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The American Friend (24-Jun-1977)

Original Title: Der Amerikanische Freund

Director: Wim Wenders

Writer: Wim Wenders

From novel: Ripley's Game by Patricia Highsmith

Keywords: Thriller, Art Forgery

Criminal dandy Tom Ripley offers Hamburg picture framer Jonathan Zimmerman, suffering a fatal blood disease and with little time remaining, total financial security to his family if he murders a mobster. Mind you just a short time ago, Zimmerman, who met Ripley at an art auction, refused to shake the other man's hand. Outstanding performance by Bruno Ganz; Hopper is quite a different Ripley than Matt Damon.

NameOccupationBirthDeathKnown for
Samuel Fuller
Film Director
12-Aug-1912 30-Oct-1997 Pickup on South Street
Bruno Ganz
Actor
22-Mar-1941 16-Feb-2019 Downfall
Dennis Hopper
Actor
17-May-1936 29-May-2010 Apocalypse Now
Nicholas Ray
Film Director
7-Aug-1911 16-Jun-1979 Rebel Without a Cause

REVIEWS

Review by Rick Puller (posted on 3-Sep-2007)

A delightfully dark buddy flick, made long before buddy flicks fell in such disfavor. Dennis Hopper is the "cool" american friend. He's edgy, and charming as only he can be in a singular sociopathic manner that is his alone and yet undeniably american. He is an eminently likeable cowboy creep. Bruno Ganz is his reluctant partner in crime and has a european masculine grace that lends itself perfectly to Hopper's dangerous ambiguity. The movie is long, dreary, yet beautifully filmed, and fun to watch.






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