The Talented Mr. Ripley 1999
A lot of Oscar buzz on this one, but I think mostly for Matt Damon. And, unfortunately, I think it’s because Matt Damon chose a role where he has homosexual leanings, which seems to always be good for an Oscar nod (if the actor is hetero anyway). I really didn’t care much for Mr. Ripley or Damon’s portrayal of him. For the most part Ripley is an imposter and so Damon plays him as always uncomfortable in his own skin. But this just makes Damon look like he’s not doing a very good job of acting. Frankly I just don’t see this as his kind of role. I liked him better in Good Will Hunting and even Rounders. Here he just isn’t slick enough. And I think that’s part of the problem: what’s the point of this movie? To show the idle rich at play a la Gatsby? That’s what it seems to be for the first hour (which seems like two). A murder mystery? No. The tale of a wicked man? Not really that either. Ripley just sort of stumbles through the plot and always seems to just barely get away with stuff, so it’s not like he’s calling the shots.
Overall the movie was very unsatisfying and though most of the other performances were good, there just isn’t much to redeem the film. I don’t mind if a movie isn’t entertaining in the classic sense if it has some kind of good message, but there really isn’t a message.
I guess it’s just too ambiguous for me. C+
Written: 16 Jan 2000