Luke
stu-kicks
CibbuanoThe Talented Mr. Ripley
December 22nd 2006 10:30
I didn't think this film would interest me enough, but I watched it anyway, cause when you're unemployed what else are you gonna do?
This is a film about identity. The Mr. Ripley of the title (Damon) is a nobody who happens upon a chance to gain a higher lifestyle. Soon enough, he finds himself in Europe, basking in the Italian sun and befriending some socialites. But when it seems that he will have to give up what he has gained he decides to take control; his actions leading to an ever-growing web of deceit and pain.
This is a good film. It takes a while to warm up but the set up is important. I wasn't sure where it was leading me at first, the structure seemed to suggest that the film would end a certain way. It was at the halfway mark that I (and Mr. Ripley) finally knew where things really stood. The first half leads up to a turning point in the protagonist's journey, and the second half is where the film truly gets interesting. As you may have guessed by now, it's hard for me to talk about without spoiling it, so I'll just leave it at that.
Matt Damon is good as Ripley, better than I expected actually - playing a role that is almost a polar opposite of his Will Hunting character. Jude Law is excellent as Dickie, and it's nice to see Cate Blanchett and Phillip Seymour Hoffman involved too. The setting (1950s Italy) is as much a character as anything else, and makes for superb cinematography. My only gripe is that the ending could've been more final and that the film flounders a bit in it's (albeit necessarily) slow beginning. As I said though, this is a good film, and there's a great darkness that seeps in towards the end.
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Comment by Homer Joyce
I love this film. For many reasons. Including it's slow set up.
You're a great analyst of screen culture. Anyone who doesn't give too much away about a film ... cuts the mustrard with me ...
When you write about slow set ups and not giving too much away, my sick, depraved mind thinks of what foreplay is like ...
Not giving too much away = having your breasts covered ... but not hiding the shape of them (or the nipples when women see me ... *** I really have to stop this shit about how good I am, when I think the complete opposite ... but I do enjoy a good old-fashioned piss-take on myself ... I grew up playing footy ... so I guess I grew accustomed to having the piss taken out of me (not men drinking my urine in the footy change sheds ...
Slow setups = a woman slowly revealing both her interior and exterior beauty to you ... Not flashing her tits like some Hollywood slut (in the first scene ... ) I never watch those films.
In their entirety.
I'm too busy whacking off during the set up.
I want to whack off during the climax. Or at the death point. Or midpoint.
Fuck ... you get it ... I'll stop raving and rambling and rollicking ..
Foreplay is slow.
So
Delight
fully
slow
I love foreign films. For their unpredictability. And cinematic pace = slow.
I fucking loved this film. Mr Ripley really should have been titled 'The Untalented Mr Homer' ... (sorry, been reading too many of katyzzz's posts ... she's subliminally paint-messaging me ... I just want to see my own name on Orble ... I have to get those fluorescent colours out of my head ...
I want to see 'my' name on Orble.
Less.
I so wish I had a copy of that film right now. I would watch it ... I think it's great cinema ...
Oh, and by the way ... I'm posting on your post because ... regardless of all the shit I posted on yours ... you had the courage to post on mine ...
I've tried to fuck everyone off from mine ... It nearly worked ...
but there are some great personalities on Orble ... they see through all my bullshit ...
Your're one of them ...
I apologise for all the private schoolboy shit I posted ...
I have tried to make my frustration with life out on my penis ...
It nearly worked ...
I need a woman to give it a decent working over ...
A real woman ...
One who can teach me how to write unedited (like now) ... and just hope to hell I don't offend anyone with all of my dribbly shit ...
I really need a good old fashioned good root. (that's why I used old fashioned words like 'root') ...
In a woman's 'box'.
Anyway, I'll be back when I finish whacking off (again) ...
Homer ...
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Sumptuos cinematography, well paced script and controlled direction. The performances too were better than I expected. (Even Matt Damon)
Personally I do think The sequel, Ripley's Game starring John Malkovich was even more cinematic and enjoyable.
Also love Wim Wenders My American Friend which is the same story starring Denns Hopper. (This one is my favourite)