The Talented Mr. Ripley is one of my favourite films.
It follows Tom Ripley, an awkward yet cunning man whose obsession with a wealthy playboy and his lavish lifestyle lead to a web of deception.
Matt Damon is absolutely amazing as Ripley. From the Ripley at the start of the film who is desperate for the love of Dickie, to the charismatic Ripley of the middle of the film, to the murderous and terrifying Ripley who nearly murders Marge towards the end of the film, he plays the nuances and the development of the character superbly. I love, and can see why people prefer, Alain Delon in the role, but Damon's more complex and sympathetic version is my personal favourite.
Jude Law is brilliant as the endlessly charming and endlessly self-absorbed Dickie. What could have easily been a caricature is made into a believable human being. Gwyneth Paltrow adds a lot of depth to Marge Sherwood, whilst Philip Seymour Hoffman is easy to despise as Dickie's Jerkass friend. Cate Blanchett and Jack Davenport round off the amazing cast.
The story is a complex, slow-burning phycological thriller. The first section of the film perfectly captures the feeling of being obsessed with a person and the subsequent awkwardness and feelings of inadequacy that result from the moments you overstep the boundaries of that relationship. The rest is a tense and dark thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The cinematography is also fantastic. It shows off the beautiful coast of Amalfi and the gorgeous city of Rome. It also complements tense and tragic scenes when it needs to.
There's a certain je ne sais quoi (likely a combination of the soundtrack, the cinematography and the natural beauty of Italy) that gives this film a sort of 'holiday-feel' that is hard to quantify, but makes the film feel like a sort of twisted adventure every time I watch it.
As an adaptation, this film is also great. For the most part, it is faithful and captures the dark and twisted world Patricia Highsmith created. There is the odd thing I think the novel did better (like putting more of an emphasis on Ripley's hate for his old life), but the vast majority of the film actually improves on the work of Highsmith.
Overall, The Talented Mr. Ripley is a gorgeous and disturbing film that I can certainly recommend.
The Talented Mr. Ripley
The Talented Mr. Ripley is one of my favourite films.
It follows Tom Ripley, an awkward yet cunning man whose obsession with a wealthy playboy and his lavish lifestyle lead to a web of deception.
Matt Damon is absolutely amazing as Ripley. From the Ripley at the start of the film who is desperate for the love of Dickie, to the charismatic Ripley of the middle of the film, to the murderous and terrifying Ripley who nearly murders Marge towards the end of the film, he plays the nuances and the development of the character superbly. I love, and can see why people prefer, Alain Delon in the role, but Damon's more complex and sympathetic version is my personal favourite.
Jude Law is brilliant as the endlessly charming and endlessly self-absorbed Dickie. What could have easily been a caricature is made into a believable human being. Gwyneth Paltrow adds a lot of depth to Marge Sherwood, whilst Philip Seymour Hoffman is easy to despise as Dickie's Jerkass friend. Cate Blanchett and Jack Davenport round off the amazing cast.
The story is a complex, slow-burning phycological thriller. The first section of the film perfectly captures the feeling of being obsessed with a person and the subsequent awkwardness and feelings of inadequacy that result from the moments you overstep the boundaries of that relationship. The rest is a tense and dark thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The soundtrack is incredible. Gabriel Yared's gorgeous music perfectly captures both the beauty of Italy and the dark, conflicted mind of Ripley. Add in a beautiful song performed by Sinéad O'Connor, and you have a mesmerising soundtrack that really immerses you in the film.
The cinematography is also fantastic. It shows off the beautiful coast of Amalfi and the gorgeous city of Rome. It also complements tense and tragic scenes when it needs to.
There's a certain je ne sais quoi (likely a combination of the soundtrack, the cinematography and the natural beauty of Italy) that gives this film a sort of 'holiday-feel' that is hard to quantify, but makes the film feel like a sort of twisted adventure every time I watch it.
As an adaptation, this film is also great. For the most part, it is faithful and captures the dark and twisted world Patricia Highsmith created. There is the odd thing I think the novel did better (like putting more of an emphasis on Ripley's hate for his old life), but the vast majority of the film actually improves on the work of Highsmith.
Overall, The Talented Mr. Ripley is a gorgeous and disturbing film that I can certainly recommend.