Thanks to listening to the terrible review of a high school friend, it was years before I gave The Talented Mr. Ripley a chance. This movie was released in 1999 and is one of the movies that really did help Matt Damon become this absolute megastar who could do no wrong for quite a few years.
How to Download The Talented Mr. Ripley
The Talented Mr. Ripley was released on December 25, 1999. You can download or stream the film from a digital platform. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and make your choice. If you like Matt Damon, check him out in other movies such as Good Will Hunting, Saving Private Ryan, or The Bourne Identity.
The Movie Review
It is a great testament to the talent of Matt Damon that in 1999 he played this theatrical twisted character here as well as a fallen angel in one of the greatest comedies of all time Dogma. I think that the first time I saw The Talented Mr. Ripley had to have been in the mid to late 2000s and even then I had no desire to watch it as I was under the impression for all those years that it was terrible.
What a fool I was as The Talented Mr. Ripley is a fantastic thrill ride. For the time it came out, the homoerotic stuff going on here was pretty ahead of its time and it does add a great deal to the tension. Matt Damon plays the role of a guy called Tom Ripley, a nobody from New York who is mistaken by a shipbuilding big wig as a friend of his sons from Princeton.
The Master of Deception
The thing with Tom Ripley is that he is a master of deception. Tom is an amazing liar, an incredible forger and he is the ultimate opportunist. Tom accepts a “job” to travel to Italy to try and bring this shipbuilding mogul’s son back to the USA. Hey, Tom is his friend so he is willing to bankroll his trip to Italy if it means he can talk his son into coming home.
This big shot’s son is a man called Dickie Greenleaf and he is living the absolute life of luxury in Italy. Dickie is played by Jude Law and Jude Law is fantastic, he is charming, but there is an arrogance and unlikability about him that often raises its head too. Jude Law and Matt Damon have amazing chemistry together and there is this real sexual tension that boils between the two.
Tom takes a real liking to Dickie, but he takes an even bigger liking to the lifestyle that Dickie has. Tom manages to worm his way into Dickies life and when that looks like it could be coming to an end, he takes extreme measures to make sure that he does not lose this lifestyle. It is honestly pretty shocking how far Tom is willing to go in order to keep this affluent lifestyle that he has grown to love.
A Twisted Tale of Thrills
This is such a great thriller and I like how we find out right away that Tom is a grifter and not a good guy. You are always wondering if things are going to catch up with Tom and just when you think this is it, he manages to get out of it. The first time you see this movie, it really does keep you on the edge of your seat.
While Matt Damon and Jude Law get all the attention when people talk about The Talented Mr. Ripley, this movie has a great supporting cast. Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate Blanchet, and Phillip Seamore Hoffman all deliver fantastic performances and help make this such a great and twisted tale.
Conclusion
I have watched this a few times and while the first time is the best as you never know what is going to happen next. I do think that The Talented Mr. Ripley is a movie that does still hold up on repeat viewings. Now, if they could just get their act together and make a 4K release of this as I am sure that 1950s Italy with a 4K restoration would look spectacular!
