The Talented Mr. Ripley
Before I watched this movie, all I knew was that 1) People seem to like it 2) Jude Law is in it and 3) It’s directed by Anthon Minghella. From the title and cover, I was expecting this to be a substantial yet relatively funny and light-heated film. Oh man was I wrong, except for the substantial part.
I don’t want to tell you the genre of the film, as this is seriously a movie that is best if you go in without knowing anything about it. There were a lot of unpredictable twists and turns, which I really, really loved, and a great cast of colourful and memorable characters (except for one or two…). My favourite were Jude Law and Cate Blanchett characters.
Oh man, Jude Law…he was so naturally charismatic and charming in this movie that it was the absolute perfect fit. He seriously stole every scene he was in, at least for me. I would like to nominate him for being The Best Jude Law On Earth. GJ to the movie for turning me into his fan nao. Finally, an actor who’s not ONLY a nice-looking face lolol. I should also mention that Law does a SUPER SUPER good American accent, and I could hear no trace of his normally heavy British accent. I loved hearing him talk in this movie because I kept looking for Britishness but found only Americaness! Top notch!!!
Cate Blanchett was my second favourite because even though she didn’t appear as often as the other actors, she was still really unique and memorable. Her mannerisms and speech patters are so in sync with her character it’s crazy, and it’s not implausibly repetitive either. She doesn’t use any stupid catchphrases to make her character’s lines stand out, and makes it distinctly her own by using only the drawl of her own voice. So masterful I died. I want to see more of her now!
Another notable character was Jack Davenport’s part. He really made an impression on me because his voice is so sufficiently deep and great that it melts about everything. I wish he would keep talking and talking!
Matt Damon, who plays the protagonist of this movie, was a little too subdued in my opinion, and even though I know his character is intentionally trying to hide his agony/pain/etc, he just seems so boring and unpassionate that I really wish the other characters would appear already. I also understood that this high degree of calm and stability of his speech and manners were to enhance the fact that he is kind of creepy and unyielding, but god, I just kept wishing Jude Law would come onto the screen again weep.
I also didn’t like Gwyneth Paltrow’s character either. She wasn’t pretty, charismatic, or unique. She was so normal, and I’m pretty sure that she could do so much better! I liked the scene where she broke down and accused someone, though.
All in all, a pretty unpredictable and creepy movie that is really captivating and thought-provoking. Also, oh my god that ending. 82/100
