Ripley's believe it or not

Ripley's Game

Director: Liliana Cavani

Cast: John Malkovich, Dougray Scott, Ray Winstone, Lena Headey

Cert: 18.

The talented - if flawed - Mr Ripley returns to do more harm in the world.

Patricia Highsmith's deliciously evil 'hero' - played here by Malkovich and a funny beret - is reunited with us many years after the events of The Talented Mr Ripley, living quietly in Italy. When he overhears an interesting conversation he is led back into the murky and dangerous world of revenge and murder.

Yet somehow it doesn't quite gel as a film, largely and surprisingly because that fine actor Malkovich doesn't look right as Ripley and the plotline tends to slip the rails at times. It's a film trying to be deep and clever, but never managing it.

Star Rating: 3/5