The People's Review of Talented Mr. Ripley
Ralph McGinnis
score = None
comments = I didn't go see this movie at first because I have always had
an immense distaste for Paltrow and Damon - two extremely mediocre actors
who have always starred in mediocre Hollywood tripe. However, one night I
watched 'Ripley' on Pay-per-View and found it to be a very disturbing,
atypical, uncliched and engaging film. It is of no surprise that many
people who have posted here didn't like this movie -- it is far too
intelligent of a movie to be appreciated by the masses. Yes it is 'slow,'
but perhaps the viewers need to 'slow' down their expectations and get
over their need for quick-paced MTV edits. This film doesn't spoon-feed
you its intentions -- you have to find them out for yourself -- you have
to be able to think. It lacks the trite telephone commercial
sentimentality of 'Good Will Hunting' and 'Saving Private Ryan,' so if
liked those Damon stinkers you might not like this film. Damon is
surprisingly good, there is little for Paltrow to do wrong and Jude Law
and Philip Hoffman were of course, as always, superb.
The ending WAS an ending. The first murder is a crime of passion, the
second is simply to protect himself against a very unlikable character --
the third is the irredeemable murder of someone Ripley loves -- his true
dissent into his OWN hell.
luke
score = 60
I was certainly disappointed. Scernery and soundtrack were great, but
it wasn't very convincing. It wasn't worth $6. peff
score = 50
Overlong and slow-paced, tho nice to look at. Artfully made movie,
but afterwards you ask, what was he point of all that. Suspenseful,
but after a while annoyingly so. Matt Damon doesn't bring enough
magnetism to his role; Jude Law does. Shawna
score = 50
The film was very picturesque and Jude Law did a decent job of acting.
Matt Damon did not have enough dimension in his character to be
convincing. His character was not complex enough. The whole
movie was a bit far-fetched, and all the main players appeared to be
acting. When I go to a movie, I don't want to know that the actors
are acting. I want to forget. It lacked the complexity of the novel. Uknown1
score = None
the worst movie we have seen in a long time. people were leaving
before it was even over. if it was a "must see" then
i really missed something Dawnie
score = 50
The movie was definately not an academy award winner. However, it
was quite twisted which played with the minds of those who enjoy
psychological thrillers. To that extent I enjoyed watching it
although I could have waited and just rented it on a very dark stormy
night. MotherLove
I thought the movie was...good. The score was amazing and will definately
win when it comes times for the awards. Damon did a decent job-I wasn't
impressed with any of his acting until the very end of the movie, and even
then-ehh. However, I thought Jude Law and Philip Seymour Hoffman were
outstanding in their supporting roles, as well as Gwyneth Paltrow and Cate
Blanchett. I think the only really good thing to come out of this movie
will be, the soundtrack. Jennifer Brewster
score = 10
I had hoped to find a clue about this long, laborous film's ending. I kept
expecting this surprise ending that I had heard so much about and was
disappointed to find the conclusion predictable and a little confusing.
Add to that my confusion throughout the picture about the homosexual
overtones; at the risk of being called a homophobe, it wasn't Mr.
Ripley and his friends' possible homosexual nature that troubled me, but
rather that the film seemed afraid to either commit or discount such
behaviour. I heard all of these glowing reviews about this film, and
while I found the acting superb, the plot was slow and not gripping at
all. The characters were all terribly dislikeable, except Paltrow's
character, who seemed to be the only friend among them with any
redemption. I will be careful before attending another film on the
basis of critical opinion. Unknown score
= 60 I
was really looking forward to this movie. After watching it, I can
say that it had a great cast, and great scenery. Overall though, it
was a little slow. And what the hell was that ending? There
was no ending -- nothing was concluded. The ending (or the absence
of one) ruined the film for me Hagen
Stone score
= 80 I
did not read any reviews prior to seeing the movie and, consequently, did
not have any expectations. I was entertained and intrigued by the plot and
the music. Although there were some far fetched turns, I wasn't insulted
by them. I must admit that I would have preferred the movie to either
commit to a homosexual theme or leave it out all together. I didn't quite
understand why the homosexual overtones where necessary. I would recommend
it as long as you are going to a matinee showing. Candice score
= 10 One
of the worst movies I have ever seen. People were leaving the
theatre before the first hour. It was too long, too boring, and
there was no good plot twists. I'd advise everyone not to waste your
hard - earned 8 dollars to view such a travesty to cinema. Mora score
= 100 Okay...
Forget the novel. Forget The English Patient.. Forget the movie trailers.
Forget everything. This is one of the best movies I've seen in a long
time. Okay, so it's not true to Patricia Highsmith's novel, but the
film *is* good in its own right. Gabriel Yared's score is gorgeous.... Joel
Jordan score
= 80 This
was superb moviemaking which restored my faith in movies once again; I
have seen so many awful movies lately. Great musical score, cinematography
as well as direction. I found myself really reacting to the death scenes. Ryan
score = 30
Personally, I think all these critics are seriously overrating this movie
because it's Anthony Minghella, director of The English Patient. This one
is long, gruesome, unimaginitive, and boring. We can all watch the five
o'clock news if we want to see a story of a psychopath who steals
identities and literally kills for them. The fact is, this movie is not
much more than a bloated version of that. Matt Damon is actually a saving
grace, as this is the first time I have seen him and not thought of him as
Matt Damon; as is Jude Law as a perfectly cast, directionless spoiled
brat; and Cate Blanchett's performance is just fine when she's on. Other
than that, the pace is torturous and the story simply disturbing--but not
at all affective. I give ten points each to the performances of Damon,
Law, and Blanchett--but nothing else. Unknown256
score = None
This movie absolutely SUCKED, it was not even worth a dime. I had
NEVER walked out of a movie before until I saw this awful piece of , well
I cant even call it art. Dont get me wrong I loved Matt Damon in
Good WIll Hunting and Saving Private Ryan is my absolute favorite movie,
but The Talented Mr. Ripley YUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ivan
score = 100
Beautiful scenery, beautiful music, beautiful cast, great acting. It
is extremely difficult to convince the audience to like and stick with a
parade of pathetic lost souls. this movie manages to do that. Terry
B
score = 60
A bit too long - took up the first hour setting things up and then it all
happened too quickly to make sense of Tom Ripley's motives. The ending
left far too much unexplained. Ps the book is much better. The film
doesn't even stick to the story very well. In the book Tom knows Dickie
before he goes to Italy and is actually sought out by Dickie's father. Marck
score = 90
Despite some of the comments made so far, I find the characters
convincing. Each character possesses a uniqueness that fits the
entire plot together like a jigsaw puzzle. The villain, unlike the
classical monsters, appeals to my sense of sympathy. While I find Mr
Ripley's violent acts to conceal his growing lies disturbing, I also find
myself feeling for him, not wanting him to be caught. If anything, I
think Damon and Paltrow's performance fortified the relatively weak plot
of the story adapted for the movie. The European and fifties
backdrop was nothing short of beautiful and the soundtrack was well
blended with the ebbs and tides of the movie. lil
score = 90
Great cast, great location. Matt Damon's portrayal of Tom Ripley
really made you sympathise with Ripley, rather than hating him, for just
wanting to fit in with the rich crowd. The movie was good, highly
recommended. Ryan
score = 10
Right up there with Stigmata for worst movie of the year. This movie
was so boring. i kept waiting for it to get better but it never did.
I found the female roles of gwyneth paltrow and kate blanchet to be
insignigicant and minor. I felt nothing for their characters.
Matt Damon, though extremely talented, was not up to par either, as Jude
Law definately stole what little spot light the film had to himself.
he was the one actor that made the film worth watching, but after his
departure only about halfway through, this movie went from boring, to
almost worthy of walking out on. decent acting and actors, but even
they couldn't save the horrible storyline and slow moving plot Hugh
score = 90
This movie did not receive the acclaim that it should have. The
movie is great and the pace of the movie was wonderful. The
location,clothes,music,dialogue all remind me of a later Great Gatsby.
And like Great Gatsby it is incredible. It's better to be like a
fake somebody than a real nobody. Anthony
score = 100
To put it simply, this film was about the Talented MR. Minghella, in every
way. His eye for sound and his ear for visuals make for cinematic
confusion: why is he even in the same league with most directors, today?
His film is deliciously cold, whilst feigning an amber, warming sensation
via cinematography, ard direction, and a score that drips with dewey irony
(how can music about such a heartless character sound so calmingly shrill?
it sounds like the human heratstrings being plucked like a hell-harp)
Matt Damon is virtually the ultimate flaw, here, though. his Ripley
never registers as the seductor that is implied with such subtle cigor.
Rather, Mr. Law and he should have switched roles, for Mr. Law is the only
actor today handsome enough to survive in Hollywood fare of yesteryear
(the days of Cary Grant and a young Sean Connery). And Ms. Paltrow
unfortunately falls under Mr. Damon's catagory of people who disappear
into the background. Cate Blanchett is splendidly beautiful and sly,
winning the audience over with a lovely, biting speech regarding
"having enough money to hate money." This was not the best
picture of the year, but it was far grander than most that were nominated.
Mr. Minghella's bag of tricks is deep as an ominous, still ocean. He
even sets the scenes of ambiguity with a style that somehow provokes, but
never teases. The best example is the moment when a man sits on his
male acquaintences lap, adjusting his tie, closely, when a beautiful
Italian woman brezzes by, inducing both men to follow her with sheer lust.
See this film. The only things scarrier than the intelligently eerie
happenings within, are the perfect performances by Mr. Law, Ms. Blanchett,
and Phillip Seymore Hoffman, who in his brief time on screen, knocks back
every line like a double scotch. Bravo. For more reviews click here |
To be young and carefree amid the blue waters and idyllic landscape of
sun-drenched Italy 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 Tom to bring his errant playboy son back home to America, Dickie and
his beautiful expatriate girlfriend, Marge Sherwood (Gwyneth Paltrow), never suspect the
dangerous extremes to which Ripley will go to make their lifestyle his own. After all,
it’s better to be a fake somebody than a real nobody. 
