The Talented Mr. Ripley: The escape from reality

A nicely progressing plot, but not without its fast turning points. The Talented Mr. Ripley has a steady pace almost throughout, but still has defining moments that go down very quickly.

Who is Tom Ripley?

With its unsettling but captivating main character, this movie has a contradictorily light quality to it, while still being thrilling, dark, and at times, even slightly disturbing. The Talented Mr. Ripley is well polished, and unlike most other films of the genre, is more about the general gist of the story than the individual facts and incidents. But don't get me wrong, that is not to be seen as a bad thing, as it is really the point of the film, and is brilliantly executed, with its exceptional script, solid direction, and great cast. [...]

This movie, sees main character Tom Ripley (Matt Damon), in potentially possible, but convenient, situations. Something that could be seen as sloppy writing, but instead, is positively used to convey just how fragile the truth can be, an idea strongly ingrained in this film's concept.

Surprisingly, as much as this movie is about greed and status, it is about love, albeit in a very twisted and sociopathic manner. As can be witnessed in the developments and events around Ripley's relationships with the other characters.

Beyond the absorbing story, The Talented Mr. Ripley counts on an all great cast, with names such as Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Cate Blanchett. And they definitely don't fail to deliver, delving deep into the characters with very refined and expressive portrayals.

Have you watched The Talented Mr. Ripley? If so, what did you think about it? Share your thoughts in the comments bellow!