Many of you have seen this series by now, but for those of you that haven’t…Ripley is a remake of the 1999 film, The Talented Mr. Ripley. Based on Patricia Highsmith’s 1955 crime novel, the series was written and directed by Steven Zaillian (The Night Of). Andrew Scott (Fleabag) stars as Tom Ripley, Johnny Flynn (Lovesick) as Dickie Greenleaf, and the ubiquitous Dakota Fanning (let’s pick…The Alienist) as Marge Sherwood. While both adaptations stay true to Highsmith’s storyline, they couldn’t be more different in their pacing, and particularly, the color and style. Ripley is a captivating work of art that takes us back to the illustrious days of black and white.
A refresher…it’s 1961 in New York and Ripley is a down-and-out con man. Unaware of his shady situation, a wealthy man hires him to convince his prodigal son Dickie to return home from Italy. Ripley’s immersion into the leisurely and enviable lifestyle of Greenleaf leads him into a world of lying, swindling, and even murder. Marge is immediately skeptical of Tom, but she and Dickie are a doomed couple, enveloped in Tom’s web of lies.
It’s impossible not to contrast the two productions. Scott is an older, colder Ripley as compared to Matt Damon’s boyish, smiling character. His contempt for the world is evident, while Damon disguises his intentions behind the gleam in his eyes. Scott deserves his Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. He’s spellbinding as the intriguing psychopath. Johnny Flynn is aloof and aimless as Dickie, while Jude Law is appealing and irresistible. Fanning’s Marge is aloof, content to spend all her time in her seaside cottage writing a book (or so she tells herself). Gweneth Paltrow, on the other hand, is sunshine personified. Anthony Minghella’s film is glossy and sun splashed. Zaillian eclipses the sun and creates a brilliant Italian noir.
The black and white cinematography is radiant despite the lack of color. It’s a character all by itself, the shadows linger, the stairs beckon, the ‘light” sporadic, and the statues, gargoyles, and Renaissance art observe. The only living witness to the crimes is the resident cat of Ripley’s apartment building, Lucio (real name King). His red paw prints as he scurries through the scene of the crime are the film’s only splash of color. (It’s the second outstanding feline performance of the year – see A Quiet Place: Day One Goes for Silence Over Mayhem for the first.) Even the Italian scenery is spectacular in monochrome.
D² Rating ◼◼◼◩☐
Trivia: Andrew Scott starred in what romantic fantasy film in 2023?
Trivia: What Manson family member did Dakota Fanning play in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood?
Answers: All of Us Strangers and Squeaky Fromme (Although not involved in the La Bianca murders, Fromme attempted to assassinate President Gerald Ford in 1975.)
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