‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ (1999) was director Anthony Minghella's follow up to the hugely acclaimed ‘The English Patient’. Because of this, I very nearly missed it. I LOATHED ‘The English Patient’ both as a book and a film and couldn’t think of Minghella ... Read review
"I feel like I've been handed a new life", says Tom Ripley at a crucial turning point of ... more
this well-cast, stylishly crafted psychological thriller. And indeed he has, because the devious, impoverished Ripley (played with subtle depth by Matt Damon) has ...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
"I feel like I've been handed a new life", says Tom Ripley at a crucial turning point of ... more
this well-cast, stylishly crafted psychological thriller. And indeed he has, because the devious, impoverished Ripley (played with subtle depth by Matt Damon) has ...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Honoured with five Academy Award nominations including Best Supporting Actor Jude Law and ... more
Best Adapted Screenplay, this suspense-filled thriller features memorable performances from Oscar winning stars Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting) and Gwyneth Paltrow...
To be young and carefree amid the blue waters and idyllic landscape of sun-drenched Italy ... more
in the late 1950s; that's la dolce vita Tom Ripley (Matt Damon) craves - and Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law) leads. When Dickie's father a wealthy ship builder asks...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
One of the great crime novels of the 20th century, Patricia Highsmith'sThe Talented Mr. ... more
Ripleyis a blend of the narrative subtlety of Henry James and the self-reflexive irony of Vladimir Nabokov. Like the best modernist fiction, Ripley works on two levels. First, it is the story of a young man, Tom Ripley, whose nihilistic tendencies lead him through a deadly passage across Europe. On another level, the novel is a commentary on fiction making and techniques of narrative persuasion. Like Humbert Humbert, Tom Ripley seduces readers to empathise with him even as his actions defy all moral standards.The novel begins with a play on James'sThe Ambassadors. Tom Ripley is chosen by the wealthy Herbert Greenleaf to retrieve Greenleaf's son, Dickie, from his overlong sojourn in Italy. Dickie, it seems, is held captive both by the Mediterranean climate and the attractions of his female companion, but Mr. Greenleaf needs him back in New York to help with the family business. With an allowance and a new purpose, Tom leaves behind his dismal city apartment to begin his career as a return escort. But Tom, too, is captivated by Italy. He is also taken with the life and looks of Dickie Greenleaf. He insinuates himself into Dickie's world and soon finds that his passion for a lifestyle of wealth and sophistication transcends all moral compunction. Tom will become Dickie Greenleaf--at all costs.Unlike many modernist "experiments",The Talented Mr. Ripleyis eminently readable and is driven by a gripping chase narrative that chronicles each of Tom's calculated manoeuvres of self-preservation. Highsmith was in peak form with this novel, and her ability to enter the mind of a sociopath and view the world through his disturbingly amoral eyes is a model that has spawned such latter-day serial killers as Hannibal Lechter.--Patrick O'Kelley
Postage & Packaging:£2.75 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Tu Vuo' Fa L'Americano My Funny Valentine Italia* Cain's Mother A Lullaby Crazy Tom Ko-Ko ... more
Nature Boy Mischief The Talented Mr.Ripley Pent-Up House Guaglione Moanin' Proust Four Promise The Champ Syncopes Stabat Mater You Don't Know What Love Is
Postage & Packaging:£0.00 Availability:3-5 working days
Tom Ripley is struggling to stay one step ahead of his creditors and the law when an ... more
unexpected acquaintance offers him a free trip to Europe and a chance to start over. Ripley wants money success and the good life and he's willing to kill for it. When his new-found happiness is threatened his response is as swift as it is shocking.
Postage & Packaging:£0.00 Availability:3-5 working days
Thriller - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Timothy West, Neil Morrissey, Tara Fitzgerald, Annette Crosbie, Pauline Quirke, Rob Brydon, Denise Van Outen, John Thomson, Kevin Whately, David Suchet
Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: Bharat Nalluri, Rob Bailey, Andy Wilson - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Matthew MacFadyen, Keeley Hawes, David Oyelowo, Peter Firth, Jenny Agutter, Lisa Faulkner
Advantages: Acting, Cinematography, Story all Superb Disadvantages: None
...Anthony Minghella's follow up to the hugely acclaimed ‘The English Patient’. Because of this, I very nearly missed it. I LOATHED ‘The English Patient’ both as a book and a film and couldn’t think of Minghella without being reminded of the hours of utter boredom I’d been subjected to by his last effort (though not his fault – what CAN you do with a story as thin as that except put a couple of beautiful people ... .../>
Based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith, it’s a story of adultery, impersonation, murder and deception that delves deep into life’s ugly underbelly.
The film stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Matt Damon and Jude Law, three fine examples of gorgeousness who are filmed against the equally prepossessing backdrops of Italian villages, towns and cities. This relentless beauty contrasts brilliantly with the emotions and desires ... more
‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ (1999) was director Anthony Minghella's follow up to the hugely acclaimed ‘The English Patient’. Because of this, I very nearly missed it. I LOATHED ‘The English Patient’ both as a book and a film and couldn’t think of Minghella without being reminded of the hours of utter boredom I’d been subjected to by his last effort (though not his fault – what CAN you do with a story as thin as that except put a couple of beautiful people in the frame and photograph them beautifully?).
I was dragged along to TTMR by a friend, and how very glad I was. It is absolutely superb.
Based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith, it’s a story of adultery, impersonation, murder and deception that delves deep into life’s ugly underbelly.
The film stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Matt Damon and Jude Law, three fine examples of gorgeousness who are filmed against the equally prepossessing backdrops of Italian villages, towns and cities. This relentless beauty contrasts brilliantly with the emotions and desires that drive the film, i.e. jealousy, insecurity, anger, bitterness, greed and homicidal lust.
The Story =========
Tom Ripley (Matt Damon) is a loner-loser who is sent by a rich businessman to find and bring back to New York his son, Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law). Dickie is wayward to say the least, and is living a life of decadence and ennui in Europe with his beautiful and devoted girlfriend (Paltrow).
Ripley is charmed and impressed by Greenleaf and his girlfriend, who condescendingly find Ripley amusing and are very glad to have someone new (often to laugh at) in their superficial lives. They take him on as their pet project and proceed to show him the high-life in all its empty grandeur. In turn, Ripley becomes obsessed with the pair, especially Greenleaf, and clings to them like a leech.
When they then grow tired of his company, Ripley’s unstable psyche cannot handle the rejection. Without spoiling the plot, I will only reveal that Ripley commits more than one murder and one major deception to enable himself to remain in his new found luxurious lifestyle.
What follows is as suspenseful a film as you can get, with tightly-plotted twists and turns and near-discoveries in abundance.
The Actors ==========
Jude Law excels as the ferociously handsome and capricious Dickie Greenleaf, giving him an arrogance combined with boyish charm that makes him irresistible. It is easy to see why Paltrow loves him, and why Ripley wants to BE him. There are also undercurrents of homo-erotica in Ripley’s feelings for Greenleaf which are beautifully played down whilst still being clearly there.
Damon is also excellent as the deeply troubled, friendless, unworthy working-class young man who is suddenly landed in a social milieu he has never even dreamed of. He manages to give Ripley just the right amounts of buffoonery, confusion and sometimes creepiness that lets us know from the outset that he’s not quite all there and that Greenleaf and Marge are taking a risk by picking up and dropping him so coldly.
Paltrow as Marge, Dickie’s girlfriend, is equally good and graceful. She is the perfect mirror of Law, and the pair make a highly engaging couple of sophisticates.
Elsewhere pops up Cate Blanchett as an American deb on the Grand Tour, who’s appearances become increasingly important to the suspenseful plot. Mention must go, too, to Philip Seymour Hoffman as Freddie Miles, the loud, debauched friend of Dickie’s.
Verdict =======
TTMR is film-making of the highest order: An excellent script delivered by superb actors, and filmed with the attention to detail and awareness of beauty you would expect from Minghella.
I was thoroughly drawn into this film and found it compelling on many levels. It is an intelligent exploration of the abnormal psyche, a social commentary on the emptiness of the rich existence, and a fine thriller that will have you one the edge of your seat.
Very very highly recommended!
Running Time 130 mins.
Note for film buffs: TTMR was first filmed many years earlier as ‘Plein Soleil’ starring Alain Delon.
...Anthony Minghella's other big film the english patient, though like that one I did find it a bit slow in places. The performances are all excellent, particularly our brit Jude Law as Dickie Greenleaf. The literary inclined among you may have some gripes though, Patricia Highsmith's Tom Ripley the murderous psychopath has somehow changed to Matt Damon the murderous geek. The film also uses a bit of "artistic licence" in terms of plot too shall we ...
curlytop 24.07.2000
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Talented Mr Ripley (DVD)
Advantages: Matt Damon and Jude Law give excellent performances. Disadvantages: Life is really too short to watch this long and silly film.
...curl up in front of the TV and watch a great movie. What a shame I picked THIS movie...As dull and damp as the weather outside.
I have just wasted 133 minutes of my day on this disappointing mess. The only redeeming factor was the excellent performances, particularly from Matt Damon as the Mr Ripley of the title.
The Talented Mr Ripley is a strange film that lacks atmosphere and is ultimately very unsatisfying. It is directed by Anthony Minghella, ... ...are some beautiful shots of the Italian settings and standout performances from Matt Damon and Jude Law. I can’t comment on Gwyneth Paltrow, I have an unexplainable dislike for the actress and so cannot view her performances from an impartial viewpoint – sorry! Watch out for Cate Blanchett though, she has a small supporting role but dominates every scene she is in – a class act!
The basic plot line is that a young American man ...
redridinghood 11.03.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Talented Mr Ripley (DVD)
Advantages: Matt Damon et al are good Disadvantages: Quite long
...for some people. However, the pace, the scenery and the acting are such that it makes the film feel much shorter. The film can probably be best described as a sort of romantic psychological thriller. It is a certificate 15 and the video costs £15 in HMV though buying on-line may be cheaper.
The film starts in the US in 1958 but the main story takes place in Italy. The story is basically about a relationship between Tom Ripley and his friend, Dickie ... ...Without wishing to spoil the whole story, Mr Ripley is slightly less evil in the film than the novel.
Ripley is talented at lying and improvising. Despite this, he's still quite likeable because he's human. We are all guilty of something even if it's not something very serious. We've all made mistakes and wished we could start again. This is what makes Ripley an attractive and sympathetic character, despite his failings. We identify with him.
The ...
Mel27 05.09.2004
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Talented Mr Ripley (DVD)
Advantages: Good Chance to see Matt Damon Disadvantages: Ever so slightly boring
...The Mysterious Yearning Secretive Sad Lonely Troubled Confused Loving Musical Gifted Intelligent Beautiful Tender Sensitive Haunted Passionate Talented: all those words describe Tom Ripley (played by Matt Damon) a man with an innate ability to impersonate anyone within minutes of meeting them (think John Culshaw on a large scale).
Mr Ripley is styled nicely and the filming seems quite sophisticated; you get to study Tom Ripley's character with open-mouthed ... ...is a psychopath blessed with the ability to impersonated people which can be either very good or very bad.
Ripley is driven by his need to be accepted and become someone, he openly admits to impersonating people and faking papers. The film opens with Tom (a toilet attendant) borrowing a Princeton Jacket to play the piano at a party. During the party Tom chats to a man whose son recently graduated from Princeton. Tom pretends to know the man's son ...
curiousgirl 10.06.2005 (11.06.2005)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Talented Mr Ripley (DVD)
...she could see it again. The cast certainly looked promising, Gwyneth Paltrow who was in Shakespeare in Love, Matt Damon and Jude Law. I had also really enjoyed the English Patient also directed by Anthony Mingella and had read a few of the author Patricia Highsmith's books.
The story begins in America when we meet a young musician Tom Ripley who has the amazing ability to impersonate people that he meets. Tom meets a wealthy man Mr. Greenleaf who ... ...tracks down Dickie relaxing on the beach with his girlfriend Marge (Gwyneth Paltrow). Tom and Dickie soon become great friends visting jazz clubs etc. They go out in a small boat off San Remo, have an arguement which ends with Tom striking Dickie on the head with an oar killing him. From this point on Tom leads a double life adopting Dickie's identity to draw funds from the bank, wearing his clothes etc. He gets away with this deception through a ...
Mikew79 16.06.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Talented Mr Ripley (DVD)
Did you enjoy it?
Story
Characters / Performances
Special Effects
How does it compare to ...
Similar reviews »
Reviews which might be of interest for "The Talented Mr Ripley (DVD)"
Advantages: Great actors given meaty roles and plenty of screen-time, Mann's trademark visual style, intensely dramatic in parts Disadvantages: Altering the outcome to the opposite of what really happened was a strange move, the 151-minute running time
of The Insider.
The main problem with the DVD's sound is the muted nature of the dialogue, which seems to have been buried just a little too deep in the audio mix. Turning the volume up to almost double the norm only improves things slightly.
An unsual featurette has the leading actors talking "in character" - a neat idea but it's the only bonus material on the disc. Buena Vista have improved in the extras department since their first batch of titles, but this is more in keeping with earlier releases than the likes of End Of Days, The Sixth Sense or The TalentedMrRipley. Therefore, it's left to the film itself to warrant any outlay on the DVD, and a rental to assess the movie first might be a shrewd move.
Given its pedigree and universal acclaim, The Insider is something of a disappointment. Michael Gambon's dreadful cod-Texan drawl is ...
EnglishPatient 01.02.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Insider (DVD)
Based on Patricia Highsmith's novel of the same name, Minghella's moody follow-up to his Oscar-winning THE ENGLISH PATIENT concerns Tom Ripley, a poor New Yorker, who is sent to Italy by the wealthy Mr. Greenleaf in order to bring back his spoiled son, Dickie. Once in Italy, Tom charms his way into the home of Dickie and his girlfriend Marge, where he begins to get a taste of wealthy living. When Tom begins to wear out his welcome, he takes drastic actions to ensure that he will never have to return to the life that he left behind.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINM; TECHNICOLOR DISTRIBUTION SERVICES
Audio Commentary - 1. Anthony Mingella - Director, Trailers - 1. Original Theatrical Trailer, 2. Teaser Trailer, Featurette - 1. MAKING OF THE SOUNDTRACK, Music Videos
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Award information
BAFTA
Best Supporting Actor 1999 (Jude Law)
Professional reviews
Review
"...Gorgeous young swells....A soundtrack and cinematography as rich as creme de menthe..." - Rating: B+ (Entertainment Weekly, p.109, 30/06/2000)
"...Visually impressive....It's difficult to think of a better cast..." -- 4 out of 5 stars (Total Film, p.72, 01/03/2000)
"...[An] intoxicating and involving tale of intrigue and crime..." (Variety, p.105-12, 13/12/1999)
DVD Description
Based on Patricia Highsmith's novel of the same name, Minghella's moody follow-up to his Oscar-winning THE ENGLISH PATIENT concerns Tom Ripley, a poor New Yorker, who is sent to Italy by the wealthy Mr. Greenleaf in order to bring back his spoiled son, Dickie. Once in Italy, Tom charms his way into the home of Dickie and his girlfriend Marge, where he begins to get a taste of wealthy living. When Tom begins to wear out his welcome, he takes drastic actions to ensure that he will never have to return to the life that he left behind.
Compare The Talented Mr Ripley (DVD) to other similar Thriller & Mystery »
![The Talented Mr Ripley [DVD] [2000]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78525174.jpg)
