Il ritorno di Mr. Ripley

I was able to see a screening of White on White (which was called Ripley's Art) and was greatly surprised. Going into the film, I was thinking that it would be a very dark, serious film. However, the film is nothing like the first. This is much more of a dark comedy with some mystery aspects. If you liked the first film because it was so dark, then you probably will not like this film. Good performances from all the actors, but some of the lines were a little corny.

Overall, I enjoyed the film, but many of the people at the screening said they did not enjoy it.

This film is entertaining. Just imagine the character of Barry Pepper as someone else and not Ms. Patricia Highsmith's Thomas Ripley, you will be engrossed and not so disappointed. For me, I can't do that. I have already been impressed by both Matt Damon's and John Malkovich's Ripley, whose performances are so right one can't help feeling that they really play the same person at different ages, despite two completely different look and totally separate productions. I am not so sure who gets it wrong between Barry Pepper who plays him or Roger Spottiswoode the director. Thomas Ripley is not an accidental psychopath. He is a professional one who is completely conscious of all his actions and perfectly comfortable with them. He has excellent taste equipped with the vast knowledge of everything beyond his means, so he cheats, steals, and kills for such yearning. Tom Ripley never protests or acts against the mainstream. He simply has his own ways and means, and executes them rather effectively. Pepper's Ripley is not even close. His Ripley is boringly human, ordinary, and commonplace. He is supposed to be a genuinely evil spirit who lives well and excels among the sophistication of all kinds. Being an American does not stop him from being well-cultivated and subtle. Ripley's creator, Ms. Highsmith, was a big fan of him. She protested against people who made so much fuss about "a little murder" around them. See, Ripley is not a criminal but an artist of the most devious kind. This film does not get it. Furthermore, it is a poor choice of either the director or the script writer, or both, to apply comedic tone to this story. Ripley can be fun, but never comedic. Relief moments in Ripley's stories usually come with arts, good life, and stylishness. If your wish is to penetrate Mr. Ripley's mind, one of the most unique characters in the literary world, watch "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and "Ripley's Game" instead.

Highsmith 's excellent thriller -which is the follow-up to "the talented Mr Ripley" -has undergone some changes:in the book ,Tom was the owner of the desirable Belle Ombre château (he bought with Dickie Greenleaf's money ,;his victim's cousin appears in this episode ) and the happy husband of rich French heiress Héloise who has not got a single clue about her criminal husband's activities .

The screenwriters kept the proper nouns and a vague screenplay ,added some hot sex scenes, and produced a movie too hurried for comfort ; besides ,Barry Pepper is the worst Ripley I've ever seen (he's got top-notch competition :Alain Delon, Dennis Hopper ,Matt Damon and John Malkovich,and he 's not up to scratch) ,lacking charisma and giving a johnny-one-note performance ,displaying nothing of Highsmith's complex hero .When Willem Dafoe,easily the best actor of the cast ,appears ,one cannot help but wonder what this cerebral thespian could have made with the part of Ripley .Highsmith 's story was slow-moving,but inexorably building the suspense ; the movie multiplies the coincidences,the implausibilities at such a speed it's difficult to follow the plot if you don't know the novel ; it's no longer a psychological drama, it's an action-packed flick ,like so many others , sometimes verging on horror ....entertaining at best ,but Highsmith's buffs will fatally be disappointed .

French François Marthouret appears as Héloise 's daddy ,perhaps only to justify the would be cynical ending.

I bought this, cheap on second hand DVD - and I didn't expect much. I had seen: "The talented Mr Ripley" and "Ripleys game" before - so I was a bit curious as to how this one would go down, because I haven't heard anything about it and that is usually a bad sign. - But.... I absolutely LOVED it. The plot was intriguing, and I loved the actors - and the ending - just perfect ! This is a movie I,m gonna watch again in a years time. At the end of this movie I actually raised my arms up and shouted: "Bloody hell!!! GREAT movie !!! There is also a bit of music in the middle of the movie when Tom goes to France I think for the first time - anyone know what music that is? Its beautiful.

This movie has all the ingredients to be a compelling movie. It has a great cast, good director, and the co-writer of The Bourne Identity. However, the movie doesn't explore it's themes and characters enough. It doesn't make full use of its interesting premise. The whole thing wasn't utilized. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) was a fascinating thriller/drama with a fascinating performance from Matt Damon and many compelling themes. Tom Ripley is a complex character and his books/films need depth. However, if you are able to get over that, this film is entertaining. Just don't expect anything great.