Watch The Talented Mr. Ripley

"The Talented Mr. Ripley" is a psychological thriller film directed by Anthony Minghella, based on the novel of the same name by Patricia Highsmith. The movie stars an ensemble cast including Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Cate Blanchett, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Set in the late 1950s, the film follows the story of Tom Ripley (Matt Damon), a young man living in New York City who is hired by the wealthy stockbroker Herbert Greenleaf (James Rebhorn) to travel to Italy and persuade his son, Dickie (Jude Law), to return home. However, Tom soon finds himself deeply enamored with Dickie and his lavish lifestyle, and begins to develop a dangerous obsession with him. When Dickie grows tired of Tom's presence, things take a dark turn, and Tom's true nature is revealed.

From the opening credits, which feature Damon's Tom Ripley navigating New York's seedy streets and dimly-lit alleys, the film establishes a distinctly unsettling and suspenseful tone. The movie's cinematography captures both the glamour and the seediness of the Italian coastal towns where the majority of the action takes place, with sweeping shots of the bright blue Mediterranean sea and winding roads that lead to cliffside villas, as well as more claustrophobic and intimate moments within the confines of shared hotel rooms and crowded nightclubs.

One of the film's strengths is its impeccable cast. Damon's portrayal of the titular character is chillingly calculated yet surprisingly sympathetic, as he draws the audience in with a false sense of empathy before slowly revealing his true intentions. Law delivers a charming yet complex performance as Dickie, a man whose charisma masks a deep-rooted insecurity and penchant for manipulation. Paltrow's performance as Marge Sherwood, Dickie's on-and-off girlfriend, is understated yet effective, as she struggles to reconcile her feelings for both Dickie and Tom. Cate Blanchett and Philip Seymour Hoffman also make memorable appearances as characters whose paths intersect with Tom's in unexpected ways.

The film's plot is a tightly-wound spiral of deceit and manipulation, as Tom carefully constructs a web of lies in order to maintain his connection to Dickie and his glamorous lifestyle. Though the violence is relatively sparse, the film is deeply unsettling in its portrayal of Tom's unraveling, as he becomes increasingly delusional and paranoid.

The movie's theme of identity is a constant thread throughout, as Tom grapples with his own sense of self and the gap between his desires and his reality. The film also explores themes of sexuality and class, as Tom's infatuation with Dickie and his lifestyle lead him to commit increasingly heinous acts in order to maintain access to the world he so desperately desires.

Overall, "The Talented Mr. Ripley" is a gripping and unsettling thriller with a standout cast and exceptional cinematography. The film's expertly-crafted tension and dark exploration of identity and desire make it a must-see for fans of the genre.

The Talented Mr. Ripley is a 1999 thriller with a runtime of 2 hours and 19 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4 and a MetaScore of 76.