Rating: 
Summary: Slick and glossy suspenser
Review: Patricia Highsmith's classic suspense novel is gorgeously transposed onto the screen in this glossy, expertly-constructed Hollywood adaptation. The tale contains a mixture of themes: murder, the assumption of another man's identity, sexual lust and repressed homosexual leanings. Matt Damon is the villain of the piece, who manages to convince as both a harmless nobody eager to advance on the rungs of the social ladder, but who then sheds his chrysalis to emerge as a brutal and consummate murderer. Critics have objected that the film's major shortcoming was the miscasting of Damon in the title role -- (he looks far too inncocent, too "good-school-boyish" to carry much weight as Highsmith's sociopathic villain.) Perhaps Leonardo DiCaprio, whose features bear a touch of cruelty, might have been more suitable. Still, this objection is unjust as there are a few scenes (such as the horrifying murder in the boat with the oar) that prove that Damon, just for once, is capable of getting out of himself and acting against type. The greatest performance of the piece was Jude Law, however, while Gwynneth Paltrow just seems to sit around and look pretty. Generally recommended for buffs of the crime thriller, as the fifties backdrop seems to uncannily evoke some of the vintage suspensers of Hitchcock which also feature Mediterreanean settings -- (e.g. "To Catch a Thief", 1955). A glaring implausibility of the plot, though, was the way in which Ripley managed to pull off such an obvious confidence trick without being found out sooner.
Rating: 
Summary: Cool title; wasted on a horrible movie!!
Review: This movie was HORRIBLE!! You know when you sit thru a movie waiting for something... anything to happen... well, you'll be waiting a LONG time w/this movie. I was HIGHLY disappointed! Matt Damon was spectacular as usual. The man has a million faces and emotions.... brilliant. However, why he chose to do a piece of trash movie as this is beyond me. Oh and as a shocker <a touch of sarcasm there> Gwenyth Paltrow played a nieve, fragile, "so-called" victim. PLEASE!!!! How virtuous can one be in a scummy, sadistic, twisted plot. Moreover... this movie lacked humor, action, drama, dynamics, characters w/depth and basically a plot. HOW did this flick get made???? Every time I here the name ripley I shutter... what a waste of TIME!!! I wish someone would have warned me before I sat down and wasted 120 minutes of my life... which consequently felt like an eternity!!
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining enough.
Review: I saw this movie for the first time last night. The story of a poor musician asked by a rich ship builder to go to Italy to bring back his son. Once Tom (Matt Damon) gets a taste of Italy and the lifestyle of the well-to-do, he decides to stay and try to be like them. Especially Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law). The son of the rich ship builder. At first Tom is welcomed by Dickie and Marge (Gwyneth Paltrow). But after a while, Dickie tires of him. Tom can't handle this and soon his true self is unleashed with deception and murder. Matt Damon does a good job as Tom Ripley, but I could see someone else playing this role just as well, if not a little better. Jude Law (what a beautiful man) is perfect as Dickie Greenleaf. Gwyneth Paltrow is wonderful as Marge. The performances of other actors (including Cate Blanchett) were done very well. I'd say my least favorite character (after Tom Ripley) was Dickie's best friend Freddy. A man I just didn't like. This is a good movie and I recommend it to anyone interested in suspense movies. Rent it today and judge for yourself whether or not it's good enough to own. I didn't like it well enough to watch it again, but it was entertaining enough.
Rating:
Summary: A Very Disturbing Piece of Film
Review: This adaption of Patricia Highsmith's book of the same name takes you on a thrill ride of greed, envy, and love. But not in the convential way. When you watch this movie you get sucked into a suspicious world where you must question even yourself. This movie creates the question, "What would you do to be someone else?". Anthony Minghella, director of the English Patient, gives us a beautiful setting and a quick moving story. Paired with spectacular performances by Matt Damon and Jude Law. Any true suspense freak should dish out the cash to buy this and enjoy the ride, there aren't many like it.
Rating:
Summary: A shocker in more ways than one
Review: I was expecting Matt Daman to be a bit more like he was in "Private Ryan". However, if you are expecting to find out anything about Mr.Ripley that is incredible, I can save you a few Dollars. Unless you are of this flavor Mr. Ripley is a talented, psychopathic, homosexual murderer. I wish that was on the back of the box when I purchased this movie. With no offense intended against this particular community it would be nice if they would inform us before we spend the long drawn out moments trying to endure to the end ont this film.
Rating:
Summary: A shocker in more ways than one
Review: I was expecting Matt Daman to be a bit more like he was in "Private Ryan". However, if you are expecting to find out anything about M,r.Ripley that is incredible, I can save you a few Dollars. Unless you are of this flavor Mr. Ripley is a talented, psychopathic, homosexual murderer. I wish that was on the back of the box when I purchased this movie. With no offense intended against this particular community it would be nice if they would inform us before we spend the long drawn out moments trying to endure to the end ont this film.
Rating: 
Summary: Tried, came close, missed
Review: The Talented Mr. Ripley (Anthony Minghella, 1999)Anyone who goes into this thinking Anthony Minghella is god and can do no wrong isn't thinking too far past The English Patient (two words: Mr. Wonderful). Ripley suffers from many of the same shortcomings as Patient did, but it also has many of that film's strengths, as well, and it's backed by a classic mystery novel. So it can't be all bad, right? Right. Unfortunately, it can't be as good as it should have been, given the considerable depth of talent herein. Minghella should be counting one blessing, that his film doesn't have to stand up to the scrutiny of the earlier film based on this novel, Purple Noon (1960). So few people have seen it that Minghella was capable of starting fresh, with an extremely strong cast, a decent script, and a directorial hand that lends itself to the slow-moving and sumptuous. Large, sweeping landscapes and perfectly-blended colors were one of the thigns that made The English Patient such a delight to watch, and they do the same here. But the pace of Patient was slower and easier, as a drama should be compared to a mystery, and the Fiennes-Thomas tension was allowed to build and ebb. There's no real chemistry here between any of the characters, save towards the end, as Tom (Matt Damon) and Peter (Jack Davenport, last seen as the dashing male lead in the extremely underrated Ultraviolet) get to know one another better. We find ourselves wondering where the tension is supposed to be coming from, and ultimately, there isn't any; it just exists, and continues to exist perhaps long after it should, as Minghella spends forty-five minutes cleaning up loose ends. (To give credit where credit is due, however, the movie's final scene is masterful.) The characters are well-played, but they seem to be operating in separate vacuums. Special mention should be given to one thing, however. The PR team did a fantastic job with this. The trailer for the film edited a key scene ("you're shivering, Marge...") in such a way as to make it stupidly unwatchable, thus lowering the expectations of the filmgoers. So most people probably went into it thinking "god, I hope the whole film isn't as bad as that scene." Well, that scene isn't as bad as that scene, actually, and that was a pleasant surprise. **
Rating:
Summary: One of the most intelligent thrillers in ages.
Review: Anthony Minghella, director of the Oscar-winning flick The English Patient is back with another beautiful film. Matt Damon plays Tom Ripley, who kills his new best friend Dicky (Jude Law) and then tries to get away with it by becoming Dicky himself. The Talented Mr. Ripley is extremely underrated, I don't know what everyone is complaining about. This film is one of the most intelligent, most intriguing thrillers in a pretty long time. The Talented Mr. Ripley is also overflowing with brains and imaginative ideas, and these things make the small flaws almost disappear. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Well crafted script but still lukewarm
Review: This adaptation of a Patricia Highsmith novel written in 1955 stars Matt Damon as Tom Ripley, who's poor, but entranced by the good life. He therefore lets himself be mistaken for a friend of a rich man's son and be sponsored on a trip to Italy with the intention of convincing the son to return to America. The son, Dickie Greenleaf, played by Jude Law, is living the high life in Italy and romantically involved with Gwyneth Paltrow. When Tom Ripley enters their world, he is at first rejected and then embraced and a friendship between the two men develop. Complications lead to murder and Tom Ripley assumes the identify of Dickie Greenleaf. The director is Anthony Minghella, who directed The English Patient, and it is clear he loves lush scenes of Italy as well as the subtle physiological states of his characters. There is more to this story than just the action of the plot. The tension revolves around whether or not Tom Ripley will be discovered and it held my interest throughout because of a well-crafted script and excellent timing. Matt Damon does a good job, but not a great one, and needs props such as horn rimmed glasses and a worn corduroy jacket to compensate for the subtleties of characterization that this difficult role demands. Gwyneth Paltrow is competent but never outstanding. However, Jude Law's role as Dickie Greenleaf is totally convincing; while the other actors seem to be trying too hard, he comes across as the spoiled rich boy as if this was really who he is. While this video might be a pleasant way to spend a few hours, it is the kind of entertainment that is soon forgotten. That why I can only give it a lukewarm recommendation.
Rating: 
Summary: If Only Every Film Were Half As Good
Review: Taunt, smart and surprising. The brutal, sudden violence will set your teeth on edge. Excellent film, excellently made. The acting is top notch. Anyone who is critical of Damon's acting hasn't seen this film. Highly recommended.
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