Film Review: The Talented Mr. Ripley (USA 1999) – Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law

Content:  In this podcast, we talk about Anthony Minghella's 1999 adaptation of “The Talented Mr. Ripley”, starring Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law.  We cover the plot, focus on Tom Ripley's transformation and crimes in 1950s Italy. We compare Minghella's film to the original novel by Patricia Highsmith and previous and subsequent adaptations, including René Clément's "Purple Noon" and the recent Netflix series "Ripley".  We praise the performances and cinematography of the 1999 film while offering a critical perspective on the newer series.  Plot:   Tom Ripley, a skilled but insecure young man, is sent to Italy to convince the carefree heir Dickie Greenleaf to return home, but he becomes obsessed with Dickie’s lavish life and murders him when the friendship sours. Assuming Dickie’s identity, Tom deceives everyone—including Dickie’s fiancée Marge—yet his elaborate façade slowly unravels, leaving him trapped in a perpetual lie.