By http://www.impawards.com/2003/ripleys_game.html, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31183005
Ripley's Game - (2002)
I really liked
The Talented Mr. Ripley, and the idea of another story which features the character much later in life is really unusual and interesting. Throughout a lot of the former film, Matt Damon's Ripley is in panic mode, and finds himself in situations he's not used to - put there by his own Antisocial Personality Disorder and lack of conscience. This Ripley, John Malkovich's, has been manipulative and deceitful for so much of his life he knows exactly what he's doing, and the financial benefits have allowed him to gain an appreciation for the fine arts. When
Ripley's Game gets going, you think you know exactly where it's story is heading, but this movie is not going where you might think it is - events skew the plot in unexpected directions, and the plans Ripley has for a person he obviously hates - one who has insulted him - change in
extremely unpredictable ways. The character becomes much less loathsome and there's a somewhat redemptive arc in store for him. There's plenty of murder and intrigue, and Malkovich does a fine job embodying a man undergoing constant reinvention and growth. The book was originally adapted by Wim Wenders -
The American Friend features Dennis Hopper and Bruno Ganz in the two main roles, and I'm very interested in it now.
7/10
By IMP Awards, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22622080
Muriel's Wedding - (1994)
I don't even know where to start with
Muriel's Wedding - it's a hard film to describe. It was Toni Collette's huge breakthrough, playing Muriel Heslop. Muriel is far from any ordinary protagonist. Being naďve, socially awkward, lacking smarts, and having questionable morals are qualities you just don't expect in one - but in this weird comedy,
all the characters are distasteful in some kind of way. It's only late in the film you clearly see that it's theme of wanting to be popular and accepted above all else makes sense. Muriel's father, Bill Heslop (Bill Hunter) is a politician - self absorbed to the point of never truly being invested in his wife and kids. You see that Muriel is very much like him - and her yearning to get married just to be the center of attention is understandable to a certain point. She grows a lot through the film, and although she's still a little silly you can see she's finally on the right track. The film itself is funny in an extremely eccentric kind of way and has a superb soundtrack. A far from ordinary Australian comedy - but not everyone's cup of tea I'd expect.
7/10
Edit - I think I really underrated Muriel's Wedding - it's great.