Parents' Guide to

The Talented Mr. Ripley

By Carly Kocurek, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Full of murder and deceit; too violent for kids.

Movie R 1999 139 minutes
The Talented Mr. Ripley Poster Image

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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 16+

Based on 9 parent reviews

jcmcdowell
jcmcdowell Adult
May 14, 2023
age 17+

Eerie, but interesting.

I have seen this movie twice, and it is a very well put together story. It is only a little over 2 hours, but it seems longer because there is so much going on. Tom Ripley is played by Matt Damon, and he is sent to Italy to find a man named Dickie. He was sent by Dickie’s father to bring Dickie back to New York, but everything gradually goes out of control when Ripley gets used to the luxury of Italy that Dickie is living. It gets to the point where he’s willing to kill to keep his life in Italy. He gets into big fights and there is a lot of murder, all of which is very dark. The first part is not that dark, but it is the second part when the murder comes in and it is highly disturbing to many viewers. Ripley does not kill random people, though. He only kills the people who may know something without hesitation and will be able to connect the dots to declare him the culprit. All of the murders are on-screen, except for one, which is off-screen, but the sound of it is heard, which may make it the most disturbing one of all. There is a lot of sex, affairs, and a little bit of swearing, including “f--k”, and there is some drinking. Overall, though, it is eerie, but interesting.

This title has:

Great messages
Too much violence
Too much sex
AJP58
AJP58 Adult
July 6, 2022
age 18+

Brilliant but highly disturbing

Incredibly intriguing, chilling film about a man who falls in love with, then eventually steals the identity of another man. Matt Damon is stellar as Tom Ripley, he will genuinely creep you out. One of the more disturbing films I’ve seen, there are brutal murders that are made much more unsettling because of how intimate the characters are. It’s a very uncomfortable and tense watch, but it’s worth looking at to see Damon’s performance as a true sociopath. It’s one that really sticks with you. Most definitely an adult film though.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
See all 9 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Based on Patricia Highsmith's novel of the same name, THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY tells the story of Tom Ripley (Matt Damon), a nobody New Yorker hired by the wealthy father of Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law) to convince Dickie to quit Europe and return to New York. The errand fails, however, and once Tom finds himself soaking up the luxury that characterizes the lives of Dickie and his expatriate friends, he can't bare to tear himself away. Tom, whose talents include forgery and impersonations, grows obsessed with Dickie and his fiancée Marge (Gwyneth Paltrow). After Tom is dismissed by Dickie as "a bore," Tom's obsession turns him from mildly creepy to downright criminal.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (9):
Kids say (11):

The Talented Mr. Ripley is extremely well-executed at most levels. The cast is exceptional throughout, and Matt Damon proves that he is quite capable of playing a sinister role convincingly. Playing the well-heeled, articulate Marge works well for Paltrow, displaying her usual regal presence.

Perhaps the best part about this movie is its exquisite recreation of 1950s Europe. The soundtrack, featuring original music by Gabriel Yared, is rather intoxicating, as viewers are treated to a smorgasbord of sumptuous scenery. Despite its rather excellent production values, Mr. Ripley tends to feel a bit slow. The plot takes a while to unfold, and viewers trained to watch recent films may find it tedious at times. Younger viewers, in particular, will not likely be appreciative of the plot's complexities and might find themselves squirming in their seats within the first hour.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about issues of truth and fiction. Tom Ripley is in some ways a "self-made man," and while his tactics are unsavory, his effort seems in some ways related to the American ideal of being able to pull yourself up by your bootstraps. Why is Dickie and Marge's life so appealing to Tom? How could he have attained the life he tries to write himself into without lying, cheating, and mudering? What, if anything, do we know about the real Tom Ripley?

Movie Details

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