Miramax Films | Release Date: December 24, 1999
8.4
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Universal acclaim based on 402 Ratings
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Positive:
349
Mixed:
24
Negative:
29
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10
JuanoloApr 1, 2012
First off, I would give it a 9.25 out of 10. Acting is pretty good. Story is great. Some fighting scenes can be pretty brutal. Also, the environments are pretty great looking. Score is good. Overall, it's a good, interesting movie that youFirst off, I would give it a 9.25 out of 10. Acting is pretty good. Story is great. Some fighting scenes can be pretty brutal. Also, the environments are pretty great looking. Score is good. Overall, it's a good, interesting movie that you should watch. Expand
20 of 25 users found this helpful205
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10
ElizabethM.Mar 11, 2007
This film is my all time favourite film. The scenery is beautiful, the acting is great and the film is extremely well written.
1 of 1 users found this helpful
4
SebHOct 4, 2009
Anyone who says this captures the essence of the novel is seriously wrong. Not only is Damon's Ripley everything that Highsmith said very explicitly that he wasn't (blatantly homosexual, obsessed with Dickie and his lifestyle, Anyone who says this captures the essence of the novel is seriously wrong. Not only is Damon's Ripley everything that Highsmith said very explicitly that he wasn't (blatantly homosexual, obsessed with Dickie and his lifestyle, showing precious little premeditation to his plans and even showing remorse). Highsmith's Ripley was one of the best literary characters ever created, as insecure as he is confident and cool, but the bumbling, grinning dork up on the screen didn't remind me of him at all. Minghella made the very bold move of taking this film in different directions to the book, but it suffers as a result, particularly with the introduction of two new vapid, unconvincing characters (Peter Smith Kingsley and Meredith Logue). They fail very badly, as do all the other Hollywood-ised bastardisations of the original characters. Ripley was such a great potential film, and, though this is not without its merits, it ultimately fails to capture the spirit Highsmith wrote it in. I'm all for some degree of originality in an adaptation, but this practically spits in Highsmith's face, all in all designed to be a cold-hearted star vehicle. Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful
0
MikeL.Jul 18, 2009
This is the all-time worst movie I've ever seen (all the way through). Too long, too boring, too uninteresting. Great cast, great premise (Joe Schmoe hustles his way into hobknobbing around Europe with young, rich elite). Unfortunately This is the all-time worst movie I've ever seen (all the way through). Too long, too boring, too uninteresting. Great cast, great premise (Joe Schmoe hustles his way into hobknobbing around Europe with young, rich elite). Unfortunately it couldn't overcome a terrible story (NOTE - being gay is not a plot twist). What was the movie trying to convey? It appears from the critics they can't decide either (crime drama, psychological thriller, take on class and gender). I couldn't wait for it to end. Group of friends who saw it at the cinema said the film broke near the end and many clapped that it was over. Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful
9
ConnorMSep 25, 2009
Truly remarkable. Damon really steps into the limelight after this stellar performance and Law also did one hell of a job.The emotional impact wasn't extreme but nonetheless you felt it. With it's unpredictable, yet thrilling plot Truly remarkable. Damon really steps into the limelight after this stellar performance and Law also did one hell of a job.The emotional impact wasn't extreme but nonetheless you felt it. With it's unpredictable, yet thrilling plot and outstanding performances this is easily one of the best films of the 1990's. Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful
10
HabibiehakimMay 24, 2022
The Talented Mr. Ripley is definitely one of the craziest ride or more of like one of the most intense ride i've ever watch in movies, Matt Damon in one of if not his best performances, he was convincing, he was terrifying, and he wasThe Talented Mr. Ripley is definitely one of the craziest ride or more of like one of the most intense ride i've ever watch in movies, Matt Damon in one of if not his best performances, he was convincing, he was terrifying, and he was frustrating just like the movie in a good way, it's really a ride and this is one of those movie that really depends on how it ends, i can see people hating how it ends, i can see people liking how it ends, and i can see people fine on how it ends even though they are hoping another ending but still think the movie still ended in a very good way or for me a very cool way, overall The Talented Mr. Ripley is indeed a very smart movie that been written and directed by a real talented people to make this movie so intense and so frustrating again in a very good way and it works perfectly, it's a great movie overall. Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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9
SindriFeb 18, 2011
A delight for eyes, ears and mind - It's late in the 1950s. Jazz is popular and Tom Ripley travels to Italia for the first time to discover the world.

Loner Tom Ripley joyfully accepts a generous offer from shipping pioneer Herbert
A delight for eyes, ears and mind - It's late in the 1950s. Jazz is popular and Tom Ripley travels to Italia for the first time to discover the world.

Loner Tom Ripley joyfully accepts a generous offer from shipping pioneer Herbert Greenleaf. All he has to do is travel to Mongibello, south of Naples and convince his son Dickie to return home to New York. When Ripley meets Dickie and his girlfriend, he is attracted by the vital womanizer and the carefree life he lives. All goes well until Ripley's attraction towards Dickie turns to jealousy and he realizes that he is not willing to give up his new world.

Minghella's story invites us into the inner and emotional life of protagonist Tom Ripley who on the outside appears as a humble, intelligent, socially well-adjusted and credible person. His inner fragility reveals it self in his interaction with the rich man's son Dickie, whose personality contrasts Ripley as warmth contrasts cold. Ripley's esteem blossoms in Dickie's company, but dazzled with Dickie's dazzling being he is misled to believe that Dickie's friendship is sincere and unfortunately it takes him to long to realize that his new friend considers him pastime. After the movies point-of-no-return Ripley's darker sides rises to the surface. The overeducated working class boy turns into a man of the world and at this point the character development takes a shocking turn and Minghella draws us further and further into Ripley's psyche.

Minghella's knife sharp and plot rich screenplay, based on Patricia Highsmith's novel from 1955, is told with chronological narrative, voice-over and flashback scenes. Topics such as solitude, alienation, upper class life, envy, infatuation, homosexuality, identity and class distinction are explored in this flawlessly photographed in-depth character study which contains brilliant editing that alternates between long and short takes.

The films nerve rests on Ripley's character, who has to overcome obstacle by obstacle to maintain his newly acquired status. This is effectuated by the strong progress Minghella creates through a story that never seizes to amaze. John Seal's earlier mentioned photography makes Italia look like a mystic adventure-land and enhances the films considerate mood. The stylized and realistic milieu depictions prompts the feeling of the zeitgeist, white the cinematography and music strengthens the romantic and ominous moods.

When it comes to the acting, the whole crew is magnificent. Matt Damon's transformation to the nerdy and unpredictable main-character is impressive and his interpretation of this complex character is undoubtedly one of his finest. Jude Law should also be mentioned for the breakthrough role that made him one of the worlds largest movie-stars. With charismatic charm, arrogant attitude and an inspiring hunger for life, he perfectly embodies the character Dickie Greenleaf. Cate Blanchett, Gwyneth Paltrow and Philip Seymour Hoffman delivers substantial supporting performances and as Jude Law, they became huge movie-stars few years later.
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8 of 9 users found this helpful81
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10
bcoolFeb 21, 2012
Anthony Minghella sure knew how to make a beautiful film. This film deserves to be classic. Damon, Law, Paltrow, Blanchett and Hoffman are terrific here.
5 of 6 users found this helpful51
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9
theahsanhaseebSep 12, 2012
Tom Ripley is an intelligent, literate and a calm monster; his characterization is extremely astonishing. It feels like we know he's the bad guy but we still want him to get away and never get caught by anyone. That's the charm of Tom Ripley.Tom Ripley is an intelligent, literate and a calm monster; his characterization is extremely astonishing. It feels like we know he's the bad guy but we still want him to get away and never get caught by anyone. That's the charm of Tom Ripley. Matt's performance was wonderful, as I expected, he shined. Intelligent screenplay and a classy thriller including the elements of homosexuality mixed with envy, jealousy and crime, now that's something to look forward to. It gets a bit boring and slow in the middle though but if you get past through that, you'll really love it. I haven't read the novel so I don't know how much this film varies from the originality, but whatever, I like this movie because it still has that charm that works for me and if you only watch the movie and don't compare it to the novel, I think you'll still love it. Expand
4 of 5 users found this helpful41
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9
FilipeNetoNov 6, 2021
This film completely lived up to my expectations, having proved to be an authentic essay on vanity, hypocrisy, human falsehood. Based on a novel, the film brings to cinema again material that had already given rise to at least one film, inThis film completely lived up to my expectations, having proved to be an authentic essay on vanity, hypocrisy, human falsehood. Based on a novel, the film brings to cinema again material that had already given rise to at least one film, in the 60s. It is, however, more than a mere remake, not making any kind of allusion to this film, which only real moviegoers will probably remember now.

The script is simple to summarize, but any idea of a simplistic, easy or light story is, in my view, a great illusion: the film is far denser, psychologically rich and nuanced than this brief synopsis might imply. Tom Ripley, a young man of modest origins, will ingratiate himself with Mr. Greenleaf, an American shipbuilding industrialist who will quickly "hire" him to go to Italy and convince his son, Dickie, to come back and take over his place in their business. It turns out that Dickie, living hedonistic and carefree on the Italian coast, beside a beautiful woman and at his father's expense, surrounded by friends, amusements and pleasures, wants everything except to return to New York... and Ripley decides to stay too. But Ripley's envy may take him further, as the differences and incompatibilities between them grow, as does Ripley's desire to have his new friend's life.

In fact, how much can we envy someone? Ripley goes to the extreme, nullifying her own self to completely embody the envied person, becoming that same person. As he says, "I'd rather be a fake somebody than a complete nobody". Of course, anyone could claim that the film's situation would be untenable in the long run for Ripley, with the lie coming to the fore as everyone who really knew Dickie came up and questioned his apparent disappearance... there's also, in both characters, a kind of latent homosexuality, repressed by both sides, which thickens much more their complex psychology.

In addition to a good story and an excellent construction of characters and script, the film offers us an extraordinary cast. Of course, by the nature of their characters, Matt Damon and Jude Law deserve all the attention. Damon is excellent in the restrained, obsessive and cold way in which he embodied the character, but it is Law who really enchanted me, giving us one of the best works of his career: he gives his character his own charisma and an enormous passion for life that goes beyond any rich-boy hedonism. In addition to them, the film features a satisfactory, albeit faded, participation by Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett (very poorly used and hardly ever shown) and also Philip Seymour Hoffman, for whom the script reserves a particularly caricatured role, associated with bohemian life and a certain elegant loitering.

On a technical level, the film has several elements of interest, starting with a very good and elegant cinematography, with good colors, good light, and the intelligent use of the beauty of the Mediterranean landscapes where the film was shot. In fact, the film manages to make even us, the audience, wish for ourselves the carefree life of sun, sea and music that Dickie Greenleaf chose for himself, and understand very well how Ripley allowed herself to be seduced and fascinated by it all... of course, none of us would do what he ended up doing, but we almost supported the character. The film is set in the 50s, and gives us a smell of that time and that environment through clothes, cars and other props, such as the simple fact that almost everyone smokes, a habit still considered elegant at that time. Jazz is an almost ubiquitous element in the film and the soundtrack makes good use of it, but I regret that the film has not also known how to take advantage of some of the best Italian songs... I remember that the Italian song of the 50s and 60s is considered by many to be the best of music in this country, with names like Emílio Pericoli, Mina Mazzini or Ornella Vanoni, to name a few.
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2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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10
HolographicJan 22, 2020
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Tom kills Freddie with a bust of the Roman emperor Hadrian who had a gay lover who was killed. Expand
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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9
PheromoneApr 7, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Although much of the film is shot upon or next to water, the character of Tom Ripley in the novel (of the same name by Patricia Highsmith) is actually afraid of water. This is reflected in Tom Ripley's behavior throughout the film. During the beach scene where Tom first meets Dickie, Tom does not go far from the shore when he enters the sea and turns almost immediately back to the beach. He also refuses to join Freddie and Dickie in deep water from the sailing boat in the scene where Freddie and Dickie are play fighting. At the beginning of the hired motor boat scene in San Remo, Dickie deliberately begins to rock the boat back and forth, much to the discomfort of Tom who shouts to Dickie to stop. He is clearly politely terrified of the boat capsizing. Expand
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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9
Aversion68May 2, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Included among the American Film Institute's 2001 list of 400 movies nominated for the top 100 Most Heart-Pounding American Movies. Expand
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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9
Ulna319May 17, 2021
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2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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9
Catenary44Jun 7, 2021
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2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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8
heeldavidOct 4, 2014
You know what is really special about this film, it's that Tom Ripley is such a monster but we want him to get away with it. Matt Damon was great with his body language and the way that he delivered his lines. Jude Law was really good in thisYou know what is really special about this film, it's that Tom Ripley is such a monster but we want him to get away with it. Matt Damon was great with his body language and the way that he delivered his lines. Jude Law was really good in this star making role. Expand
4 of 7 users found this helpful43
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8
Compi24Oct 3, 2015
Like the film's posh and brilliantly-realized protagonist, "The Talented Mr. Ripley" is an elegantly complex number that moonlights as something much more sinister. Part crime caper, part fiendish descent into Hell, the movie excels atLike the film's posh and brilliantly-realized protagonist, "The Talented Mr. Ripley" is an elegantly complex number that moonlights as something much more sinister. Part crime caper, part fiendish descent into Hell, the movie excels at expanding a seemingly simple situation into a tantalizing web of deceit and irony. Major points go to Matt Damon, for making the titular character not only watchable, but - most notably - likable. Truly fine filmmaking all around. Expand
2 of 4 users found this helpful22
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9
RindApr 23, 2021
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1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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3
Pep42Sep 12, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The movie dies with Jude Law. Then it's just Matt Damon trying to pretend it's not mediocre. Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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10
JacobtruthAug 11, 2015
One of my favourite ever films. The cats is exceptional, and the direction from Mingella is perfect. The setting and pacing are superb.

A great, beautiful, charismatic thriller.
2 of 5 users found this helpful23
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10
PerineumJan 14, 2020
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Fausto and Dickie (and Tom, later) sing "Tu Vuo' Fa' L'Americano," a humorous song about an Italian man in the 50s who wants to imitate the American lifestyle he sees in the movies. But American food doesn't do him any good and in the end, the money he spends comes from his mother's purse. Expand
2 of 5 users found this helpful23
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5
EssenceOfSugarJul 24, 2012
This film is actually very boring once you realise it. The pacing is just very uneven and there are multiple moments that don't even make that much sense and you wonder why they're there. Instead of Law's character being portrayed as annoyingThis film is actually very boring once you realise it. The pacing is just very uneven and there are multiple moments that don't even make that much sense and you wonder why they're there. Instead of Law's character being portrayed as annoying and stuck-up, nothing is there to illustrate his behaviour as annoying and stuck-up, so he just ends up looking like a spoilt brat with no proper explanation. Once he's gone, the thing just falls apart because Damon has nothing to go on and tries to look like a psychopath for the sake of it. Some scenes don't even fit together properly. That said, the scenery was very beautiful, so we got a nice backdrop that contrasted with the conflict that was going on between the characters. Plus, I found one scene particularly thrilling and heart-pounding, and to be honest, quite horrific actually. Expand
2 of 11 users found this helpful29
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8
MahmusOct 5, 2020
This movie is great. It's a mix of disturbing and elegant. Beautiful, thrilling and sexy. It's a very underrated, unique and very very gay crime thriller.

Some of the supporting performances fall short of Matt Damon and Jude Law's
This movie is great. It's a mix of disturbing and elegant. Beautiful, thrilling and sexy. It's a very underrated, unique and very very gay crime thriller.

Some of the supporting performances fall short of Matt Damon and Jude Law's brilliance, but they're still quite memorable. I particularly enjoyed Philip Seymour Hoffman, but Jude Law steals the show.

There's something very tragic and, as I daid before, very elegant about this movie. The setting, the music, the costumes; it makes me want to watch this movie about obsesion, betrayal and death with a long cigarette holder and glass of fine wine.
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1 of 8 users found this helpful17
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1
LjoeneffNov 17, 2013
Equal to the worst movie I have ever seen. A waste of good actors. A 1 because they kept me watching in hopes of it getting better, but it went the other way. At the end, we asked "why did we waste two hours?" Relationships were so odd, noEqual to the worst movie I have ever seen. A waste of good actors. A 1 because they kept me watching in hopes of it getting better, but it went the other way. At the end, we asked "why did we waste two hours?" Relationships were so odd, no hint of reality which is fine if it is a comedy (we did laugh a few times at its silliness). The film left us smaller and feeling used and dirty. Expand
1 of 10 users found this helpful19
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8
kyle20ellisMar 26, 2022
Yes The Talented Mr Ripley is slow at times, but to me it is always absorbing and very rarely boring. The scenery is simply dazzling and really quite exotic, and the costumes and cinematography are gorgeous too. The music is superb, as isYes The Talented Mr Ripley is slow at times, but to me it is always absorbing and very rarely boring. The scenery is simply dazzling and really quite exotic, and the costumes and cinematography are gorgeous too. The music is superb, as is Anthony Minghella's direction. The story is very compelling with a number of interesting and well-handled scenes, while the script is both intelligent and thoughtful. The acting is excellent, Matt Damon does wonderfully in a difficult and perhaps controversial role, and Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett and Phillip Seymour Hoffmann are equally terrific. Overall, quite an excellent film. 8/10 Bethany Cox Expand
0 of 6 users found this helpful06
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8
LcasGabrielJun 27, 2018
Sem palavras, tudo nesse filme é lindo. Elencão, trilha-sonora boa, ambientação linda. Os personagens em si Ripley e Dickie conseguem construir uma boa química, para no ápice do filme, acontecer algo que eu particularmente nunca tinha vistoSem palavras, tudo nesse filme é lindo. Elencão, trilha-sonora boa, ambientação linda. Os personagens em si Ripley e Dickie conseguem construir uma boa química, para no ápice do filme, acontecer algo que eu particularmente nunca tinha visto antes em algum filme, mas claro que se tivessem cortado em torno de 1h e alguns minutos, com certeza teriamos um belo filme de romance com desejos reprimidos, mas ainda sim muita coisa acontece e nos entrega um filme digno e te deixa com muitos sentimentos quando sobe os créditos. Simplesmente um filmão com um elencão. Expand
0 of 4 users found this helpful04
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9
Novice81Apr 13, 2022
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0 of 2 users found this helpful02
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9
Implement89Apr 23, 2022
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Synopsis

In the 1950's, a young wannabe wealtgy American, Mr.Thomas Ripley (Damon), is sent to Europe to retrieve a spoiled millionaire playboy (Law). When the errand backfires, Ripley dispatches the playboy and assumes his life.
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0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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10
RagingBullsNov 6, 2022
Collection of some of the most captivating actors of their generation. Almost disconcerting looking back on it to see these younger version - so much talent and good looks. And enmeshed in one of the great psychological studies committed to film.
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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7
SamaelsBookJun 13, 2023
В целом фильм не плох, за исключением 2-5 нелогичностей, из-за которых сюжет не смог бы дальше существовать. Сцена с шахматами - 10/10, gachi одобряем. Жду remake шахмат c: .В целом фильм не плох, за исключением 2-5 нелогичностей, из-за которых сюжет не смог бы дальше существовать. Сцена с шахматами - 10/10, gachi одобряем. Жду remake шахмат c: .
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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10
MikeFeb 10, 2006
I've always been a bit confused by the lack of interest in this film... I think it is great.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
pabloe.Oct 23, 2007
So much talent wasted!!! The movie just does not work, the characters are hollow, the dynamic of the plot fragmented.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
9
AdamL.Dec 9, 2006
To those who cast doubt on Jude Law's acting chops, this film should shut you up fast.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
PipE.May 12, 2007
The film captures the essence of the novel in a way many movies fail. It was brilliantly cast and shot, overall this movie is a gem.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
9
AlannaA.Nov 10, 2002
Personally, the book is better, but i can understand why the movie is like it is. To attract attention to the public. I mean, the situation is good in a book, a nearly crazy man in his mid twenties running away from the Italian cops in Personally, the book is better, but i can understand why the movie is like it is. To attract attention to the public. I mean, the situation is good in a book, a nearly crazy man in his mid twenties running away from the Italian cops in Europe, a bored American in Mongibello with no martial interest. But it'd be boring in the movies, i would think so. The movie adds too much--in the book, there is no Meredith, and Dickie has no interest in Marge. But have to agree- this movie was good compared to others i've seen. I also have to agree with Bill M.- the only talent Mr. Ripley has is murdering people. One last thing- Matt Damon CANNOT play a murderer he's not scary enough! I mean, they should have switched the parts, Jude Law- Ripley, Matt Damon- Dickie, because I was not frightened at all... Not realistic all- People work on the casting. Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
5
TonyB.Nov 25, 2005
Everything moves along quite well until Jude Law is gone and Matt Damon has to carry the ball. He is just not up to the task.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
9
gracjanskiNov 13, 2022
Interesting..The movie gets better and better the longer you re watching it. The beginning is a bit weird. Is it a homo romance? for a long time the story was not catching me. But then it gets great and more and more complicated to follow allInteresting..The movie gets better and better the longer you re watching it. The beginning is a bit weird. Is it a homo romance? for a long time the story was not catching me. But then it gets great and more and more complicated to follow all the lies Tom Ripley was using. Great acting by Matt Damon, he shows his very detailed character perfectly. Jude law was also good. Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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