Director Wim Wenders adapts one of a famed series of novels from Patricia Highsmith featuring the character of Tom Ripley. I knew nothing of the character or the books, so I am just treating this as a stand alone film, as all adaptations should really be.
The eponymous American friend, Tom Ripley, is played by Dennis Hopper. He is a 'connected' go-between dealing art for a painter who has faked his own death. During an auction of a painting in Hamburg, he learns of a framer who has a serious terminal blood disease. This information is passed on to a gangster who requires something of an amateur hitman with nothing to lose. He approaches Jonathon Zimmerman, the framer, to do a one off hit for a considerable amount of money. Through some fake examination results he persuades him to take the job and he reluctantly does. It's never that simple though is it? Jonathon and Ripley's lives become intertwined and somewhat switched. Ripley craves for the quiet life and Jonathon's imminent mortality, plus the bait of money to leave his wife and child, make him accept another hit.
This is a mixed paced film noir. A slow start leads to an on your edge drawn out scene for the first hit. It then goes a bit all over the place as the two leads story lines veer off, then they come crashing together for the next deal. The second hit falls fowl slightly. Surely the pace and threat should graduate through the film, but after the first hit's knife edge, it's all a bit lacklustre.
Bruno Ganz is excellent as the amateur hit man. His character has a great arc and you see Ripley's reaction to Zimmerman's journey.
This is a great watch. Hopper may be the name on the film, but it's Ganz who owns it. Lisa Kreuzer supports as Jonathon's suspicious wife who just wants to know what is going on.
The typical downbeat film noir ending doesn't disappoint, unless you are into happy ones!
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