Rating: 
Summary: Stunning, Suspenseful, Heartbreaking
Review: This film deserved a best picture nomination and best actor nomination for Matt Damon. Damon portrays Ripley as a lonely but likeable geek who wants desperately to be loved. His desire for acceptance, and humiliation over rejection, leads him to one tragic mistake that begins, for him, a life on the run. Anthony Minghella does a superb job of re-creating Italy in the 1950's - this is a beautifully stunning film that should only be viewed in widescreen. The suspense begins about 45 minutes into the film, and just keeps building. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is delightfully arrogant and threatening as Tom Ripley's nemisis.
Rating: 
Summary: Show for Jude Law
Review: Many of the critics said that this movie was about a guy who wanted to stay in luxury and greed, so he became the talent who managed to get through all the prosecution, invetigation and intrigues of his murder on his wealthy "friend".However, the movie was more than that. The main stream lies more on the obsession of Matt Damon for Jude Law - the obsession for homosexual itimacy with this guy who turned out to be his prey. In fact the story would have ended very early if Jude Law accepted Matt's offer of being together when they were on the boat ride. However, things didn't happened like that for it was required to have Jude Law killed to put up a show for Matt. Frankly, the second half of the movie was pretty slow and over architectualled. Matt's relation of his new "lover" and Gwyneth Paltrow were not developed well because Matt was not able to control the show with his talent. This doesn't mean that he did not act good, but the story line had made him somewhat deificient from his potential acting. Probably the strong stealing effect of Jude Law in the first part of the movie had also made the one-man-show of Matt too heavy for the audiences. Gwyneth Paltrow was a bit wasted in the movie for she could have done more than that. Her acting potential was not fully exploited. Jude Law's character somewhat had a glimpse of shadow from his roles in Wilde and Gatacca. Nonetheless, he is shining in the movie and made it interesting. Overall speaking the moive is a bit over-webby but still a good choice if you have a preference of Matt, Jude or Gwyneth.
Rating: 
Summary: It Was Better Then I thought
Review: It wasn't the best movie that i have seen but it was better then I thought. I was thinking it was going to be a thriller but it was more of a drama type. If you enjoy movies for the most part then I reccomend this Movie.
Rating:
Summary: A Heartbreakingly Sad Character Study
Review: I was a fan of Patricia Highsmith's novel going into Anthony Minghella's film. If you have ever read the book, you'll know there has been a great deal of change. However, I was surprisingly pleased with Minghella's version. In fact, I've grown to love it more than the book. It's a very well made movie, from the haunting opening song by Sinead O'Connor to the closing shot of a tormented Ripley. The entire movie looks beautiful, with cinematography by Minghella regular John Seale. It is also a very musical movie. Where Dickie was an artist in the book, he is now a jazz musician. There are several nice scenes involving music that you'll enjoy if you are a jazz fan. What I adore most about Ripley is its story of a man who desperatly wants to fit in. Tom Ripley is a nobody in New York, he works in an operahouse as a bathroom attendant. He lives in a cruddy basement apartment across from a butcher. He cannot afford a piano, so he practises on a paper keyboard. One day, while subbing as an accompanist, Tom stumbles onto an offer to go to Europe. Wealthy Mr. Greenleaf grants him a mission to bring back his prodigal son. When he arrives in Italy, he realises he has the chance to become a somebody. He is especially enamoured with Dickie Greenleaf, who has a hypnotic effect on everyone he meets. What Tom doesn't particulary understand that Dickie is too narcsistic to care about anyone other than himself. Tom loses Dickie's attention and is devasted. ... Tom is a character we root for, because he is the underdog. He is not rich or popular, truly deserving of a chance at something better. A lot of people describe this movie as disturbing, but only because of the level of violence. It disturbed me in the way it depicted a person trying to fight their way of their station in life and failing. Ripley is basically a man with good intentions who only wants to be liked. He doesn't do anything cold bloodily, he only [tries] to protect what little he has of his character. If Ripley can't be himself and succeed, what hope does any of us have?
Rating:
Summary: In the tradition of Hitchcock?
Review: No. It falls short. That doesn't make it a bad movie In fact it's pretty good. As for suspense, I could put the VCR on pause, go make a sandwich & come back later. Harder to do with Hitchcock. The back-drop, for the movie, Italy in the 50's was gorgous as a playground for the rich, beautiful & spoiled. Jude Law's character, Dickie, didn't really captivate me. His character was inconsistent but maybe that is what he was aiming for. I didn't feel the charisma the other characters felt for him. He was basically conflicted over his bi-sexuality. He hated himself & was a little off. I love Gwyenth Paltrow, but not in this movie. Her character was necessary but she wasn't. The part was too light-weight. Any actress could have played it. Actually Matt Damon as Tom Ripley did the best job. He was not a psychopath as some reviewers have maintained. I think his character resembled a much rarer & dangerous sociopath. It is also much harder to play. The detectives were totally unbelivable as such total morons. I don't want to give up the story, but by this point, it's probably too late. Don't expect too much. It's not Hitchcock. It's a popcorn movie. Enjoy it in that vein.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting but Unsatisfying
Review: I entered this movie with high expectations as the book is very highly spoken of. The characters were somewhat shallow, and I did not find Matt Damon particularly believable as a murderer. His actions come out of nowhere and you just don't see or feel the psycho that is obviously lurking beneath the surface. The few scenes where you do see it seem staged. Gwyneth Paltrows talents were not put to good use; you hardly get to know her character. Still, the movie has an eerie tone to it and builds suspense effectively; if only it had led to a more satisfying ending. The scenery and sets were stunning, and the music added to the creepy ambiance.
Rating: 
Summary: The Personalityless Mr. Ripley
Review: Okay, true ... so I didn't watch the entire movie. I understand that the quality of the plot varies from person to person, depending on how well you understood the film, but there was one thing that really bothered me about the characters. I don't know if it was the script, the acting, but all the characters seem so fake. From Dickie's moodswings to Marge's happy-go-lucky disconcern for her bf's affairs, to Tom's spontaneous aggressive personality. All in all, if you're looking for a movie featuring real human characters you can relate to, skip out on this one.
Rating:
Summary: THIS MOVIE IS SCARY
Review: THIS MOVIE SCARED ME. I WATCH ALOT OF HORROR MOVIES, BUT FOR SOME REASON THIS MOVIE IS ONE OF THE SCARIEST MOVIES I HAVE EVER SEEN. WHEN TOM HIT'S JUDE LAW'S CHARACTER IN THE FACE WITH A OAR. NOW THAT WAS SICK. RENT THIS MOVIE
Rating:
Summary: Simply Sinister
Review: This movie was definitely a shocker ! It was absolutely not what I expected. Was this good ? Yes and no.Here's the good part: The previews and ads led me to believe it was another typical film about someone assuming the identity of another for wealth, power and the girl.I was under the impression that Ripley was not only after Dickie Greenleaf's life but his girlfriend as well.Instead, Ripley has another hidden agenda. For those who have not seen the film, I refuse to divulge what Ripley's real sinister intentions are ! The bad is that the film ended with a feeling of an unsatisfying closure. However, I'm sure it was done so as not to follow the all too typical ending where the villain gets his just rewards ! It almost had an undertone sub-plot feeling of Single White Female as well with a Hitchcock twist...
Rating: 
Summary: God Awful!
Review: This may be a well directed and photographed movie, but that doesn't overcome the serious and obvious flaws it contains. First, the story is BORING! The characters are grating and as the title character bumps each off, you sigh with relief and chalk them up. The only thing "thrilling" about this movie is the end credits. I couldn't believe I wasted two and a half hours of my time on this dog. It's one of those movies that you watch because you hope it will get better. Be warned- it never does! The ending is nothing but a loose end and you feel cheated by it. Maybe Mr. Ripley is talented- but you would never know it from watching this waste of film!
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