By Mr. Will Wong
One of this year’s most pleasant surprises is RIPLEY. Based both on the 1955 Patricia Highsmith novel and 1999 film THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY of the same name, this eight-episode Limited Series is created, written and directed by Steven Zaillian (Schindler’s List).
We meet enigmatic con man Tom Ripley (played by Andrew Scott), who is hired by Dickie Greenleaf‘s (Johnny Flynn) father to comvince him to come home to America. Dickie is in Italy with his author girlfriend Margie Sherwood (Dakota Fanning), living a lavish lifestyle which Tom quickly becomes obsessed with. Tom befriends Dickie and things take a turn for the uncomfortable with Tom exhibiting some concerning behaviour, and sensing Dickie’s growing distance, Tom is left to his own devices to preserve what could be a new luxurious life for him. He gets caught a deadly trail of destruction, taking on Dickie‘s identity as an estranged Margie and an investigation circling close.to home, threatening to expose Tom.
I came in not expecting a lot of RIPLEY but quickly found myself deeply enthralled, unable to stop watching. Yes, I saw the 1999 film on which this series is based and was aware how that ended, but still was hopelessly invested, wondering what twists this latest incarnation would take.
Cinematographer Robert Elswitt (There Will Be Blood, King Richard) films in black and white, capturing Italy of an era past as if we were there in the ’50s. Locations are opulent and grand and set design and costumes are styled immaculately, just like the squeaky clean appearances that Tom looks to keep.
Andrew Scott, who also serves as Executive Producer, has the challenging task of taking a character who on paper is disagreeable, yet we find ourselves rooting for him not to be caught. Scott measures his performance with great precision and mastery, teetering between feigning ignorance – everybody and the cat knows he’s guilty – and being softly sinister. An undisputed star.
We came to be entertained and that we were, having a bit of fun in all the suspense. Zaillian masters the art of creating a sense that everything could go horribly wrong at every turn.
RIPLEY arrives April 5, 2024 only on Netflix.
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