The Talented Mr. Ripley

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.

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.

While the movie is well made and has an interesting plot, it is extremely violent and disturbing. I watched this in 11th grade for school (around 16/17 years old) and it has profoundly disturbed me since. There are a total of 3(?) murders in the film, two of which I found incredibly graphic as the victims had been bludgeoned to death with an oar (1) and a bust (2). The 3rd murder you see much less of and was strangulation, however, the sound is equally disturbing. The first murder also includes an aftermath of Ripley cuddling and nuzzling into his victims dead body of which they are in a boat surrounded by bloody water.

If you want a positive gay movie, this isn’t it. Extremely depressing. Made me feel down for days. It does have gay representation, but it shows that he is never able to find love. Overall, 18+.

This movie is high quality with an engaging plot, good acting, and beautiful cinematography. However it is too disturbing for kids. I snuck into this when I was 15 thinking it was a romantic drama, and was upset by the graphic murder scenes. I watched it again as an adult and while I appreciated the story more, the violence was still jarring. You are looking at a beautiful setting on the Italian Riviera and then someone's head gets splattered. Take the R seriously.

This movie really is a masterpiece, it gets everything right. The cast is full of of A-list actors, and the acting from each member of the cast is fantastic. The performances are a key factor in this movie, it requires spot on performances from Damon, Paltrow, law, and Blanchett. Also, the writing is absolutely essential, and it delivers on that front. This movie will have you on the edge of your seat and will leave you with a feeling of wow! I recommend this for teens ages 15 and older. There's one scene of strong violence, male nudity, and some strong language.

Rating:R for gory violence and fights and a lot of sexuality+language.

I read in the 10 Commandments that you shouldn't lie or murder. Life's pretty hard for Tom, eh? But, he's a great piano player.