. The 'camp' train-murders scene is (almost) an instant classic!* Tre. Considering Signora Cavani's interest in homosexuality, the film handles the subject with subtle ambiguity. Funny and something of a poke at her own personal 'dilemma', the shot of Miss Caselli's bust and Mr.Malkovich's hairy arms playing the harpsichord is a witticism which acts as the director's signature! A man trapped in a woman's body (?)...
To be quite honest I enjoyed the film, especially the up-tempo performance of Winstone as the very British 'spiff', giving the vampire-film a bit of necessary vibrant blood. Malkovich's soft spoken Ripley is a far more subtle, credible, or... well... at least ENJOYABLE variation of the 'sofisticated killer' made world-famous by the 'Hannibal Lecter/Anthony Hopkins Team'. Italian critics have been scathing with Cavani. Critics in general have not been to kind with Malkovich either (they say he's dishing out his reptilian stuff again). May be... But he's better at it now, and the film is his little Puppy. Forget the critics and don't be too critical... Rent the movie. You might be surprised!
* Patricia Highsmith wrote the books.... why shouldn't Liliana Cavani shoot the film! As a matter of fact Hollywood's ghastly "The Talented Mr. Ripley" was an atrociously kitsch stab at the Man and the Country (Italy), a Technicolor 'Roman Holiday' gone wrong.
To be quite honest I enjoyed the film, especially the up-tempo performance of Winstone as the very British 'spiff', giving the vampire-film a bit of necessary vibrant blood. Malkovich's soft spoken Ripley is a far more subtle, credible, or... well... at least ENJOYABLE variation of the 'sofisticated killer' made world-famous by the 'Hannibal Lecter/Anthony Hopkins Team'. Italian critics have been scathing with Cavani. Critics in general have not been to kind with Malkovich either (they say he's dishing out his reptilian stuff again). May be... But he's better at it now, and the film is his little Puppy. Forget the critics and don't be too critical... Rent the movie. You might be surprised!
* Patricia Highsmith wrote the books.... why shouldn't Liliana Cavani shoot the film! As a matter of fact Hollywood's ghastly "The Talented Mr. Ripley" was an atrociously kitsch stab at the Man and the Country (Italy), a Technicolor 'Roman Holiday' gone wrong.