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The Talented Mr. Ripley

The Talented Mr. Ripley

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Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Neverending movie
Review: I must agree with another reviewer in saying, "I couldn't wait for it to end." While I liked Jude Law in the role of Dickie, once he gets axed the movie begins to plunge past the level of mediocrity and keeps going until the end. Honestly, I didn't find Matt Damon's performances subtle -- I don't fault him as an actor, I just think the role wasn't really suited for him, not to mention there really wasn't anything compelling about the character to begin with. Not only is the movie needlessly long, it is in fact painfully long. The only reason I watched it to the end is because I figured -- "ok it has to be over soon" (this went on for at least an hour). By the end I didn't care if Ripley was caught or not, confessed, went on a bloody rampage, or moved to Kentucky, as long as it happened soon so that the movie would finally be over.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: B R I L L I A N T THRILLER!
Review: Ripley (Matt Damon) in the beginning of the film built everything up. Very slowly and right from scratch. He was a no body, but always had the potential of being evil. He is talented, and he broke a barrier after another reaching a point of no turning back. He got himself in the dark side of the world, locked himself in when ever he needed a shelter from the sun of truth!

His talents were all based on evil. Started as a liar, manipulative, selfish and became a killer with no mercy! He claims love, but never loved anything except himself.

The film takes place in Italy with beautiful scenary, thrilling story and amazing music. You start up by being curious about Ripley quest, surprised by his goal, shocked by his moves then all the way thrilled by his cold blood!

Oh and I loved "Tu Vuo Fa L'Americano"!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: All the intensity of mainstream thrillers, with a twist.
Review: Stunning visual beauty, lush settings, and a riveting tale of suspense, mystery and the unknown chambers of the human heart all combust in "The Talented Mr. Ripley," a film full of elegance and irresistible intensity that remains subtle and unforced. The plot is emotionally complex as the title character becomes vastly enamored with a new and inviting lifestyle, discovering hidden feelings for others, and finding out the lengths he is willing to go to in order to remain where he so longs to be. The movie brings all of these feelings into a stunning whirlwind of suspense and emotion that is hard to resist.

Tom Ripley's life is one big underachievement, his biggest societal involvement being his piano performances for social parties and events. His chance meeting with the owner of a shipbuilding company, by the name of Greenleaf, who offers him an exorbitant amount of money in exchange for his services, which involves venturing to Italy to retrieve his son, Dickie. All of these events are set in motion because of a simply Princeton jacket that Tom borrowed to wear to the party, bringing him to the attention of Greenleaf, who thinks that he and his son went to college together. Tom keeps his silence about the truth, because with this ticket to Italy, all of his dreams are realized, and he sees it as a way to expand his horizons and make something of his life.

His trip to Italy and his acquaintance with Dickie and his fiancée, Marge, brings him into a totally new world, one where his friends seem to like him as much as he likes them. He feels wanted, needed, and enjoyed, so it comes as a shock to his dream when Dickie decides that he wants to move away from his home and somewhere else, with Marge, without Tom. Tom feels threatened because of this, and his overwhelming feelings lead him to unspeakable acts to keep his fantasy life intact while weaving his friends into a complex web of deceit and crime.

The movie is a showcase for some of the most beautiful places on Earth, setting the film in Italy. The grand expanse of the seaside town of Mangi is stunning and extremely scenic, while the events and everyday activities of the population all add to the time period of the film, giving it an added flavor and feel that is truly unique. The costumes, the jazz music, the way in which the people enjoy themselves is intensely joyful and exotic, and provides some of the best settings for a movie ever. Director Anthony Minghella, whose previous work includes the Oscar-winning "The English Patient," has brought another visually intriguing and powerful story to the screen.

This concentration on the setting is perfectly matched by the complexity of the story, which unfolds like a brilliant novel. It should come as no surprise that the movie is based on a novel, of the same name, written by Patricia Highsmith. The movie captures everything the novel wished to convey: the feelings and events that shape Tom's life, the ways in which his character changes, and the interaction of the characters throughout the novel and how they change towards one another. Everything unfolds slowly, piece by piece, so that the audience has time to enjoy the breathtaking visual integrity as well as the story's mounting climax.

The character of Tom is the most important one of the ensemble, setting the tone for the entire movie. Most of the action going on in the film is connected to his crimes and lies, and while there are some loose ends left untied at the movie's final note, there is no doubt in our minds as to what kind of person Tom Ripley is, and the changes he has experienced. From the beginning of his friendship with Dickie and Marge, it is made abundantly clear that he feels accepted and loved in his relationship with them, and soon he finds himself wanting to spend every available moment with them. The fact that he feels threatened by their friendship with Freddy Miles further establishes the underlying sense of tension and unease, as Tom begins to become more emotionally unstable.

Tom is also portrayed as cunning and quite intelligence, the quiet character who turns into the villain that we don't know whether or not to feel sorry for. His crimes and the way in which he maneuvers through many situations of tension and possible downfall are stunning, adding to the subtle suspense that is always building, reaching new heights in certain scenes but never going over the mark. There is also a subplot of homoerotic charge in Tom's character, who shares many moments with Dickie and another male character that are just boiling over with sexual tension. This leads us to believe that the reasons for Tom's need for affection is because he is falling in love with Dickie, and that sort of creates a battle for the audience to try and decide whether he wants Dickie's love or his and Marge's friendship.

There is a stellar cast for this movie that is superbly crafted and brings intensity and originality to the subject matter. Matt Damon brings power and mystery to the character of Tom Ripley, evoking us to emotions and inner connections with his character while taking all of the action and plot onto his shoulders with ease. Jude Law is a convincing Dickie, who is the all-American playboy that cannot make up his mind about much of anything. His character is the kind of character who moves from place to place to try and escape his own life's problems. Gwyneth Paltrow is a knockout as Marge, who is smarter than she appears to be, while Cate Blanchett is Meredith Logue, the character that seems to pop up at the most inopportune moments of Tom's life.

"The Talented Mr. Ripley" breaks all the barriers of thriller-making and takes on quite a challenge. It's a classy thriller that keeps in touch with its characters, while giving us a breathtaking view of a world gone by, as well as keeping a sense of underlying suspense that sets a very uneasy tone for the movie. I usually tend to look for lots of suspense and big thrills, which "Ripley" does not deliver, but found myself pleased with the way it unfolds and gives away some, but not all, of its secrets.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: I couldn't wait for it to end!
Review: This is a bitterly disappointing film, which is a shame. While it is indeed a handsome, lushly filmed movie, it drags on with precious little to keep the viewer interested. I felt as if there would be some plot twist around each corner, but as the films trails along in a snail's pace, you're left wondering why one should care about Tom Ripley or the shallow, vain people he so desperately wants to be a part of. I looked forward to watching this film, and while I have known people who love this film, I cannot lavish praise on it because it leaves you hanging, and themes and plots that are developed are never fulfilled.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: GREAT MOVIE
Review: This movie is full of SUSPENCE, EXCITEMENT, AND BEAUTIFUL SCENES OF ITALY!! This movie had me at the edge of my seat when i saw it in the theaters. I loved it so much I bought it on DVD. And for all you fans of Jude Law - you know it's something to add to your collection. And even if you're not, this movie has a great story with lots of plots and twists that will definitely entertain to you for a long time.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Run Away!
Review: Oh, boy. I have to say that I hated this movie. I couldn't believe how poor it was compared to the book. It's a shame because I really do enjoy the work of the actors. I appreciate artsy movies as much as the next guy who pretends to like artsy movies but there comes a point where something has to happen. The problem is that when it does 'happen' I just didn't care anymore.

As my dad used to say while watching The Young Ones with me "Why on God's good name....!"

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: You can take this film in yours collection
Review: Okay, no need introduction.THE TALENTED Mr RIPLEY can easily take place in yours DVD collection...WHY? Because the film script is amazing, there is great actors(Gwineth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett, Jude Law and the talented Mr Damon), directed by a good filmaker(Minghella)and a lot of specials features (of course less than FIGHT CLUB or T2, but interesting bonus).I have this DVD and i am proud it is in my collection. Maybe too long for persons who aren't really keen on cinema, but see it 1 time when you can, you will make your choice. If you are keen on cinema...

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Stylish La Dolce Vita (or is it Morte)?
Review: Well-done thriller which kept my attention. Tom Ripley seems naive and malleable but is actually amoral and "annoying", as Dickie Greenleaf observes before getting whacked with an oar. The theme of bored rich people and the casual way in which they indulge themselves with shopping, food, travel, and sex is given new life in this movie. I am perplexed, though, by Jude Law's Best Supporting Actor nomination for his portrayal of Dickie. Certainly he did a solid job with a fab American accent and smooth blonde good looks, but if anyone gave an Oscar-worthy performance in this film, it's Matt Damon. Is Tom gay and in love with Dickie? Is he on his way to a breakdown? Does he kill to keep his secrets from leaking out or does he enjoy it? Chameleon Damon (an actor I don't particularly like, even) keeps you guessing.

The ending was far from what another reviewer described as "predictable." I do agree that it could have been cut 30 minutes or so without losing punch.

Cate Blanchett was terrific as annoying, clueless, and ditsy Meredith. Gwyneth Paltrow (another performer of whom I am not a fan) does a credible job of portraying Marge, a carefree young woman at the beginning and an older and wiser one at the end. It seems to me that Meredith should have had some clue as to Ripley's true identity, and Marge not so gullible as to believe Dickie would break up with her long-distance and never talk to her again, when clearly they were about to get married. Though she sees through Ripley at the end, it's too late and for some reason, both Dickie's father and the hired private eye believe Ripley's incredible story.

I'm ranking it only four stars for the annoying women. Still though, beautiful scenes of Italy and genuine atmosphere; well-worth seeing!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: So-So (minor spoilers)
Review: I have to say... this movie was... er... interesting. The movie started off great... and continued to be great until... oh... say... 2/3 of the way into the movie, where the movie started self-destructing. Not to mention the horribly ambiguous ending... Not to mention many questions left unanswered... (I.E. What happened to Tom? Why the hell was Cate Blanchett's character even IN the movie? etc.) The performances were great, and Italy looked beautiful... but there's still something missing.... like an actual ENDING?

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Waste of Star's Talent and Your Time.
Review: Unlike most critics and many people, I did not like Anthony Minguella's THE ENGLISH PATIENT. I admit that many of the visuals in that film were stunning. However, I was not at all impressed by the story and to be honest the acting wasn't all that great (Miramax has often won awards not because of talent or performance, but because they have an incredibly huge checkbook thanks to the Mouse). From the previews, I actually thought I might enjoy RIPLEY. The visuals looked once again stunning, the lead character was played by Matt Damon, and the story seemed to be interesting.

Well, I was really fooled by those previews. This movie dragged on forever. There really was no real drama or suspense. The only time the movie is really interesting is when Freddy (played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman) confronts Tom Ripley about the missing appearance of a mutual friend. Other than that, the movie was dull and uneventful. I must admit that I did find myself rooting for Tom, but not because I liked his character. I was rooting for him because I disliked everyone else in the film even more. That's usually what happens when most of the characters in a film turn out to be sinister and evil themselves. Sin gives birth to indifference.

This film has an all star cast, but most of their talent is wasted because of the cardboard cut-out character choices they make. Also, this movie portrays itself as being suspenseful, there isn't anything suspenseful about this film. Ripley says at one point in the movie that "I'd always thought it was better to be a fake somebody than a real nobody." The makers of this movie took those words to heart because THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY is a real nobody trying to be a fake somebody.


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