Critic Reviews
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Ripley isn’t at all the disaster it could have been, primarily because its source material is so strong that you’d have to be incredibly dense to screw it up too badly. But it’s haunted by the spirit of past adaptations, unable to wrestle free from the shackles of earlier perfection.
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Other than unnecessarily elongating the story and filming it in black and white, Netflix’s adaptation does nothing to improve on the Oscar-nominated film that already exists.
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Ripley boasts beautiful cinematography and a strong lead performance, but it stretches its story out so thin, it ruins the thrills.
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Ultimately, Ripley is less than the sum of its parts. On the one hand, it features impressive black and white filmmaking that places us in these backdrops so vividly that we can almost taste the sea air. .... However, these highs are the exception, not the rule. Much like its bland protagonist, this series feels vague, unsure if it wants to be a thrilling caper, thoughtful tone piece, or something else entirely.
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Unfortunately, this version of the story is problematic from the outset, in large part because of some curious casting choices, as well as a tendency by the greatly talented Zaillian to indulge in a number of overlong sequences that are initially intriguing but eventually wear out one’s patience.
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Twisted and deeply disturbing, this “Ripley” feels more sinister and stilted than its predecessors, making the show arduous rather than enticing.
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Andrew Scott is great in Ripley, Netflix’s new take on Patricia Highsmith’s literary creation. Unfortunately, his casting is the only smart decision here.
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