Recent Reviews for The Talented Mr. Ripley
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MCT:August 14, 2008It wasn't bad, as I noticed better than average sound score, cinematography and a so-so story. He impersonates and kills. Not so talented, really. I don't see how he wasn't caught, unless the ending is leading towards that way. To be honest, I didn't have a damn clue what the ending was supposed to reveal to me.
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MCT:August 6, 2008
Excellent acting by Matt Damon and Jude Law in this film where Matt Damon plays a young man that desperately wants to be "somebody" and therefor goes very far in making people's life his.
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MCT:August 5, 2008yea.
damon is pretty solid here. creepy beyond imagination. that's sort of how i imagine him in life. -
MCT:July 25, 2008One of my favorite movies with matt damon. great portrayl of a sociopath and the rationalization of why its ok to do they things they do.
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MCT:July 23, 2008
This film was powerful and again trajic here was a man who hated himself so much he wanted to be some one else to Death Great performance by "Matt Damon!" Sorry after Team Amariica can say his name without the quetes Ha!
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MCT:July 19, 2008Take a look at the cast and you know this is going to be well acted but the story was not for me.
Full of odd behaviour I'm not sure if I was confused or there was a problem with the flow of the thing.
Perhaps I'd expected more. -
MCT:July 15, 2008
Excellent psychological thriller! One of Anthony Minghella's great movies, punctuated by great performances and great cinematography.
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MCT:July 8, 2008
One of my favorite movies ever... The first half is highly erotic and gorgeous, the second half is something so thrilling you just can't take your eyes off of... while all of the performances turn out being perfectly well rounded: Jude Law's stunning in his well deserved star making role, Gwynnie wouldn't be as affective until "Proof", Matt Damon's pitch perfect and Cate Blanchett before she became THE Cate Blanchett is just a breee of cool air... Anyway, as I've said: perfect.
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MCT:June 22, 2008What a twisted movie. I guy takes over another guys life and no one is the wiser. Who comes up with this stuff?
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MCT:June 18, 2008
The Hitchcockian feel is carried off perfectly. The acting, music, direction, and cinematography are all top-notch, but I do have to ask this question: how was Jude Law nominated for an Oscar with this movie, when Matt Damon is completely and utterly the driving force of the picture (does Damon ever have a less-than-stellar performance?); he dominates it. Yes, Jude Law is solid, worth some recognition, but solid's about all it is.
Also, I felt the film lingered a bit on the screen. I don't know what I'd cut out, but it just felt like a bit of a long movie. -
MCT:June 7, 2008
The greatest and most elegant deceiver ever. Perfect storytelling and suspense. The drama fits perfectly.
81/100 -
MCT:June 1, 2008
The best Hitchcock movie anyone's made since Hitchcock died. Everything about this is spectacular -- acting, photography, pacing, scenery, story....
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MCT:June 1, 2008
I love Matt Damon. I thought he was very good in this. I can't stand Philip Seymour Hoffman, and the people in this movie reminded me of some in my former life. Still, the locations in Italy made it completely worthwhile to watch
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MCT:May 29, 2008Having no idea what to expect, and no idea what it was goin to be about....my mind was spinning by the end! the story was well interpreted and left an impression. As disturbing as it is, it's a great movie.
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MCT:May 28, 2008
"I always thought it would be better, to be a fake somebody... than a real nobody."
Patricia Highsmith's novel of the same name was held in high regard in the literary world. Anthony Minghella (R.I.P), celebrated director of The English Patient, has made a terrific psychological thriller out of the already outstanding source material. The Talented Mr. Ripley subsists as a terrifically unique, mysterious drama/thriller assisted by a marvellous horde of actors and some exotic locations.
Initially set in late 1950's New York, the film introduces its audience to a young underachiever named Tom Ripley (Damon). Tom is talented at playing the piano in addition to possessing the skill to impersonate people, yet he is down on his luck. After playing the piano at an upper class garden party he meets the wealthy Herbert Greenleaf (Rebhorn): the father of recent Princeton graduate Dickie Greenleaf (Law). Herbert mistakes Tom for a recent graduate of Princeton University who also knew his son - and Tom lets Herbert believe it. Tom is offered $1,000 to travel to Italy and convince Herbert's son Dickie to return to New York. Down on his luck and with very little money, Tom reluctantly agrees. Upon arrival in Italy, Tom meets with Dickie who is in the company of cultured girlfriend Marge (Paltrow). Dickie is a rich boy with inclination for nothing more than sailing his yacht, masquerading as a playboy and spending time with Marge. Following a few initial meetings, Tom grows an attachment to Dickie and Marge: he is fond of their style of living and develops a mad obsession for Dickie. Tom begins compounding lies, fundamentally assuming the identity of Dickie Greenleaf.
Director Minghella expertly creates three quarters of an excellent movie, with the concluding segment transforming into a complex amalgamation of typical clichés with little to sustain one's interest. This can also be attributed to the film's length - it seems the screenwriter was incapable of upholding any further appeal from limited subject matter. Of course, the subject matter is fascinating by all accounts; however it lost its overall appeal with gross over-length and sluggish screenwriting.
Screenplay flaws aside, The Talented Mr. Ripley is overall somewhat staggering to watch. Anthony Minghella is an expert at the helm of a thriller. This essentially Hitchcockian thriller is occasionally very exhilarating with strong directing and outstanding performances in addition to gorgeous scenery and an elegant setting to boot.
Matt Damon became a household name with Good Will Hunting. Triggering elements of his brilliant portrayal in that earlier film, Damon is in one of his best performances to date. I don't think we've ever seen Damon with this level of vigour or intricacy surrounding him. He is supported by a number of equally excellent performers. Cate Blanchett once again displays her amazing skills as an actress. The film also flaunts great performances from Jude Law and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Law and Hoffman do a fine job in convincing us of the playboyish nature of their characters. Gwyneth Paltrow's portrayal is moderate. Paltrow is a mediocre actress still incapable of painting an entirely convincing character portrait.
The Talented Mr. Ripley is a fine psychological thriller boasting a wonderful ensemble of excellent actors. Some have called this a Hitchcock production of the 90s. I strongly agree. Matt Damon's ability to represent a human leach is amazing at times, proven by the scenes when I actually had sympathy for him. There are scenes of utter shock and dismay, but it is the engulfing build to the inevitable murder and mayhem that grabs you. By all accounts this film is by no means perfect due to some problems in the screenwriting department; however this is a thriller definitely worth checking out. -
MCT:May 16, 2008
Wonderful film! Matt Damon gives a brilliantly creepy performance. Law and Paltrow also give very strong performances. Love it.
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MCT:May 12, 2008
Extremely weird film in which Matt Damon murders Jude Law and steals his identity. The twists and turns in this one are pretty riveting but the story is great, as is the cast. An excellent film!
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MCT:May 8, 2008
This movie was alright. I think Matt Damon was miscast in the lead role. Some parts of the story were predictable.
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MCT:May 5, 2008
A little twisted, but Matt Damon steals the screen with a stunning performance and fellow supporting actors Jude Law, Cate Blanchett, Gwyneth Paltrow and Philip Seymour Hoffman are integral to the success of this film. There is substance and violence and the crispness of both is just fascinating to endure
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MCT:May 1, 2008
"I always thought it'd be better to be a fake somebody than a real nobody."
This is really amazing drama film, supported by an fantastic cast and story. It's kind of a mystery thriller as well when you think about it.
Matt Damon is Tom Ripley, one of the most complex and mysterious characters I've ever seen Matt play. In this film Mr. Ripley borrows a Princeton jacket, and soon he is talking with the father of a recent graduate from Princeton. He is then asked by the father to travel to Italy to bring his son back. So Tom Ripley goes to Europe and pretends to know Dickie Greenleaf, soon the two become friends. But after some events it's Tom Ripley who goes to extreme lengths to take Dickie's lifestyle and use it for himself.
Matt Damon, like I said before, played a complex character with mystery surrounding him. We see the whole movie through the eyes of Tom Ripley, so this was a very strong character. Matt Damon played him exceptionally well and I just can't imagine another actor as Tom Ripley. Jude Law was brilliant as always, I just wish he was in the movie for longer. Philip Seymour Hoffman was pretty damn good for his role, kind of funny in a way that his character didn't really care for anything or anyone. He was himself and it worked perfectly. I loved Jack Davenport's character, he was a stand out actor for me in this movie.
Really worth seeing if you haven't already. A nice, entertaining and complex film that had my attention from the opening credits to it's mysterious end. A must see. -
MCT:April 24, 2008
Anthony delivers another sweeping deep movie with amazing lush shots. Disturbing and sometimes sad with some of the best acting ever.
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MCT:April 22, 2008
My first impression of the film was that I didn't liked it that much. I saw it once again and liked it. The acting is good and the story, though confussing, is very original.
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MCT:April 17, 2008
"I always thought it'd be better to be a fake somebody than a real nobody."
This is really amazing drama film, supported by an fantastic cast and story. It's kind of a mystery thriller as well when you think about it.
Matt Damon is Tom Ripley, one of the most complex and mysterious characters I've ever seen Matt play. In this film Mr. Ripley borrows a Princeton jacket, and soon he is talking with the father of a recent graduate from Princeton. He is then asked by the father to travel to Italy to bring his son back. So Tom Ripley goes to Europe and pretends to know Dickie Greenleaf, soon the two become friends. But after some events it's Tom Ripley who goes to extreme lengths to take Dickie's lifestyle and use it for himself.
Matt Damon, like I said before, played a complex character with mystery surrounding him. We see the whole movie through the eyes of Tom Ripley, so this was a very strong character. Matt Damon played him exceptionally well and I just can't imagine another actor as Tom Ripley. Jude Law was brilliant as always, I just wish he was in the movie for longer. Philip Seymour Hoffman was pretty damn good for his role, kind of funny in a way that his character didn't really care for anything or anyone. He was himself and it worked perfectly. I loved Jack Davenport's character, he was a stand out actor for me in this movie.
Really worth seeing if you haven't already. A nice, entertaining and complex film that had my attention from the opening credits to it's mysterious end. A must see. -
MCT:April 16, 2008
Engaging flick with a ensemble cast that would hardly do any wrong specially Matt Damon who was a fantastic lead as Tom Ripley.
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MCT:April 5, 2008I disliked this so much that I had to turn it off.. But at least I stayed long enough to see the awful Jude Law bludgeoned to death. An almost redeeming aspect to a mundane 'thriller' (where were the thrills?). I know a lot of people rate this as a well crafted, intelligent, psychological movie. Maybe I need my psychos a bit more obvious and less wooden than Matt Damon.
