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Marge, Dickie, and Tom watch a traditional Italian festival Synopsis (without Spoilers)
Set in the 1950's, the story begins with the chance meeting of young Thomas Ripley [Matt Damon] and Herbert Greenleaf [James Rebhorn]. Greenleaf
immediately takes a liking to the boy and sends him to Europe, to try and hasten his son's return to their home, New York
City. When Ripley finds Greenleaf's son, Dickie [Jude Law], he cannot help but like him and his lifestyle. Ripley turns "double agent"
for Dickie, as they become better friends. Dickie even invites him to live in his house and share the lavish and carefree
lifestyle that he enjoys with his girlfriend, Marge [Gwyneth Paltrow]. All is well, until Dickie's old friend, Freddie [Philip Seymour Hoffman], comes for a visit.
Freddie is a bit less accepting of Tom, and even ridicules him for his "leaching" off of Dickie. Dickie is suddenly not as
friendly to Tom, and Tom begins to realize that the lovely and happy dream-life that he has known may end soon. And this is
where his "talent" comes in to play.
Reviews(with Spoilers)
A beautiful and dark story of a "talented" psychopath, The Talented Mr. Ripley just about screams Oscar. Matt Damon
gives a touching portrayal of the lonely, sad, pitiable [and a bunch of other adjectives] Mr. Ripley. From the beginning,
Ripley becomes involved in the situation through a lie. It is at first scary how easily this guy accepts his "talent" of
deceitfulness... but Ripley is endearing enough, with his oh-so-innocent facade. He undertakes the elder Greenleaf's
assignment as if it were a mission for a CIA agent. Researching Dickie's likes and dislikes, and polishing up on the objects
of Dickie's affections, were all part of his self-assigned homework.
As he smoothly made his entrance into Dickie's life,
Tom decided that it was the life that he would like to lead as well. His admiration for Dickie begins to border with
dangerous infatuation and envy, as he latches onto him. "You're the brother I never had... I'm the brother you never had,"
Tom convincingly says to Dickie. Minghella weaves such not-so-subtle hints into the story; instead of being shocked at the
results of Ripley's no-limits mindframe, we are able to take it in stride.
Here is where the drama ends, and the suspense
begins. Though hard facts name Ripley as a cold-blooded killer, the movie paints a different picture. The murders just
seem to happen, and we cannot help but feel sorry for Ripley. His actions are not one of a murderer who seeks
pleasure from killing, but one of a helpless soul, who cannot even control his weak mind, let alone control his actions.
Minghella is sure to tie off the film with an even poorer more pitiable Ripley, one who has given into his intense desires
for lack of a strong morality (or personality even), and has locked himself in his own cage. The cage is locked by his
own hand, as Ripley continues to harm those close to him, without any ability to stop himself it seems. As Dickie and
Marge were the main players in the first chapter, Minghella creates a eerie second chapter and beyond with mirror
characters, Meredith Logue [Cate Blanchett] and Peter Smith-Kingsley [Jack Davenport].
Damon plays Ripley flawlessly, as the the bumbling innocent Tom Ripley, as well as the confident and capable Dickie
Greenleaf-impersonator later on. It is almost as if we are watching two different movies. Law is charismatic and
irresistable as Dickie, and plays him perfectly as the quick-tempered and easily-amused individual who falls victim
to Dickie's desires. Paltrow gives another touching performance as the open and caring Marge that eventually is the only
one to discover Tom's real capabilities. On top of all this, Minghella portrays the movie beautifully; scenic Italy is the
perfect place to contrast such horrific capacities of the human species. The movie is haunting and captivating, and Minghella
seems to have succeeded in another award winner (his previous film, The English Patient).
Anthony Minghella
Anthony Minghella
Based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith
Matt Damon ..... Tom Ripley Gwyneth Paltrow ..... Marge Sherwood Jude Law ..... Dickie Greenleaf Cate Blanchett ..... Meredith Logue Philip Seymour Hoffman ..... Freddie Miles Jack Davenport ..... Peter Smith-Kingsley
Dickie playing the sax in a club
Marge is too worried to enjoy the opera
A suspicious looking Mr. Ripley
An intense Dickie playing a game with the local Italians
Dickie meets charming Peter at the opera
The arrival of Dickie's old school chum, Freddie, sends Tom to his dark place
An annoyed Dickie
