THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY ****1/2 (out of five stars) A review by Jamey Hughton
Starring-Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Cate Blanchett and Philip Seymour Hoffman Director-Anthony Minghella Rated 14A Miramax Films
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`The Talented Mr. Ripley' is an offbeat addition to the Holiday movie schedule - perhaps the most unlikely contender of the Christmas season. In his follow-up to `The English Patient', director Anthony Minghella appears to be channeling Alfred Hitchcock, as everything is executed with a certain style and sophistication that seems reminiscent of the late director's best work. If he were still alive today, it wouldn't surprise me if Mr. Hitchcock would blush at the sight of Minghella's latest offering; `The Talented Mr. Ripley' is a finely oiled suspense machine crammed with a thorough sense of fascination.
The film is based on a novel by Patricia Highsmith, which was previously adapted to the silver screen in 1960 under the name of `Purple Moon', a film which won critical acclaim for it's intricate and unsettling study of an unstable but highly intelligent sociopath named Tom Ripley. In Minghella's version, Matt Damon inherits the icy title role with plenty of chilling results. Although I haven't read Highsmith's novel, many sources are indicating that the new version of Tom Ripley is portrayed with far more innocence than the previous one....shaping the modern Ripley into an unwilling murderer who only kills as a last resort. This approach opens a wide canvas for mystery and intrigue, and Damon's frightening metamorphosis into the main character is a masterful balance of sinister charm and brilliant intuition.
Ripley, a curious dreamer and master chameleon, is persuaded by the wealthy Herbert Greenleaf (James Rebhorn) to travel to Italy and retrieve his son Dickie (Jude Law) so he can return home and see the family. Once he arrives at his destination, Tom is swept away by Dickie's lifestyle: his dashing fiancee Marge (Gwyneth Paltrow), his friends, his social stature... It is safe to say Tom is more than slightly intrigued by the notion of living Dickie's life for him. And that brings us to this little snippet of dialogue, spoken by Tom in a moment of quiet revelation: `I always thought it would be better to be a fake somebody than a real nobody.'
`The Talented Mr. Ripley' is a rich and unsettling tapestry of murder and suspense that is neither predictable nor formulaic - a rarity for the thriller genre, which makes for a delectable Christmas treat. Minghella's film is, in terms of artistic beauty and emotional craft, one the finest films of the year. Taking a page from Hitchcock classics like `Psycho' and `North by Northwest', it offers a fascinating and jarring character study that extends generously to each of the three leads - with Damon carrying the most demanding load and delivering superbly. Jude Law (`eXistenZ' and `Gattaca') also delivers an Award-caliber performance as the spoiled playboy Dickie Greenleaf, and Paltrow, while not emitting the vigorous radiance of her performance in `Shakespeare in Love', proves to a competent piece of the twisted puzzle. In support, both Philip Seymour Hoffman (as Dickie's smug and contemptuous playboy buddy) and Cate Blanchett (as Tom's awkward love interest) are solid, but the former is able to ignite more screen charisma. Philip Baker Hall has a brief but effective appearance as an American detective hired to connect the dots of a few gruesome murders.
The question of Tom's sexual preferences occasionally hangs over the proceedings like a dour cloud of smog. There is much indication of sexual friction between Tom and Dickie (and afterward another male character), and although they are sometimes excessive and unnecessary, these details only help to further establish the nature of Tom's character. I may argue that the film is also slightly overlong, but Minghella finishes on a particularly haunting note. `The Talented Mr. Ripley' is full of gorgeous locales, effective imagery and subtle but nerve-jangling suspense. It's the definition of a smart man's thriller, and if Hitch were around to see it, I'm sure he would be envious.
(C) 1999, Jamey Hughton
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