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Rating:
Like many films, I stumbled upon this one by chance (or it caught my eye), in the old days when I had to comply with the Saturday night movies chosen by my parents without asking my opinion. Thank heavens, otherwise I would have missed out on so many great films!
And this is one of them.
Plot: Tom Ripley has been hired by Mr. Greenleaf to persuade his son Dickie in Italy to return to America, but Ripley becomes fascinated by Dickie’s lifestyle and stays to live with him. Over time, however, tensions arise between the two, until Ripley kills Dickie and disposes of his body in the sea.
Jude Law (Dickie) is excellent for the limited time he is seen on screen, but the viewer's eyes will remain fixated on Matt Damon's (Ripley) performance, who transforms from a gentle and shy boy to an icy strategist intent on covering his tracks. It's intriguing how gradually Ripley feels less revulsion at killing to save himself, as if his transformation from a good boy to a cold-blooded killer proceeds gradually.
Philip Seymour Hoffman and Cate Blanchett are always reliable, Gwyneth Paltrow (Dickie's girlfriend) is good, and there's even a cameo by Fiorello (back when he did karaoke and hadn't sold out to Wind yet)!
A stunning thriller, with excellent settings, a great cast, and outstanding performances.
What more could you want?
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By albyg
Tom Ripley acts like a skilled poker player, and his moves are the result of much skill and a pinch of luck.
It’s a very good and gripping film from my point of view.
