The Talented Mr. Ripley

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Thriller
Review: I would put Ripley as one of my favorite movies ever. The acting is excellent, the plot is great and creative; a fantasy-gone-wrong for those who wished they were something more. This plot has been used not as skillfully in plays, books, and movies. Matt Damon plays the "tragic hero" very well.

The plot revolves around Matt Damon's Thomas Ripley, an ingenious and apathetic individual who, unfortunately is a nobody. He finds an opportunity to manipulate the wealthy patriarch of the Greenleaf family into giving him a job: finding Senior Greenleaf's playboy son in Europe. Tom's dreams were being among the rich, the carefree, and those in Europe during the'50s, so he jumps at the idea. As we see by Tom's cunning, ability to concoct a false personality almost out of thin air, and his talents with instruments, he is probably fit to be rich THAN THE RICH THEMSELVES. Ripley should be a SOMEBODY, and his desire to be like the Greenleaf son, Dickie (played by Jude Law) gives him a new goal: no matter what, to stay a close friend of the playboy. As story continues, Tom's desire to weave himself into high-society drives him to commit a series of crimes and put himself in trouble that even a talented boy like himself cannot escape from.

The acting in this film is superb. Jude portrays an erratic and irresponsible playboy flawlessly, and Kate Blanchett/ Gwenyth Paltrow play compassionate but air headed aristocrats. Matt Damon, being the tragic hero, carries the film on his back: he must be able to change his personality every other scene as he becomes entangled with the other characters, and then seem emotionless during scenes where he is alone. That change is essential for us to see how conniving he really is.

The camerawork in this film is excellent, capturing shots of famous tourist-spots in Italy. The angles of the camera (don't laugh, they're IMPORTANT) were nearly perfect as well, capturing the best sides of the characters that Ripley manipulates and Ripley himself. The capturing of these picturesque settings and Ripley's growing familiarity with them reflect his progress up the social ladder.

The costuming of the women in this movie makes it almost comedic: Ripley (in life one of the lower class) one way or another deceives and cons Blanchett's Marilyn Lowe and Paltrow's Margo during the film. It is funny to see people who look so glamorous and are so emotionally sensitive as Marilyn and Margo become fools to Ripley's deceptions.

Rating:
Summary: When Wannabes Rule the Earth
Review: This movie looked good in the theatre trailers, though I couldn't quite grasp what it was about--false identities? It made it to the $4 night at the local theatre, so I went with my sister, who hadn't even heard of it yet.

Wow! What a great movie!

Mr. Ripley's (Matt Damon's) talent is that he's a chameleon, shaping his story to fit in with the wealthy Dickie (Jude Law), a rich boy at play in Italy with his girlfriend (Gwyneth Paltrow). How Mr. Ripley manages to ingratiate himself and win friends and a lifestyle he should never have is fascinating to watch. And then, things take a riveting turn, and everything's very different. When does making up become covering up? When there's a murder involved, of course.

Excepting the murder, this film is a little reminiscent of "All About Eve" where unsuspecting nice people who have something enviable are putty in the hands of a master manipulator. The difference is that Mr. Ripley is our protagonist, while Eve is an antagonist. And what a difference from this point of view!

All the actors and actresses do a great job, and the scenery is to die for--or perhaps more accurately, to kill for!

Rating:
Summary: JUDE LAW STEALS EVERY SCENE HE`S IN...
Review: A thriller which is not thrilling. The Italian policeforce are portrayed like idiots when the character of Matt Damon is far from clever and HELPED by 2 fantastic solutions...
The actors and the Italian landscape are a joy; Jude Law steals every scene he`s in. The film has a strong gay overtone, but as with the story, it doesn`t deliver into a catharsis and the last 30 minutes are full of stupid people who doesn`t seem 2 understand that Mr Ripley is a "wacko"...

Rating:
Summary: Like it or not, it is well-made
Review: In a way, I liked it. A careful elaboration of the character of an accomplished evil, an exploration how deep the vice and the greed can lead.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent interpretation of the Highsmith mystery classic
Review: It's interesting to compare director and screenwriter Anthony Minghella's interpretation with the source material, mystery novelist Patricia Highsmith's 1955 novel of the same name. As such we were forced to identify with Highsmith's antihero, all the better to set us up for her ironic and daring "resolution." Minghella has changed the ending, but without changing its spirit. He has Ripley committing an additional murder while throwing in a character not in the novel, Cate Blanchett's Meredith Logue. Miss Logue serves two purposes, one, she helps unravel the plot and two, she helps to objectify Tom Ripley's ambivalent sexual nature.

The simplistic question, is Ripley homosexual? is not answered in the Highsmith novel. But, certain scenes aboard ship with the clearly gay Peter Smith-Kingsley, decides that Ripley is indeed gay. Nonetheless the psychological heart of the story, that of a man who loathes himself so much that he can only love himself by assuming the identity of another man whom he admires, is left intact. Minghella's script and direction remain true to the spirit and broad form of the novel, while improving on the dramatic quality of the story. (I don't think most movie audiences would have the patience for Highsmith's more leisurely exposition.)

Some other changes by Minghella include making Dickie's passion jazz music instead of painting, and emphasizing the rich boy/poor boy dichotomy (somewhat reminiscent of the chasm in The Great Gatsby) by making Dickie a Princeton grad and Tom a piano-playing kid who had a menial job at the university. In the book Dickie and Tom actually knew one another before Europe, while Minghella has Tom pretend that Dickie and he had previously met. Also in the book Marge Sherwood's character is almost stupid. In the movie she is intelligent and insightful. Dickie loves her and they are to be married. In the book she is just a girlfriend.

The success of this movie in large part is due to Minghella's ability to translate the novel to the screen, but also because of a very superior cast. Matt Damon as the murderous Mr. Ripley is creepy and vulnerable and entirely believable. Jude Law as the rich and spoiled, but likeable Dickie Greenleaf, is outstanding. He is an actor of charisma and subtlety. Gwyneth Paltrow does a good job in a somewhat limited role as Marge Sherwood. Cate Blanchett, whom you may recall from her outstanding work in Elizabeth (1998) is particularly good as the straight-laced and somewhat inhibited Meredith Logue who has designs on Tom Ripley's morally corrupted heart (although she thinks he's Dickie Greenleaf). She, more than anyone conveys the look and feel of the fifties. And Phillip Seymour Hoffman, whom I recall from his small part as Lester Bangs, the cynical rock critic in Almost Famous (2000), is superb as Dickie's somewhat boorish friend, Freddie Miles.

In some ways this is better than the book. (And in some ways it isn't, of course.) Minghella, who brought Michael Ondaatje's difficult novel, The English Patient, to the screen, proves once again that he knows the difference between a novel and a screenplay and how to translate the one into the other without losing the essence of the original. Incidentally, the spiffy line spoken by James Rebhorn as Dickie's father, Herbert Greenleaf, "People say you can't choose your parents, but you know you can't choose your children either," is not in the book (nor in Bartlett's Quotations) and so I presume was penned by Minghella.

Another very good movie version of the Highsmith novel is the Hitchcock-like Plein Soleil ("Purple Moon") released in 1960 from French director Rene Clement.

Rating:
Summary: Where was the Oscar nomination?
Review: A great tale about identity, conformity, insecurity, and deception. Matt Damon gives an incredible performance as a young man who longs to join the ranks of the upper class, but weaves a web of deceipt when he is mistaken for a Princeton alumnus and is shipped to Italy to convince a charismatic playboy (Jude Law, a British actor in a pitch-perfect American accent) to return to New York to reunite with his father. The cast is nothing short of excellent. Jude Law radiates with energy as the incredibly snooty Dickie Greenleaf; Philip Seymour Hoffman (where is his Oscar nomination?) is effective as the catty Freddie Miles, and the always dependable Cate Blanchett shines in the minor role of Meredith. There's enough talent in this movie to go around, and the soundtrack (of mainly jazz titles) is excellent. I can't praise this film enough; it was one of the finest motion pictures of 1999 and should have been nominated for Best Picture.

Rating:
Summary: Persona, Non Grata
Review: The Talented Mr. Ripley: rated R, 2 hours and 15 minutes

One of the year's most anticipated movies, not surprisingly also turns out to be one of the year's best. A true ensemble cast that is virtually flawless in performance defines The Talented Mr. Ripley.
When we first meet the film's anti-hero (in the true meaning of the word), he is feigning his identity as a well-respected Princeton graduate in hope of impressing his audience at a piano recital. In actuality, Mr. Ripley is just your average Joe. As the movie progresses, the plot thickens. Ripley ultimately finds himself wandering around some of the most beautiful cities in Europe. These locations of paradise become the prime setting for murder.
Disturbingly twisted, The Talented Mr. Ripley stuns its viewers, leading them on a windy road of pleasure and pain, beauty and sheer ugliness. The movie grabs you by the throat, turns you upside down, and then leaves you hanging, desperate for more. Over two hours of filming is not enough to satisfy, when dealing with a movie of this caliber. The first hour and ten minutes of the movie illustrates Ripley's admiration for the wealthy, stylish, all-American Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law). They grow extremely close, and the movie portrays their relationship in an especially genuine manner. The two of them, and Dickie's sweetheart, Gwyneth Paltrow, seem to do everything together. Fabulous shots of good-natured fun continue through this entire portion of the movie'until without warning, things go awry. New characters enter the equation; wonderfully contrasted scenery creates the image of deception, reminding us that appearances often conceal the dark truths; and Tom Ripley's journey from 'real nobody' to 'fake somebody' is enthralling, as is the entire film.
Director and screenwriter Anthony Minghella does a brilliant job of perfecting each and every scene to shadow the film's sinister plot. Everything about the movie is classy, especially the development of its characters and the actors behind them. The young, ostensibly, inexperienced actor, Matt Damon assumes the role of Tom Ripley, controversial star of the film. As soon as he steps into the shoes of the poor and pathetic Tom Ripley, it becomes obvious that Matt Damon is anything but naïve and inexperienced. He brings the eccentric character to life with such vivid realism and flare that one can only observe with profound astonishment. Easily one of the most underrated actors, Damon proves his worth in Ripley and greatly deserves all credit that he receives for the movie. He ranks among some of the best in the industry. Tackling a role that could be so hazardous to the unblemished teen-idol image he has acquired makes him all the more commendable.
The entire cast of Ripley should be revered for their splendid efforts as well. Without Jude Law's awe-inspiring turn-in as Dickie, a major, irreplaceable piece of Tom would be missing. Nothing remotely negative can be said about Law or any of the other cast-members. Gwyneth Paltrow is great as always. However, lesser-known actor, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, is fantastic in his role as Freddie Miles, the arrogant, snotty pal of Dickie whom Tom competes with for Dickie's attention. Hoffman pinned down the precise mannerisms of his character, contributing to his overall staggering performance. To put on the finishing touches, Cate Blanchett is also entwined into the story line. Her character, Meredith Randall is the subtle cause for much of the drama that takes place. Although she appears to be insignificant, she provides for many of the movie's more interesting twists. The terrific, high-quality acting of Blanchett rounds out the movie in exactly the way it is meant to, only better.

An exceptionally unique, masterful work of genius, The Talented Mr. Ripley, is worthy of an A+.

Rating:
Summary: The way movies should be done
Review: Film, as all other types of art, should incoporate the ideals of the past with the technology of the present. Fashion designers update classic designs with modern fabics and in that way I think that Minghella's "The Talented Mr. Ripley" is an updated version of Highsmith's classic suspense book. I believe both shine in their own lights. The book, although engrossing and suspenseful, did lack some of the energy of the film and I believe it was held back by some of the conventions of the time it was written in. On the other hand, Minghella gave the book a particular spin by including magnetizing undertones that speak to the hidden desires many people have. Although Matt Damon's performance was at time static, I believe the life and exuberance both Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law brought the film carried the movie as a whole. In this movie, some of the things Highsmith told through some of her slower prose, Minghella embodied in characters such as Meredith Logue, Peter Smith-Kingsley, and a few others. No one can argue that Minghella was very ambitious in taking on Highsmith's work and giving it a 90s gloss and spin. Some of the issues raised in the movie I don't think Highsmith had the liberty to really deal with in depth due to their taboo nature. For those looking for an action packed super-thriller, this movie is not that. For those looking for an Hitchcock-inspired smartly told story about the haves and the have-nots, I think this movie is just that.

Rating:
Summary: Dark but Amazing
Review: This movie amazed me at how complex and puzzling the plot was. Anthony Minghella does an excellent job with keeping the audience guessing and will make you stay glued to the edge of your seat.Tom Ripley is nobody with an amzing talent. He imatates people unbelievably well. He can sound almost exactly the same. One day a friend of his asks him to go to Italy to fetch his son and bring him back to America. Tom accepts his offer and goes to Italy. From there on Tom becomes obsessive with the man he was paid to bring back to America and completely forgets about his objective. Matt Damon and Gwyneth Paltrow do a wonderful job in this movie. This has become one of my favorite movies and am planning on purchasing it very soon.

Rating:
Summary: most talented film
Review: I am a huge Gwyneth Paltrow fan and I really like Matt Damon as well, so I was extemely excited to see this film and I was not disappointed. I've never read the novel, the movie is based on, but from what I've heard the film does a great job with the orginal work.

The plot is amazingly different. You see the world through the eyes of the bad guy, which rarely done in Hollywood. What makes this so effective is you relate to the Tom Ripley, a murderer and lair. As a viewer you are drawn into him and his life and you want him to escape and you want in all reality evil to win. This movie is a mind trip that you won't soon forget.

The scenary in the film is breathtaking and gives you the true feeling of being in Italy in the 50s.

The acting is awesome and by far Damon's best work. He was overlooked in my eyes by the Oscars. He's performance moves the film, for there is not a scene he's not in. Paltrow gives a great performance as the only one who can see through Ripley. Jude Law who lights up the screen got a much deserved Oscar nod for his role as Dickie the man who Tom strives to be.

This movie is worth your time, again and again. I now own this movie and enjoy watching when ever I have the time. It will make you think in ways you might not enjoy...but that's the beauty of this truly orginal movie. And besides it's worth the time just to watch Damon pitch perfect perfomance.