In the past decade, there has been an influx of melodramatic thrillers capitalizing on the public's passing fancy for jump scares and gore porn. But you only have to go back a few years (and not all the way back to suspense's heyday with Hitchcock) to find a real gem in The Talented Mr. Ripley. It's the late 50's, and beguiling bathroom attendant Tom Ripley (Matt Damon) is playing piano at a high society party, wearing a borrowed Princeton jacket. He casually convinces Herbert Greenleaf (James Rebhorn) that he was a classmate to his playboy son, Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law), causing Herbert to make Tom an offer: go to Italy and convince Dickie to return to the United States. Tom agrees, despite never having met Dickie in his life, and sets off. He is immediately lured into the luxurious way of life that Dickie and his girlfriend Marge (Gwyneth Paltrow) are privy to, but when his story begins to unravel, Tom's true sociopathic nature comes to light.
At times, the movie can be hard to watch because the titular character is so well-executed by Matt Damon that he will send chills down your spine. Even dedicated fans will find it hard to project a likable image onto Tom, but there's just something about him... one minute endearingly charismatic and the next cold and calculating. All of this aside, Jude Law is the real unsung hero of the piece. Even in appearances there is something golden about him, and his overwhelming charm makes it clear how Tom could be so easily sucked into the dolce vita life. He assumes the pretty-boy character so effortlessly, adding an air of selfishness and allure, that it's hard to take your eyes off of him whenever he's onscreen. The plot can definitely be given some credit for the films success (after all, it is an adaptation of the Patricia Highsmith novel), but the supporting cast takes it to new heights. Among the three main characters are the nearly-never-disappointing Philip Seymour Hoffman and Cate Blanchett, in small but pivotal roles.
Minghella has created a sexy, unsettling tango between Tom and Dickie that will keep you on the edge of your seat in childish anticipation- even as the credits roll.
The Talented Mr. Ripley is currently live streaming on Netflix Instant.
At times, the movie can be hard to watch because the titular character is so well-executed by Matt Damon that he will send chills down your spine. Even dedicated fans will find it hard to project a likable image onto Tom, but there's just something about him... one minute endearingly charismatic and the next cold and calculating. All of this aside, Jude Law is the real unsung hero of the piece. Even in appearances there is something golden about him, and his overwhelming charm makes it clear how Tom could be so easily sucked into the dolce vita life. He assumes the pretty-boy character so effortlessly, adding an air of selfishness and allure, that it's hard to take your eyes off of him whenever he's onscreen. The plot can definitely be given some credit for the films success (after all, it is an adaptation of the Patricia Highsmith novel), but the supporting cast takes it to new heights. Among the three main characters are the nearly-never-disappointing Philip Seymour Hoffman and Cate Blanchett, in small but pivotal roles.
Minghella has created a sexy, unsettling tango between Tom and Dickie that will keep you on the edge of your seat in childish anticipation- even as the credits roll.
The Talented Mr. Ripley is currently live streaming on Netflix Instant.