Rating: 
Summary: Excellent drama
Review: I have to admit, I wasn't such a fan of Minghella's "English Patient" so I didn't expect much from "The Talented Mr. Ripley". But after seeing this movie four times, I have to say it's nothing short of a masterpiece. Outstanding performances by Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, James Rebhorn, Philip S. Hoffman and Cate Blanchett. Gorgeous Locations. A very good story and a musical swing. If you get the chance to watch the director's commentary on your DVD, I strongly suggest you do so, because Minghella proves that he really knew what he was doing. It's one of the most insightful commentaries I've ever heard. For some it might be hard to accept Ripley as the hero or see a homoerotic Film at all, but it's sure worth it. And it's not about Homsexuality, it's about being someone else - "being a fake somebody instead of a real nobody". From the fantastic beginning, over the murder of Dicky to the last shot of Tom reflecting in the mirrors: Masterful.(Take a close look at how Marge changes in the film from sunny & young to sorrowful & old - and witness Paltrows best performance. Plus: Carefully study Matt Damons expressions and wordless reactions - they're worth buying this alone)
Rating:
Summary: Almost Flawless and Always Beautiful
Review: The Talented Mr. Ripley is the story of a poor young man in New York, Tom Ripley who is sent to Italy by a ship building tycoon to bring his son, Dickie Greenleaf, home. When Tom arrives however, he starts to fall in love with Dickie's lifestyle, and with Dickie himself. ( Despite the fact that Dickie has a fiancee, Marg Sherwood. ) Tom is soon accepted into their world, but when his ride in their life is approaching an end, a desperate and scared Tom turns to murder and deception. The Talented Mr. Ripley has become one of my favorite movies. The first time I saw it, I was disappointed at the lack of mystery, it was not until later that I understood the main objective of the film, to create a suspenseful drama about lonliness and closeted homosexuality in the 1950s. Matt Damon makes you feel the true depression and pain that is at the heart of Tom Ripley. Since the story is told through his eyes, you start to be influenced by him, and do not want him to lose. He is more of an accidental bad guy, someone who you feel for and connect to. The supporting cast is for the most part incredible, including one heart-pounding performance by the always sensual and beyond outstanding Jude Law as Dickie Greenleaf. Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Cate Blanchett take everything that their characters could possibly feel and let you see it. The screenplay seems to flow perfectly from the actors mouthes. The setting and directing are truly brilliant, making Anthony Minghella a director to remember. It is filled with enough sound, emotion, plot and scenary for a dozen films. The only change I would have liked in the movie, is the casting of Marg, who ended up being played by Gwyneth Paltrow, a highly untalented overrated and annoying actress who failed to grasp any speck of hope that her character had. All in all, the movie is spectacular and not to missed for anything.
Rating: 
Summary: Prop flaw
Review: It's the late fifties, yet somehow, a copy of Miles Davis' tutu, recorded in 1986, makes an appearance. The film is visually well worth the trip, and is gripping enough to keep you interested for an hour and a half. The problem is that it keeps going beyond that point.
Rating: 
Summary: Cate Blanchett Shines
Review: In a small but crucial supporting role (which isn't in the book) Cate Blanchett shines as an insecure American heiress who has the misfortune to become involved with Ripley. Blanchett shows us this woman's fakeness and brittlenes, and yet she's so vulnerable and beautiful you forgive her. As David Letterman said about Blanchett, "That may be the most attractive woman I've ever seen in my life."
Rating:
Summary: Vacation porn
Review: This is an excellent film and, dare I say, better than the original, 1960's "Purple Noon." I appreciate Anthony Minghella's refusal to go against Patricia Highsmith's novel and add a dose of conventional "morality," which dictates that a character who does evil must receive his just desserts. It's great to see films that don't present such black-and-white moral absolutism...it's a much more challenging experience. As far as the rest of the film goes: the cinematography is stunning and may make you call a travel agent. Not that I lived in Italy circa 1960 (or in 1960 at all), but Minghella really seems to get all of the period details right, which greatly lends to the fantasy that this film exudes. The acting is top-notch, with great performances by everyone involved, especially Phillip Seymour Hoffman who makes mucho gravy out of a character with little screen time, and the absoutely mesmerizing Jude Law as Dickie Greenleaf. I understand that it's essential to the plot, but Law's presence is so dazzling that when he leaves the film, it's just a little less enjoyable to watch. Nevertheless, this is one of the best films of 1999.
Rating:
Summary: An intriguing, intense, and unique masterpiece
Review: "The Talented Mr. Ripley" is an intense look at how far someone can go to feel accepted, and ultimately not be accepted. The story follows Tom Ripley (Matt Damon), a quiet musician, who has only accomplaished being a bathroom attendent at an opera house, in 1950's New York. Riley's class gets altered when he is paid by wealthy Herbert Greenleaf, to bring his son, spoiled, rich bratt Dickie (played to perfection by Jude Law) home. When Tom becomes obsessed with the life style Dickie is living, he can't pull away, and expresses his homo-erotic feelings to Dickie, who is cruelly creeped out by Tom. Things go haywire when Tom kills his obsession, Dickie, and tries to assume Dickie's life, and the corse of the story spirells into a masterful plot where the villian of the story is the protagonist. Anthony Minghella constructs a wonderful tapestry, of beauty, luxory, hatered, and suspence with the Italian Riviera as it's background. Gwyneth Paltrow plays Dickies girlfriend, who is confused by his disappearence; Kate Blanchett plays tacky-rich-American-tourist Meredith who thinks she is seduced by Ripley, who she believes is Dickie, and does a convincingly wonderful job as well; and Phillip Seymore Hoffman plays Dickie's best friend, spoiled, playboy Freddie. What was so fascinating about "Ripley" is that Minghella uses wonderful scenes and shots to capture the stories suspence. He also makes you feel sorry for Tom Ripley, because he brings out the regection factor all of us have experienced in some way. While most of us would never kill in this circomstance, we all know what its like to be treated cruelly by people we thought were friends, but only really care about themselves. That is the bottom-line theme of the story. DVD just enhances the enjoyment with all the extra features. From storyboards, to the making-of documentary feature, to Minghella's commentary of the movie, the DVD is worth every penny. While many people hated the movie, I found it very interesting, cinematographic, excellent, and very well done.
Rating:
Summary: A flawed masterpiece
Review: This is one of the most visually stunning films that I have seen in a while. Except for a brief opening segment set in New York, the remainder of the film takes place in Italy and Venice. Not since David Lean's "Summertime" has a film been so beautifully presented. That said, it does suffer from some flaws when it comes to plot and editing. First of all, it is way too long and should have clocked in under 2 hours instead of a meandering 2 hrs, 20 minutes. But the major flaw is the casting and development of Ripley's character. Matt Damon is physically wrong for the part, and while he does a commendable job, if you have read the book, Damon's casting will gnaw at you. An actor such as Jack Davenport (who plays Peter) would fit the character of Ripley better. The biggest downfall of the film, however, is Ripley's character development. He simply doesn't gel. In the book, Ripley is a cold and calculating man who cleverly plots his actions - in the film, Ripley seems to fall accidentally into his misdeeds. Tom Ripley would not hesitate to apologize for clobbering Dickie with a boat paddle - he would do it until the deed was done. Artistically, this is a beautifully crafted film with some excellent performances but it could have been much better had the writers made up their mind about how Ripley was going to be portrayed.
Rating: 
Summary: The Talantless Mr Ripley
Review: I have to admit I was looking forward to this movie from the previews. The idea of someone taking over another person's life is an interesting premise. Too bad this movie wastes it completely. Mr. Ripley is as Dickie so elegently explains: is boring. His character is unlikable and not too smart. During the entire second half of the movies, I kept expecting his lies to indict him but no one (except Maude) ever figure out his crimes. The ending is completly anti-climatic, it never explains Ripley's motives and is a completly senseless murder. Why is it all these 'culturally signifgant films' seem toi be set in Europe and filled of vapid characters?
Rating:
Summary: Commentary Track Disappointing
Review: I mainly collect DVDs for the extras. I had not seen the film until purchasing it. I have "Purple Noon" so I knew the story. It's a pretty good flick, and I think the three leads did an excellent job. Plus I really got a kick out of Cate Blanchet and Philip Seymour Hoffman's performances in the supporting roles. I can really identify with Ripley (scary thought, huh?) so I'd give the movie a 5. I was pretty disappointed in Minghella's commentary track though, so I am giving the DVD release a 4. He spends most of the time discussing the characters motivations. That was completely unnecessary. Thats what watching movies is all about, learning the motivations as the story unfolds. He had very little to say in the way of technical information. He talked about the 50s design motif, being inspired by certain photographs from the era, and how a certain public square was so difficult to film in because it was always full of people. But other than that it was a lot of "and now Ripley feels this" and "Marge is feeling that". Let the actors speak for themselves.
Rating:
Summary: So So
Review: This movie did not get grate reviews but it was still high up there. I was suprised this movie was not very good at all. It seemed like the acting was the only good thing about it but the story and the plot was just a big joke. I say you can pass this movie up you wont be missing a thing.
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