The previous film that Anthony Minghella both directed and wrote the screenplay for was "The English Patient". That film won nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Cinematography. Although a bit lengthy and highbrow, it was a very good film. This made "The Talented Mr. Ripley" a project to look forward to, and Minghella delivers. Not only is it even better than "The English Patient", it is much more tense, and will appeal to much of the audience that considered his noble predecessor to be an expensive bore.
"The Talented Mr. Ripley" is based on the 1955 novel by Patricia Highsmith, who wrote a series of books about the creepy, chameleon antihero. Technically, it is a remake of a noted French film directed by Rene Clement, "Purple Noon" from 1960. (I haven't seen "Purple Noon", nor read any of the books).
The story is set in the 1950s. Tom Ripley (Matt Damon) is a young upper class wannabe. He is a piano tuner and bathroom attendant, having casual contact with the noblesse oblige. Soon he turns to impersonation, borrowing clothes and manners to impress humorless industrial magnate Herbert Greenleaf (James Rebhorn).
Greenleaf has an impulsive, troubled son named Dickie, who lives as a playboy in Italy on Herbert's generous 'allowance'. Herbert pays Ripley to visit Italy and convince Dickie (Jude Law) to return. But Dickie has no reason to return home, as he is enjoying the beaches, sailing and jazz clubs with his lovely girlfriend Marge (Gwyneth Paltrow). Dickie's best friend is Freddie (Philip Seymour Hoffman), an insightful, cynical man who seems to know Ripley's game. Other supporting players include Meredith (Cate Blanchett), a naive, lonely woman with a crush on Ripley, and Peter (Jack Davenport), a dapper man who, like Ripley, is a closet homosexual.
There's a great deal more to the story, with several chilling surprises that shouldn't be revealed.
"The Talented Mr. Ripley" is an excellent film. Its quality is obvious from the start. The cinematography is outstanding. The sets, costumes and music is exceptional. It is true that the major cast unsurprisingly consists of very attractive people still in their twenties, but that doesn't mean that they aren't good actors. In particular, Law, Hoffman and Blanchett give very good performances.
The film's quality extends further. The script is excellent, with the dialogue deftly adding depth to the characters. The direction is sure, for the both the film's peaceful first half, and the tense, unpredictable second half. Some viewers will have moral reservations about Ripley's character and the open ending. Hopefully, sequels will not be forthcoming; once we know all about Ripley, his 'exploits' can only take on comic overtones. But we can be thankful for the existence of this film, surely one of the year's best. (88/100)
Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law and Cate Banchett electrify the screen in the riveting thriller from Oscar& winning director Anthony Minghella (...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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