The Talented Mr. Ripley

The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

12/25/1999
140 minutes
7

Tom Ripley is a calculating young man who believes it's better to be a fake somebody than a real nobody. Opportunity knocks in the form of a wealthy U.S. shipbuilder who hires Tom to travel to Italy to bring back his playboy son, Dickie. Ripley worms his way into the idyllic lives of Dickie and his girlfriend, plunging into a daring scheme of duplicity, lies and murder.

Revenue: $128,798,265

Details

Budget

$40,000,000

Rating

7/10 (3817 votes)

Status

Released

Production Companies

Mirage Enterprises, Timnick Films

About The Talented Mr. Ripley

Set in the late 1950s, "The Talented Mr. Ripley" follows Tom Ripley, an individual who finds an opportunity to immerse himself in the privileged world of Dickie Greenleaf in Italy. The narrative explores themes of identity, envy, and ambition as Tom becomes entangled in the lives of Dickie and his girlfriend, Marge, ultimately leading to deception and violence. The film's combination of thriller, crime, and drama genres helps establish a tension that builds throughout Ripley's increasingly complex situation.

The film delves into the psychological aspects of its characters, particularly Tom's motivations and the lengths he goes to maintain his fabricated life. With a runtime of 140 minutes, the movie establishes a detailed portrayal of its European setting and the lifestyle of its protagonists. The story draws from literary origins, being an adaptation of a novel, which contributes to its narrative depth and character development. The various locations, from New York City to Venice, Italy, contribute to the aesthetic and thematic backdrop of the deception.

Central to the film are keywords such as "jealousy," "dual identity," and "fake identity," which highlight the character's internal struggles and external manipulations. The narrative also touches on "wealth" and "inferiority complex," suggesting the social dynamics that drive Ripley's actions. The interplay between these elements forms the core of the film's examination of ambition and its consequences.

Rotten Tomatoes 85%
Metacritic 76/100
IMDb 7.4/10

Why you might be searching for The Talented Mr. Ripley

People are searching for "The Talented Mr. Ripley" due to its memorable plot, which often involves the protagonist's assumption of another's identity and the subsequent criminal acts. The film's setting, particularly its iconic Italian landscapes, also makes it distinctive. The dynamic between Tom Ripley and Dickie Greenleaf, including hints of male homosexuality and intense jealousy, is a frequently recalled aspect, along with the film's exploration of secret and fake identities. The specific depiction of murder and prosecution within a luxurious European context also stands out.

What reviewers are saying

CinemaSerf 7/10

A reviewer describes how Tom Ripley, after being sent to Italy to retrieve Dickie Greenleaf, gradually integrates himself into Dickie's and Marge's lives through calculated charm and shared interests, noting Ripley's subsequent fraudulent behavior after a violent incident.

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Mickerdoo 8/10

One viewer commented on the film's elaborate network of lies that progressively escalates, highlighting Matt Damon's cunning portrayal and Jude Law's covetable character.

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