The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

Director:

Anthony Minghella

Writers (WGA):

Patricia Highsmith (novel)
Anthony Minghella (screenplay)

Release Date:

25 December 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

How far would you go to become someone else.

Plot:

In late 1950's New York, Tom Ripley, a young underachiever, is sent to Europe to retrieve a rich and spoiled millionaire playboy, named Dickie Greenleaf. But when the errand fails, Ripley kills the playboy and begins to assume his life.

Plot Keywords:

Italy | 1950s | Playboy | Love | Piano

Awards:

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 8 wins & 52 nominations

Cast

Matt Damon	...	Tom Ripley
Gwyneth Paltrow	...	Marge Sherwood
Jude Law	...	Dickie Greenleaf
Cate Blanchett	...	Meredith Logue
Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	Freddie Miles
Jack Davenport	...	Peter Smith-Kingsley
James Rebhorn	...	Herbert Greenleaf
Sergio Rubini	...	Inspector Roverini
Philip Baker Hall	...	Alvin MacCarron
Celia Weston	...	Aunt Joan
Fiorello	...	Fausto (as Rosario Fiorello)
Stefania Rocca	...	Silvana
Ivano Marescotti	...	Colonnello Verrecchia
Anna Longhi	...	Signora Buffi
Alessandro Fabrizi	...	Sergeant Baggio

Also Known As:

The Mysterious Yearning Secretive Sad Lonely Troubled Confused Loving Musical Gifted Intelligent Beautiful Tender Sensitive Haunted Passionate Talented Mr. Ripley (USA) (complete title)
The Strange Mr. Ripley (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, language and brief nudity.

Runtime:

139 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M (video rating) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Alberta) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | Canada:14+ (Ontario - 2006) | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Singapore:NC-16 (re-rating) | Singapore:PG (cut) | Philippines:PG-13 | Brazil:14 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Chile:18 | Czech Republic:15 | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-14 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:M | Norway:15 | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Anzio, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Miramax International

Trivia:

Is based on the novel of the same name by Patricia Highsmith. There are an additional four novels which follow "The Talented Mr. Ripley", they are "Ripley Underground", "Ripley's Game", "The Boy Who Followed Ripley", and "Ripley Under Water".

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When they are all out to sea Marge comes out of the water and walks to Tom who sits alone on the boat. Water marks are visible on the deck showing evidence of a previous take.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Tom Ripley: If I could just go back... if I could rub everything out... starting with myself.

Movie Connections:

References Peeping Tom (1960)

Soundtrack:

GUAGLIONE

Matt Damon made a good choice in making this film!

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. It can definitely be considered an "intelligent" thriller. And I think that Matt Damon made a good choice choosing this role. He gets to explore the darker side of a character, a change for him, and he does so very well! On the outside he appears so wholesome and harmless but if you watch his eyes, they can give you a chill. And I must say that Jude Law, an actor I had not seen much of before I saw this film, also gave a great performance. He has great charm and you can almost understand why "Mr. Ripley" would go to such great lengths to possess his life. Damon did a good job of conveying how desperate he was to be someone with a life worth coveting. Don't be put off by how long it is, it is worth the watch.