The American Friend-Movie Review 06/24/2010
Posted by Films to consider in Based on a novel, German language film, Movies, Thriller.trackback
The American Friend (German) 1977/2003
Der Amerikanische Freund
Winner, Film Award in Gold (Wenders); Film Award in Silver (Outstanding Feature Film), German Film Awards
Winner, Best Foreign Performer (Ganz), Sant Jordi Awards
Nominated, Best Foreign Film (Wenders), César Awards, France
Nominated, Golden Palm (Wenders), Cannes Film Festival
Written and directed by Wim Wenders
Starring Bruno Ganz and Dennis Hopper
“What’s wrong with a cowboy in Hamburg?”
As my tribute to the late Dennis Hopper, I offer this post-Easy Rider film. Hopper plays Tom Ripley in a story loosely based on Patricia Highsmith’s novel, Ripley’s Game.
A terminally ill man is convinced to commit a revenge murder for money, in order to provide for his family after his death. Just one murder, that’s all. I won’t tell more – the film deliciously unfolds. Hopper plays the role of the American “friend” with a mixture of charm and ruthlessness, as the ailing man (Bruno Ganz) gradually falls apart.
John Malkovich starred in a more recent version of Ripley’s Game, which I haven’t seen yet.
125 min. Unrated. Adult themes.
FILMS TO CONSIDER 
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