It follows the adventures of the slightly unhinged grifter Tom Ripley, based on Patricia Highsmith’s books about her anti-hero. This story comes from The Talented Mr Ripley.

Tom Ripley is played by Andrew Scott

First Impression

It is an arthouse representation of the Ripley books. It is filmed in black and white and relies on Ripley’s general behaviour and unsaid emotions to make the film work. Ripley is generally very placid, almost to the point of being scary.

The watcher’s instinct is correct. Though Tom is a man of good taste and manages to live the high life he is a psychopath and will do anything to achieve his goals.

You soon realise he is not normal. His body language and general ‘weirdness’ fill the film, which would have previously overstated Ripley’s personality had it been in colour.

Brief plot Synopsis with minimal spoilers

Ripley is travelling around Italy and is invited to stay in the Italian countryside with Dickie Greenleaf, a kindly, slightly trusting member of the ‘American Aristocracy’.

Ripley is jealous of his host and wants to be him. The story moves on gradually from there.

What do I think?

It starts slowly, but by about the fourth episode, you are hooked. Will Tom Ripley manage to escape from the traps and dangers he has set for himself to be Dickie Greenleaf or a similarly cultured individual?

To be witness to his endeavours is fascinating, but Ripley is not a fool, and he is also enterprising

9/10

I don’t know whether this is relevant, but apparently Patricia Highsmith, the author of the Ripley series, was a complete cow. Whether this was life represented in fiction is for you to decide.

Just a snippet of gossip from a relative who worked in publishing. Was Ripley’s personality based on Highsmith’s own? I am not saying that Highsmith was a psychopathic killer or anything, but still.

Tom Ripley is played by Andrew Scott and I think he does a wonderful job

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