As a huge fan of Patricia Highsmith's The Talented Mr. Ripley (which follows the obsession of a man named Tom Ripley with a rich playboy and his lifestyle, leading to a web of crime), I'm glad that it has 3 absolutely fantastic adaptations that each stay true to the essence of the novel while taking it their own enjoyable directions. While this is my least favourite of the 3, it is still a fantastic film with a unique take on the story that makes it worth watching regardless of how many versions you have seen.
Alain Delon is amazing as Ripley, presenting him as a magnetic, yet mysterious presence. This charisma makes the scenes of murder absolutely terrifying (even if the deaths themselves can be Narm). While I do prefer Matt Damon's sympathetic Ripley and Andrew Scott's serpentine Ripley, I still adore Delon's Ripley and can see why many prefer him. Marie LaforĂȘt is great as Marge, providing depth to the character, while Maurice Ronet is easy to hate as a Dickie (named Philippe in the film) who delights in tormenting Ripley, though still has the charisma necessary for the character.
The plot is portrayed slightly differently than the other adaptations and the original book. For example, it starts with Ripley and Philippe in Rome. Ripley is constructed as a more mysterious character, who seems like a close friend of Philippe's until it's revealed Philippe doesn't even know who he is. The ending was also changed. Ripley getting caught is a satisfying way to end this standalone version of the story, just satisfying in a different way to if he had gotten away with his crimes. I prefer seeing the build up of Ripley and Greenleaf's relationship and prefer Ripley getting away with his crimes, but the film's changes are still effective and I'm glad they were made (as it avoids the film being too similar to the 2 subsequent adaptations).
The best part of this film is when Ripley, Marge and Philippe are on a sailboat together. From Philippe's cruel 'prank' played on Ripley, to the increasing tension between the two, to the chaos in the ocean after Ripley kills Philippe, this part of the film is fantastic. The rest of the film, with good tension and satisfying ploys, is still great, but it peaks here.
The cinematography captures Italy's beauty and the tension of other scenes perfectly. Nino Rota's great soundtrack adds to the film, creating a 'holiday feel' similar (if not on the same level) to The Talented Mr. Ripley.
This film is fantastic. There is enough of a different (though still great) interpretation of the story to make it enjoyable for people familiar with the story, and it portrays the story well for people new to it. I believe it is inferior to The Talented Mr. Ripley and Ripley, but still think this film is one of the greats.
Film Le Talentueux Monsieur Ripley
As a huge fan of Patricia Highsmith's The Talented Mr. Ripley (which follows the obsession of a man named Tom Ripley with a rich playboy and his lifestyle, leading to a web of crime), I'm glad that it has 3 absolutely fantastic adaptations that each stay true to the essence of the novel while taking it their own enjoyable directions. While this is my least favourite of the 3, it is still a fantastic film with a unique take on the story that makes it worth watching regardless of how many versions you have seen.
Alain Delon is amazing as Ripley, presenting him as a magnetic, yet mysterious presence. This charisma makes the scenes of murder absolutely terrifying (even if the deaths themselves can be Narm). While I do prefer Matt Damon's sympathetic Ripley and Andrew Scott's serpentine Ripley, I still adore Delon's Ripley and can see why many prefer him. Marie LaforĂȘt is great as Marge, providing depth to the character, while Maurice Ronet is easy to hate as a Dickie (named Philippe in the film) who delights in tormenting Ripley, though still has the charisma necessary for the character.
The plot is portrayed slightly differently than the other adaptations and the original book. For example, it starts with Ripley and Philippe in Rome. Ripley is constructed as a more mysterious character, who seems like a close friend of Philippe's until it's revealed Philippe doesn't even know who he is. The ending was also changed. Ripley getting caught is a satisfying way to end this standalone version of the story, just satisfying in a different way to if he had gotten away with his crimes. I prefer seeing the build up of Ripley and Greenleaf's relationship and prefer Ripley getting away with his crimes, but the film's changes are still effective and I'm glad they were made (as it avoids the film being too similar to the 2 subsequent adaptations).
The best part of this film is when Ripley, Marge and Philippe are on a sailboat together. From Philippe's cruel 'prank' played on Ripley, to the increasing tension between the two, to the chaos in the ocean after Ripley kills Philippe, this part of the film is fantastic. The rest of the film, with good tension and satisfying ploys, is still great, but it peaks here.
The cinematography captures Italy's beauty and the tension of other scenes perfectly. Nino Rota's great soundtrack adds to the film, creating a 'holiday feel' similar (if not on the same level) to The Talented Mr. Ripley.
This film is fantastic. There is enough of a different (though still great) interpretation of the story to make it enjoyable for people familiar with the story, and it portrays the story well for people new to it. I believe it is inferior to The Talented Mr. Ripley and Ripley, but still think this film is one of the greats.