nms1982 Tom Ripley is a young, pasty fellow with a knack for imitation (and accumulating skills) and little to no experience of the world outside his neck of the woods when a well-to-do older fellow approaches him about a son living it up in Italy on daddy's money who he wants to come home. Will Tom go over and persuade him to do so, for pay and expenses?Such is the setup to one of my favorite films and among Matt Damon's best, and arguably one of the best of the '90s (though it was released in the final week of that decade). Based on Patricia Highsmith's 1955 novel of the same name, the first in a quintet, it is the most faithful adaptation of two - the other being "Purple Noon." In this version Ripley, after falling in love with the young man's life and possibly the young man (Dickie), decides to use his various abilities (one of which is an aptitude for homicide) to dispatch him and appropriate his identity. Regardless of whether he loved or was merely infatuated with Dickie one thing about the apparently scrupleless titular character is clear: Ripley does not love himself; who he is, actually is, will not do. Perhaps 'becoming' someone else allows him some temporary relief. But it also opens the door to all sorts of problems, both legal and social - ultimately necessitating more murders.Can the creepy chameleon with a preference for the finer things ever be free of the law's long reach, or himself? Is Ripley incapable of love or is he only unable to not kill those he loves? This film is a superb character study, of an atypical, multifaceted sociopath on the loose in Europe (and with the skills to pay the bills - in someone else's handwriting). Featuring a solid supporting cast that includes Philip Seymour Hoffman, James Rebhorn, and Jude Law as a charisma-oozing priveleged type - and helmed by "The English Patient" director Anthony Minghella - "Ripley" is a thriller/drama that is a cut above. A mentally lingering minor masterpiece that revolves around a lonely rootless man who might be an empty husk that fills itself with clever tricks.

joshlangg When you put Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate Blanchette and the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman together, you get a superb film. The fact that it's set in beautiful Italy only adds to how good this movie about deception, love, greed and jealously really is. 10/10

Miles Byrne The Talented Mr. Ripley, adapted from Patricia Highsmith's 1955 novel is a fairly unique and delightfully poignant character study of a young underachiever who is in search of an identity as much as he is of in success. This film delicately explores his relationship with an almost disaffected yet charmingly charismatic playboy and his fiancé, and how Tom Ripley, portrayed by a young, charming and genial Matt Damon. Tom Ridley is a remarkably unique character in the sense that he plays an almost anti-hero character longing for compassion, but is unable come to terms with himself and seems to doomed to constantly hide in the shadows of others until he manages to blot of their shadows with his own. I do not want to give away to actual events of the film as they unfold in a satisfyingly timely manner, relying entirely on Damon's character to scheme, manipulate and impersonate his way to innocence after his relationship with the aforementioned couple takes an interesting term. I can tell you that The Talented Mr. Ripley is a well-made film full of strong performances, interesting sets, and intimate dialogues. It's pacing is relatively slow at times, but during those moments you feel like you are thoroughly engaged with Mr. Ripley and his associates, and the suspense and mystery that comes all the more richly after the fine character developments and the intriguing multitude of emotions the strangely likable yet comparably vile characters(with the exception of the woman) experience. Overall, this film is certainly worth watching and kept my eyes fixed to the screen for the full 130 minutes.

Tweekums Tom Ripley is a bit of a non-entity but also a bit of a chameleon who can make people think he belongs. After the wealthy Herbert Greenleaf mistakenly thinks Tom was a friend of his son Dickie he is given a job… to go to Italy and persuade Dickie to return to New York. He quickly meets Dickie and his girlfriend Marge Sherwood and befriends them. He is honest about why he is there but makes Dickie believe that they share similar interests. Soon he is staying with Dickie and Marge while still being paid by Dickie's father. Eventually Herbert Greenleaf writes to thank Tom for his work but also to let him know it is clear that he has failed in his task and will no longer be paid. At the same time Dickie starts to get tired of Tom's presence. Tom doesn't take this well and strikes Dickie; a struggle ensues and Dickie is killed. Tom manages to hide the death and carries on his life… he also starts playing the part of Dickie; a role he enjoys. Inevitably the deception is hard to maintain; Marge wants to know what happened to Dickie and when a friend of Dickie pays a visit Tom must kill again to protect his secret… a killing the police believe Dickie may have committed.This was a really enjoyably film; plenty of time is spent introducing the characters and by the time of Dickie's death Tom is the more sympathetic character so it is easy for the viewer to see it as self-defence and hope he gets away with it. Even when he kills again it isn't hard to still hope he gets away with it as this victim was a frightful snob who had always looked down on Tom and people like him… it is only when Marge starts to be emotionally harmed by Tom's actions that sympathy for him starts to wane. The cast does a fine job; Matt Damen is particularly good as Tom Ripley; a character who isn't naturally dynamic but can play the part when needed. Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow also impress as Dickie and Marge. The story isn't rushed but nor does it drag and once Dickie has died the tension gradually rises; there is always the possibility that Tom will be exposed, either by the police or somebody who knows Dickie, and each to it looks like he could be exposed there is the feeling that people around him are in danger. Overall I'd definitely recommend this to anybody wanting a good drama set in some beautiful Italian locations.