Patricia Haighsmith's Ripley series of novels have been adapted several, most notably with Anthony Minghella's 1999 The Talented Mr. Ripley (starring Matt Damon). Unless you're a fan of German New Wave filmmaker Wim Wenders, odds are you probably haven't seen The American Friend, his adaptation of Ripley's Game. The American Friend is a rich, atmospheric film. It's one of those pseudo neo-noirs that is more about creating a mood and an atmosphere rather than simply advancing the plot. In fact, the plot often seems confusing and muddled on first watch, but repeat viewings reveal the subtleties in the story. Bruno Ganz gives a great central performance. So too does Dennis Hopper, as the enigmatic Tom Ripley. Hopper had effectively been blacklisted from Hollywood following years of erratic behaviour. His performance here showed that, while he might be lost inside his own head, he could still produce the goods on the screen.
