Review: The Talented Mr. Ripley

Set in the 1950s, Matt Damon is Tom Ripley, a poor janitor standing in at a piano gig (which he loves, but isn’t great at) for a friend. When wearing his friends' Princeton jacket, Tom is approached by Herbert Greenleaf (James Rebhorn) who asks him if he knew his son, Dickie (Jude Law). Tom lies and says he does, and before long, Tom ends up being asked by Mr. Greenleaf to go to Italy and retrieve his wayward son. Tom is reluctant at first, but when Mr. Greenleaf says he'll pay him to do it as well as for his trip, Tom jumps at the chance. I mean, hey, it’s Italy! In Italy, Tom finds playboy Dickie and his cheerful girlfriend Marge (Gwyneth Paltrow) sunning around. He pretends to know Dickie even though Dickie doesn't remember him. But Tom also has studied jazz since Mr. Greenleaf (whom master impersonator Tom does an excellent vocal impersonation of) told him Dickie loved it, and so when Tom mentions his love for jazz, an immediate bond is formed. Besides, Marge immediately warms to Tom, but then, Marge seems to like everybody. Meanwhile, Tom seems to love everything about Dickie, his looks, his lifestyle and seems so happy to have made a connection, that he wants nothing else to do in his life but spend every waking moment with Dickie.

After a while, it seems Marge, and the less tactful, narcissistic Dickie get a little sick of Tom always hanging around, and things get even worse for Tom when Dickie’s snobbish friend Freddie Miles (Philip Seymour Hoffman) arrives, immediately suspicious and derisive of interloper Tom. When Dickie tries to tell Tom that they can't go on living off of his dad's money forever and that their time together is nearing its end, Tom just about dies inside. Why, he could just about kill someone, it seems. Cate Blanchett plays Meredith, a likeable, slightly gullible rich girl who pines after Tom, who pretends to be Dickie (apparently this character is Minghella’s invention). Jack Davenport plays Peter, a gay man who also forms a bond with Tom, who may be a closeted gay man himself. Philip Baker Hall turns up late as a private detective.

Gorgeous 1999 Anthony Minghella (“The English Patient”) blend of complex sociopathic character study and Hitchcockian romantic murder-mystery, with top performances, interesting characters, and stunning scenery. If you know your Hitchcock you’ll spot a murder that’s a little reminiscent of “Young and Innocent”, whilst there’s a detective character reminiscent of the kind of role John Williams would play in many a Hitchcock film (notably “Dial M For Murder”). And if you think the homoerotic relationship between Damon and Law seems a tad similar to “Strangers on a Train”, that may be because both films are based on Patricia Highsmith novels. And forcing the audience to somewhat sympathise with a sociopath (in this case for nearly 2 ½ hours)? Once again, “Strangers on a Train” (maybe even “Psycho”, I suppose). Meanwhile, Gwyneth Paltrow and Cate Blanchett could easily be filling in for Grace Kelly and Barbara Bel Geddes. Hell, you could even say the film’s use of beachside Italy is somewhat similar to Hitchcock using the French Riviera in “To Catch a Thief”. This is not to say that writer-director Minghella is ripping off Hitchcock, he’s just smart enough to know that this story lends itself to Hitchcockian touches, as well as fitting in with the obvious Highsmith connection.

Matt Damon (an incredibly underrated actor) has never been better, as a truly complex sociopath. A sociopath generally has no compassion or capacity to feel remorse for their actions. But like Michael C. Hall’s fascinating (and strangely likeable) “Dexter”, Damon’s Tom Ripley seems to be no ordinary sociopath. He seems to be very needy and lonely, longing for love, a connection with another human being, and probably envious of those able to live the high life. But as the story progresses and Ripley’s lies grow and grow, and his juggling of different identities becomes all the more complex...who is to say that Ripley’s feelings are real? Does he really love Dickie? Marge? Meredith? Davenport’s character, even? Or are they all just a part of his grand scheme? And even if he does love or care for one or more of these people, is it only because of his own selfish neediness? Isn’t that somewhat sociopathic or at least narcissistic? I honestly don’t know, and I’ve seen the film at least four times now, constantly changing my mind as to what I think is going inside Mr. Ripley’s disturbed mind. I’m not even sure if he’s gay, bisexual, or just pretending to be one or the other to suit his own opportunistic and sociopathic purposes. And it’s a credit to Damon and the script that he manages to keep us from ever truly knowing the answers without making us feel like the character is underwritten. **** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING **** The guy is just complex times infinity, as evidenced by a devastating scene late in the film where he faces the possibility of having to kill the one person who seemingly loves him unconditionally. But Tom has to do what must be done in order to protect himself, the life he has set up for himself, and desperately wants to keep from unravelling. **** END POSSIBLE SPOILER ****

Damon is surrounded by a stellar cast including a perfectly cast Law as the narcissistic, flaky, tanned and golden Dickie. Paltrow, one of my least favourite actresses, contributes one of her best performances as the warm and sympathetic Marge, who grows increasingly wary of Tom, just as we grow increasingly concerned for her safety. Blanchett and the late Hoffman are top-notch as two very different kinds of loud Americans, one well-meaning and innocent, the other snooty and insinuating. But this really is Damon’s show as we see him effortlessly capture Ripley’s inner torment, his increasing anxiety over having to cover his tracks, evade exposure, and keep up his lies and multiple personalities. He also perfectly essays Tom’s fruitless quest for a love that he’ll never find because he’s not capable of real, unselfish love himself. Most remarkable of all, he makes us feel something for this lonely sociopath, even if it’s just pity, you ultimately feel more for Ripley than the aloof Dickie.

So long as you don’t mind spending 2 ½ hours in the company of a sociopath who has homosexual longings for Jude Law, give this one a go. It’s the closest thing to Hitchcock we’ve had in decades. One of the best films of its year.

Rating: B+