With The Talented Mr Ripley, Anthony Minghella gives us a superb adaption of Patricia Highsmith's novel of the same name. It tells the story of a young con artist, who almost accidentally appears to evolve into the role of a serial killer whilst in pursuit of a hedonistic lifestyle, who, with a combination of intelligence, cunning and a unique skill set, always seems able to evade justice.

Minghella is extremely clever in the manner in which he constructs his narrative. The first hour of the film almost plays out like some boys own gap year romantic adventure set on the sun-dappled shores of the late 1950's Italian coastline. Matt Damon is the ideal young protagonist, with Minghella highlighting what is almost (but not quite) the innocent boyishness of his title character, as he takes his first uncertain, but enthusiastic steps, in pursuit of La Dolce Vitta.

The movie is a triumph of casting. Besides Damon, Jude Law features in a star-making turn as Dickie Greenleaf, a character he succeeds in both making alluring and somewhat repellent, thus ultimately becoming the ideal lamb to be led to perhaps what is an unplanned slaughter. Gwyneth Paltrow has both the looks and talent to give us a multi-dimensional Marge, who we see convincingly becoming more confused and confounded by her "Dickie's" apparent behaviour, as the story continues to unfold. Phillip Seymour Hoffman in a smaller, but crucial supporting role, is perfect as the very much self-absorbed Freddie Miles, an old compatriot of Dickie's and a rival for Ripley, of Dickie's attention.

The thriller elements of the story are ratcheted up in the movie's second half as Ripley's darker motivations become more predominant and his actions become more challenged by the intercessions of characters such as the aforementioned Freddie, attractive socialite Meredith (Cate Blanchette),Marge's lawyer friend Peter Smith-Kingsley (Jack Davenport),the Italian police and an American private detective. The twists and turns resulting from Ripley's increasingly devious actions are both enormously suspenseful, but pleasingly realistic, given the skills we see him develop as well as the connections we see him establish.

Anthony Minghella's adaption of Highsmith's book is, in my opinion, an example of an extremely sophisticated, cinematic enhancement of the original literary work. Tom Ripley is introduced as a fascinating anti-hero. It just seems somewhat odd in this era of franchise brands, that unlike a similar character such as Hannibal Lector, no other well-known directors have gone on to successfully continue his complex, yet beguiling story.

Patricia Highsmith's original novel is about a charming, amoral man who already has all the elements in place before he does his terrible deeds, and while Rene Clement's adaptation, PURPLE NOON(1960) doesn't show us Ripley before he came to Europe, Alain Delon certainly was all amoral charm. In his adaptation, Anthony Minghella takes on a different tack, showing us Tom Ripley before he became the Talented Mr. Ripley(just as last year's ELIZABETH showed Elizabeth before she became The Virgin Queen; by coincidence, both films star Cate Blanchett). When a filmmaker tries to add psychological depth to what is generally pulp entertainment, it doesn't always work, but Minghella has pulled it off, while keeping it entertaining.

There have been some people who think Matt Damon is too colorless here. In Clement's adaptation, that might have been true, but the point here is Ripley is SUPPOSED to be a nonentity, a blank page waiting to be filled(thus lines like "I always figured it would be better to be a fake somebody than a real nobody," or when Dickie Greenleaf(Jude Law) tells Ripley that with his glasses on, he looks like Clark Kent) by someone like Dickie. Ripley may have been pretending from day one(which is how he gets to meet Dickie in the first place),but there was nothing sinister about it, just a bunch of little white lies. It's not till he gets entranced by the life in Italy, and Dickie's life in particular, and then finds himself shut from it, that things happen. And Damon is excellent at going through the transformation(and it's not just the glasses, as one comment suggested, it's the hair, the clothes, and the whole attitude).

Anthony Lane of The New Yorker, probably my favorite critic today, liked the film, but he thought it would have been better if Damon and Law had switched roles. Again, if Minghella was remaking Clement's version, sure, but not this way. If you want someone to be an object of desire, you better make sure they're desirable, and Law is quite good there, along with showing the layers underneath. Gwyneth Paltrow has the tougher role, because she has to be both smart and able to be fooled, but she pulls it off, especially in the scene when she tells Tom she really knows what he is. Cate Blanchett and Philip Seymour Hoffman are also good in small roles, James Rebhorn is dependable, and Philip Baker Hall makes a memorable cameo.

One more thing; there have also been complaints that the first half is too long, and the ending is weak. The first half not only sets up Ripley's slowly falling in love with Dickie's life(and even Dickie),but also sets up some plot points which pay off later, so it's necessary. And when Ripley finally becomes The Talented Mr. Ripley, it's unsettling and still delivers a perverse kick. As for the ending, without giving anything away, it's the only way it could end; he goes on, but at what cost? This is terrific moviemaking.

Yes The Talented Mr Ripley is slow at times, but to me it is always absorbing and very rarely boring. The scenery is simply dazzling and really quite exotic, and the costumes and cinematography are gorgeous too. The music is superb, as is Anthony Minghella's direction. The story is very compelling with a number of interesting and well-handled scenes, while the script is both intelligent and thoughtful. The acting is excellent, Matt Damon does wonderfully in a difficult and perhaps controversial role, and Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett and Phillip Seymour Hoffmann are equally terrific. Overall, quite an excellent film. 8/10 Bethany Cox