The cat being the only witness, the sound of the detective's notebook everytime he opened it, the amount of compliments Tom's pen got - small details, but it is was I enjoyed most in this version. Yes, here we were the silent observers like the cat, making notes on Tom's every calculated move because the camera made sure we noticed and the beauty of the way he handled every situation!
@@3DSteezyOFFICIAL Yes, I thought the innate nobility and hauteur of the cat's gaze and bearing (ok, I'm anthropomorphising him, but bear with me) contrasted brilliantly with the shifty goings-on of most of the humans in this story. It highlighted something I always value in animals: their complete honesty.
@@bonnacon1610The Cat alone was brilliant. He/She saw so much action with Tom, saw what a sick liar he is but couldn't speak about what he saw. Also remember Alfred Hitchcock did Strangers On A Train was also based on The Patricia Highsmith Novel of the same name.😊
Watching Tom take the cab back and forth to deal with Freddie's body was both exhausting and exhilarating. I honestly don't remember the last time any piece of media did this to me
Andrew Scott was perfect as Ripley. Amazing performance. His face is so expressive. Do not even need words to feel the character. The photography is spell binding. The beauty of the Italian town that is crumbling but still beautiful as it crumbles.
I went back and tried to watch "The Talented....." movie that I thought was so great at the time. It fails to come close to this interpretation. It is unwatchable, in fact.
Argue all you want. It was unwatchable. The remake was boring and I am not blown away by the cinematography; I want a great script and acting. Too much tedious detail that is not inviting but off-putting in boring details. Oh I forgot to keep in mind the cinematography that is just so important. You care about Matt Damon not this guy or the others. Compare Dickie's charm in the movie to the Series. The worst you can say is the movies was too glib but Ripley could have used more of that that. Stair scenes add something but too much .. little payoff.
Looked up Zaillian movies and now I know I just don't like him . None of his movies were all that engaging. He's made a lot of big movies with two much excruciating details. Having no music is another poor choice here - then find music that won't lead us rather than bore us with small sound effects. In this movie, easy-dropping and waiting, stall the film.
Ripley was SLOOOOW. But even as someone that 2x speed listens to all youtube videos I NEVER found myself impatient. The speed, in fact, felt extremely refreshing.
The movie was so much better. This has too much detail and is slow but not in a good way, and one likes Matt Damon Ripley so much more than this actor.
@@Garvin285 Did you think the movie was over-the-top or silly? Over the years I have watched it 5 times and I was always totally absorbed. I see that the series did better in ratings han the movie (movie received a 85% on rotten tomato), but I am in total disbelief reading about the love of the series.
@@oppothumbs1 Compared to the series? Yes definitely The series are an indisputable art piece that creates the whole structure and goes into details with subleties, acting and camera work. It's a work of light, time, color (or the lack of it), sound and even language. The movie pales in comparison and while it isn't bad per se, it simply isn't much of any of that. I get the nostalgia but I find it insane to truly believe the movie is a better work of cinematography unless you really just get a headache or are bored with any more ambitious art. Every scene in this series is a good scene, many of them... are great. And with how the cinema in general was last few years, it's really nice to finally (meaning mostly year 2023/2024) see a refreshment. And yes it's slow and have much details because that's exactly how... with good eye and imagination you can create a masterpiece. Infantile art needs to be "mad" "outrageous" or dirty... ambitious art needs to be clean, raw and pedantic at times some films can safely be both but just a story alone doesn't make a good movie and isn't even close to making a great one. Just making the plot interesting is also mediocricity, there is much more to cinema than it is to a book and this series feels like a set of finely captured photos with a smoke of an expensive cigar, a fine drink at a fitting weather outside and a perfectly matched record on a vinyl player. And it shows much more than just the plot... it's an insight into a whole world of it's own. I could eat it with a spoon everynight and by season three I'd probably know some italian, but it's good it ended here and there, because otherwise it wouldn't be so good.
@@Garvin285 OK thanks. My feeling is the delightful witty banter is so much better in the movie. Maybe it's less realistic in that sense; plus I like the faster pace which may have sacrificed detail and realism but the lines are all so compelling and witty; I was very entertained and amused. The charming personalities throughout are all likeable even if evil. Matt, Jude, Philip, Gwyneth, Cate and Jude's dad are people you care about and with well-rounded personalities and flaws. So many unforgettable scenes are in the movie, including the boat party with all the tension and Freddie Miles taunting Tommy with "How's the Peeping Tommy? tommy tommy tommy". Freddie's intro scene, Dickie and Tom tub scene. Im the movie you slowly see Tom's evil but you know it from the start in the video. Tom and Marge and Dickie are pretty bland in the series but playful and engaging in the movie. The movie's music score is great.
@@alikhalil2863 For me, given that the while movie felt like an art piece, every shot so beautiful in a classic way, those droplets were like wake up to reality. Murder is ugly, there's nothing dreamy or artistic about it. IDk if I manage to get my point across. But that red pulled me out of the depth of the story, made it striking how this act interrupts harmony and beauty.
"To incriminate the viewer." That is an excellent description of a key element of this story. I think that incriminating the reader is one of the most important elements of Highsmith's novel. This is just one of the critical elements of this excellent novel that Zaillian got so right.
I firmly believe that all the criticism this adaptation got is from the people who wrongly understood that this is a remake of the 1999 film, when in reality it is yet another adaptation of a novel.
@@umbertoaguiar This show is yet another adaptation of a book, the same way all the previous movies were. The 1999 took A LOT of liberties in crafting characters and stories that are very different and sometimes not even part of the original book. This show follows the book plot more closely but chose to make the characters older and that entails changes, too. Also, literally all the criticism I saw as soon as it came out was about how this negatively compares to the 1999 movie, even in published film reviews. So no, I am not mistaken. You are free to your opinion, though.
@@umbertoaguiar You chose to not accept my comment from a few weeks ago (when most of the criticism I saw was about comparing this to the TTMR film) and argue with it. All adaptations differ from the original source, the 1999 film is widely different, much more so than this. You think the actors were miscast, fine, your prerrogative, but YOU sought to fight in my comment, YOU are the one not accepting other views. Also, personages is not a word. Have a good day.
as an italian, watching the series in original language, i must add the perfection of the dialogues spoken in italian by the various characters (both italians and americans)
This version was brilliant! Entire episodes dedicated to single murders.... Slow, exhausting and frustrating. Gave a lot of emphasis on the "why" of Ripley. Loved it.
I loved it so much!!! And shot so beautifully it hurt!!! Completely different than I expected. I'm so glad you showcased it!!! And Andrew Scott killed it, pun intended.
I read Patricia Highsmith’s Talented Mr Ripley recently and these clips are brilliant visualisations of her scenes. This is not a remake. This looks like an excellent adaptation of the book as if the Matt Damon and John Malkovitch films didn’t exist or were disregarded completely.
It grabbed me from the first few frames. The b&w presentation was amazing! Every scene was carefully planned and lit, and the varying perspectives took my breath away. Best thing I've seen in ages.
This version is masterful. The actors are SO GOOD. You can see they know more than theyre saying to each other in the performances. I loved every second of it
Watching this has caused me to not only read all the novels but also watch all the Ripley related movies. This series is the best adaptation of any of the Highsmith stories
I agree. Ripley is my new all-time favorite series. Truly a masterpiece. Love the stunning B&W visuals. The suspense and dark, detailed unfolding of the story were masterful. I was totally engaged with the story from the opening sequence through to the last. This should go down in movie history as the pinnacle murder mystery cinema.
The method of storytelling reminded me of Breaking Bad. It focused a lot on ‘process’. I remember how Walt and Jesse were confronted with ‘body disposal’ problems.
Nicely observed. On a pedantic level, the series isn't a "remake" of the Mingella film, but another adaptation of the novel, but it does bring up questions I had after watching it. Are the dissimilar plot points in "Talented" a screenwriter creation, or do some of those events take place in subsequent entries of the book series? It's not like scripts won't make major changes, but if the ending is a Hollywood creation - showing him as a character capable of falling in love right on the heels of his murders - that's a pretty major departure from the impenetrable cold-as-ice sociopath we watched in Ripley. I searched, but couldn't find anyone commenting on the changes one way or the other. Talented is a tragedy of hubris. Ripley is a straight, chilling character study.
To my knowledge, in the novels Ripley never overtly expresses any kind of queer identity or affection for Dickie - but this is Patricia Highsmith we're talking about so it's safe to assume the subtext is there. I think the two Ripleys of the movie and miniseries respectively represent ends of a spectrum - Damon's Ripley being impulsive, emotional, and chaotic, whereas Scott's Ripley is devoid of feelings except those of resentment and envy, and filled instead with machinations. Personally I find the choice to age him up and make him more canny and world-weary is extremely evocative of our current times, whereas in the Minghella film it's very representative of the much different attitude that pervaded the 90s.
Minghella actually changed a lot from the book. Peter Smith-Kingsley is mentioned once or twice in the book as a friend Tom makes in Venice but nothing past that. Meredith Logue just straight up isn’t in the book from my memory. Also the person who commented above that queer desire isn’t apparent in the book isn’t quite right. Tom out and out claims to like men and women to his New York friends: “I can’t make up my mind whether I like men or women, so I’m thinking of giving them both up”. This claim is backed up by the very apparent lust he has for Dickie, which we see even after he’s decided to kill him on the boat, “he could have hit Dickie, sprung on him, or kissed him”. He also has a wife in the later books who he is also sexually attracted to, although arguably not in love with her
I would also like to say that Minghella’s Ripley is not the exact same character as the books and does not intend to be. I’ve seen quotes from Minghella saying that he wanted to create a more sympathetic character than the one Patricia Highsmith wrote, and that changes a lot the character intentions, for better or for worse (better in my opinion). Tom isn’t explicitly shown to be a criminal/scammer at the start of the movie, he’s just quite a talented and skilled liar. He is a lot less of a cold blooded killer too, as the situation with Dickie is more of a crime of passion. I would argue Minghellas version absolutely had the capacity to love- both Dickie and Peter- while Highsmith’s and the 2024 Ripley do not
@@dorkbaitart I found Scott's Ripley very expressive for the fact that he was trying to cover himself from the crime of murder by appearing so distant & calm & measured. He was a puzzle that the police could not completely finish.
I agree this version of Ripley is a masterpiece. Your description of its excellence is great. I would mention Ripley's fascination with the art of Caravaggio as a highlight.caravaggio was also a murderer. You di😅dnt mention the soundtrack which is superb .The use of popular Italian ballads of the 50' In particular the scene in the patio where the female singer walked down the steps towards the waiting audience She sang so evocatively, phrasing perfect,dressed elegantly in 50's fashion. She was.an actress miming a once famous italian singer which probably went unnoticed .It was such an exquisite scene,so superior to the loud frenzy of the jazz club in the earlier Ripley with Law and Damon.
It shows just how damn difficult getting rid of evidence can be...two people can keep a secret if one is dead. The intensity, the adrenaline, the psychological strain, all of it.
Thank you, finally someone who loved this show as much as I did. All the other reviewers called it “boring”, hated so many details and frankly did not understand this masterpiece at all.
Dead-on commentary/analysis, as usual, and couldn't agree more -- it's quite the most evocative and authentic feeling takedown of Patricia Highsmith we've seen to date, and certainly the most intriguing television show of 2024 thus far. Engrossing, unnerving, and enveloping. Thanks ever so much.
The actor who plays Miles is even more icky than Ripley! He/she looks downright freakish as opposed to Hoffman who played him in 'The talented Mr. Ripley' .
Excellent observations. I was so blown away by this show, don't review shows/movies on my channel but did for this one. This might be the best neo-noir I've ever seen. Masterclass and one of the best remakes ever (your words)... couldn't agree more.
I don’t usually comment on videos but you have done such a good job on analyzing each detail and putting into words the significance of each scene that I just had to commend you! I immediately liked and subscribe!
Excellent review. Ripley is gripping television. My only point of difference is your use of the term “Gothic architecture”. Very little Gothic architecture is seen in this series. There is a predominance of ancient Roman, medieval, Renaissance and later centuries, all of which help to make Italy a historian’s dream to visit.
So glad you made this. I was trying to tell people how good this was after seeing it, because I was so surprised. The cinematography in black-and-white is just perfect. The acting is amazing and the series does not rush, which is so refreshing. Brilliant, and better than the film.
My significant other and I watched this, and we were obsessed. We've loved familiar dramas like Six Feet Under or True detective, severance, but after watching The Lighthouse, i was excited to watch something in black and white that captured acting and storytelling beautifully - and this was it.
When he has the discipline not to have a drink, and instead goes all the way back to the Via Appia to finish the business, you know, if you didn’t already, what a masterpiece this is. The part where the motorboat careens round and round with its horrible cargo quasi-animated by the motion grows out of that scene in “Psycho” when it looks as if Marion’s car won’t sink.
I can only compare the two movies, the first one starring Alain Delon (same story) called "Purple Noon" ("Plein Soleil" in French) and the famous one starring Jude Law and Matt Damon. They have many points of intersection (being both of them the very same story) and yet they couldn't be more different. Some characters brought to life in The Talented Mr. Ripley simply can't be found in Purple Noon. But what really makes Purple Noon's atmosphere unique is the presence of Delon, the whole nostalgia of French Nouvelle Vague (it is more of a tribute to the Nouvelle Vague) and the shocking final scene, much better than the open epilogue of The Talented Mr. Ripley, in my humble opinion.
I loved this show so much that immediately after I started reading the book. And it's amazing how the book is even more dense. I think the show is still more gritty and dark, but both work in their own way/midia. In the book we are 100% inside Ripley's head, whereas in the show we only see his thoughts through his eyes (AMAZING performance by Andrew btw).
Very nice video, i felt everything you described while watching the show as soon as it was released…also, while digging up info, i found out there is an even older adaptation of the book, making that the original one, in the form of the french movie Purple Noon, can’t wait to watch that one as well! 🤗
I've been obsessed since watching the show and have sought many reviews such as this. And as much as I thought I could learn thing nothing new you threw in a few great observations. Your focus on the lift was great.
If you liked the documentary aspect, I would recommend "C'est arrivé près de chez vous". It's a french movie that depicts a documentary about a serial killer
I agree with you. As I was watching the first time, I was just hoping that it was good old Ripley, like the one with Matt Damon. It took me a little while to become really sure and just enjoy the ride until the end. Every murder scene and every details. I have rewatched it just a couple of days after and I think I was just smiling throughout the 8 episodes. Since that, every time I think about it, I google to see if the second season is on!
Thanks - such good insights to an amazing movie. I realize now that the lack of insistent music, so common these days, adds enormously to the experience of Ripley.
It is not a remake, it is an adaptation of the novel. It is faithful to the novel but not slavishly. However, the dealing with the body emphasis is there and part of what makes the book so good. The second in the book series, Ripley Underground, turns this up further. Patricia Smith imbues these scenes with a black humor while also giving great insight into Ripley. Tom's thinking is horrifying, hilarious and fascinating-I find the books oddly relaxing, something about viewing the world through Tom''s eyes. Maybe because his world view is simple, because he is, when all is said and done, a sociopath. The movie is a terrible adaptation of the novel as is Purple Noon (the earlier French adaption), both films simplify the character of Ripley in different ways.
The pacing of the show is perfect. I didn't know this was a remake of an existing story. The fact that I can't fathom how the story squeezed into a 2h19m film says a lot about Zaillian's version.
I just watched The Talented Mr. Ripley, because I was trying to watch Good Will Hunting but it wasn't on Netflix I was like "you know.. I always scroll past this movie, might as well watch it. Seems like it's probably similar to Good Will Hunting anyways" 😭
As someone who loves the book by Patricia Highsmith, which to me is as perfect as a novel can get, I was disappointed when I saw the 95 movie adaptation. It isn't a bad movie. And I suspect that audiences at that time wouldn't be willing to engage with such an anti-hero, which is different to the modern day audience in a post Soprano/Breaking Bad/Dexter era. So I am so happy that we now have a tv-series that is more faithful to its source material, which I think contributes to the shows greatness.
Not to harp on a small point, but this isn't a remake of either of the two existing films, it's the first full series adaptation of the novel. Am I crazy for thinking that's an important distinction? Like, with that logic the 1999 film is a remake of Purple Noon.
As someone who read the books many years ago. And has seen TTMR multiple times. I’m a little shocked I didn’t know about this series. Thanks for the heads up.
May have to renew my subscription for this one. Just from the first few minutes of this video, it reminded me of Reed, Antonioni, Resnais, and Hitchcock. And a little bit of Greenaway. This is the kind of filmmaking I fell in love with.
After watching this, the question should be why do filmmakers make films in color. Props to digital technology to capture so many shades of grey 😅. Watch it on a good OLED TV.
Small point, but it's bothering me. "Ripley" is not a remake. It's an adaptation of a book/books. The books are brilliant and more credit should be given to Patricia Highsmith. There's a reason why this show was so good, and part of that credit lies with the complexity and viewpoint of the books. In my opinion, this show really captured the essence of the book. We become very aware we are rooting for the "bad guy". Maybe we are too. Or maybe things are always much more complex than just good and bad. (obviously, but it's captured so well ...) There's nothing more interesting to me than the mundane in the dramatic. This series really surprised me.
I totally agree, on all points ! It is not a remake. And also , it was the brilliance of P. Highsmith who first created it all for us to enjoy, in all its variations. I read "The Talented Mr. Ripley" while laid up with a broken ankle at home in a small village in Wales. My fiancee got books from the library for me, and fortunately, he chose Mr. R. After that, I read every P.H. book I could get. Going for a re-read after having watched Ripley.
I loved every part of this show…except the scene where the detective interviewed Ripley as himself, after the suspicion was subverted into Dickie. That fake wig was so obvious I burst out laughing, I couldn’ t tell if they were trying to be ironic or not.
It was pretty faithful to the book. I think Highsmith wanted to show what a large role luck played in getting away with a crime. Ripley made some serious blunders but also caught some lucky breaks that allowed him to slip away.
Thoughtful analysis! Thank you. But I'm puzzled by the characterization of this as a remake. It's a translation of the novel to the screen, not a reworking of the Minghella film.
I began Ripley last night and just finished. Wow. What a ride! Everything about Ripley is A+. While the black & white took me out first by the end it was a clear artistic choice and the absence of color became part of the mood. Except one element: the *horribly miscast* Freddy Miles. As one reviewer noted, the desk clerks seemed to have more intention in their casting than the actor who portrayed one of the plot’s driving characters.
@@g.flesch9731 No he didn't make it believable. He is the worst Ripley that ever appeared on screen. He is worse than the cowboy Dennis Hopper. Tom, in both Alain Delon (25) and Matt Damon (29) films is charming, funny, subservient and apparently harmless. They are the kind of young friend that the fun loving, spoiled Richard would like to have around him in a paradisiacal village with a beach. The best way to see how weak and farcical is Scott's interpretation of Ripley is to watch Alain Delon in "Plein Soleil" Patricia Highsmith was asked in a recorded conversation at the British Library why she had decided to write sequels to "The Talented Mr. Ripley" which was originally supposed to be a one off book. She replied ""Maybe, in a curious way, The French film affected me in a positive way because Alain Delon did such a good job … the right age ….One hundred percent correct" But Scott's Ripley is a solitary psychopath right from the beginning. It's very different to the book and two films. He looks miserable and too serious all the time. Who would like to have him around? He looks like one of those serial killers in some Scandinavian noir series. I guess this adoration for the miscast actor is caused by a numbness created by too much viewing of Scandinavian noir and other psychopaths in modern TV. Numbed people need an obvious villain. The Netflix series is so different to the book ( despite many details from the book being present only in the series) and the two better films that I even think it's some sort of plagiarism to call this series "Ripley".
I would say that the 1999 film was the one that was like a Hitchcock. It very much has that location-as-character technicolor '50s glamor thing you get from VERTIGO, TO CATCH A THEIF and MARNEE. The Netflix series is more like '50s Film Noir meets Look Magazine photos. Although, the story itself is something you'd expect Hitchcock to tackle himself.
I could watch it again with no sound, just to admire the quality of the cinematography. Each change of scene was a little masterpiece. Some not so little. (Spoiler alert) My favourite was I think the four cars parked at the scene of Freddie's murder. I want to read the book, to see if Tom was talented. He was inept (sometimes comically) and very lucky in this adaptation. So well written. The scenes around Dickie's ring in Ep.8 were superbly written and constructed. I bet when I watch it again I'll pick up lots of things I missed first time around.
Reddits r/film subreddit says this show is pretentious and too slow-paced which is just amazing to me. They're basically mad it isn't a one to one remake of the movie.
It is much much closer in feel and tone to the novel. Ridley’s deadly pragmatism and awkward distance comes through well, although this version plays down slightly his craft of becoming someone else. The B&W cinematography is gorgeous and effective. It does trade the color which is really intrinsic to actually being in Italy for its stark contrasts, effective framing, and period feel. A stylistic trade and effective.
The cat being the only witness, the sound of the detective's notebook everytime he opened it, the amount of compliments Tom's pen got - small details, but it is was I enjoyed most in this version. Yes, here we were the silent observers like the cat, making notes on Tom's every calculated move because the camera made sure we noticed and the beauty of the way he handled every situation!
the sound of the detective's notebook every time he opened it.
Yes!
And we were part of a cloud of silent witnesses - all those sculptured eyes, faces, painted images looking on, mutely.
I also thought the cat was a nice touch to the story, subtle details that matter
@@3DSteezyOFFICIAL Yes, I thought the innate nobility and hauteur of the cat's gaze and bearing (ok, I'm anthropomorphising him, but bear with me) contrasted brilliantly with the shifty goings-on of most of the humans in this story. It highlighted something I always value in animals: their complete honesty.
@@bonnacon1610The Cat alone was brilliant. He/She saw so much action with Tom, saw what a sick liar he is but couldn't speak about what he saw. Also remember Alfred Hitchcock did Strangers On A Train was also based on The Patricia Highsmith Novel of the same name.😊
Dickie's murder was one of the most disturbing things I've seen on screen. "Tom, help me." Just brutal, and so sad. Perfection.
It made murder look exhausting
My goodness! The moving Freddie’s body down the stairs was painful to watch and hear. 😳
It’s all about upper body strength…I’ve said too much…
@@RH1812 You got any workout tips for the upperbody muscles? Asking for a friend....
If you like this, watch "The house that jack built" by Lars Von Trier. Amazing!
Watching Tom take the cab back and forth to deal with Freddie's body was both exhausting and exhilarating. I honestly don't remember the last time any piece of media did this to me
Andrew Scott was perfect as Ripley. Amazing performance. His face is so expressive. Do not even need words to feel the character.
The photography is spell binding. The beauty of the Italian town that is crumbling but still beautiful as it crumbles.
Expressive like a sociopath who is dispassionate about everything. Not an easy balance to strike
Bloody loved Ripley. Its style, languid story telling, humour. I’d argue it’s not a remake, it’s a new interpretation of the novel
I went back and tried to watch "The Talented....." movie that I thought was so great at the time. It fails to come close to this interpretation. It is unwatchable, in fact.
Argue all you want. It was unwatchable. The remake was boring and I am not blown away by the cinematography; I want a great script and acting. Too much tedious detail that is not inviting but off-putting in boring details. Oh I forgot to keep in mind the cinematography that is just so important. You care about Matt Damon not this guy or the others. Compare Dickie's charm in the movie to the Series. The worst you can say is the movies was too glib but Ripley could have used more of that that. Stair scenes add something but too much .. little payoff.
It's definitely not a remake, I agree
Looked up Zaillian movies and now I know I just don't like him . None of his movies were all that engaging. He's made a lot of big movies with two much excruciating details. Having no music is another poor choice here - then find music that won't lead us rather than bore us with small sound effects. In this movie, easy-dropping and waiting, stall the film.
@@matteg490 Yeah, right. Schindlers List was not engaging at all. LOL. Your comments show more about you than Zaillian...
I didn't want my ride with Ripley to ever end! Superb storytelling and photography!
Ripley was SLOOOOW. But even as someone that 2x speed listens to all youtube videos I NEVER found myself impatient. The speed, in fact, felt extremely refreshing.
The movie was so much better. This has too much detail and is slow but not in a good way, and one likes Matt Damon Ripley so much more than this actor.
@@oppothumbs1 Yeah... simply dissagree
The series are a masterpiecie, the movie is mediocre
@@Garvin285 Did you think the movie was over-the-top or silly? Over the years I have watched it 5 times and I was always totally absorbed. I see that the series did better in ratings han the movie (movie received a 85% on rotten tomato), but I am in total disbelief reading about the love of the series.
@@oppothumbs1 Compared to the series? Yes definitely
The series are an indisputable art piece that creates the whole structure and goes into details with subleties, acting and camera work. It's a work of light, time, color (or the lack of it), sound and even language. The movie pales in comparison and while it isn't bad per se, it simply isn't much of any of that. I get the nostalgia but I find it insane to truly believe the movie is a better work of cinematography unless you really just get a headache or are bored with any more ambitious art. Every scene in this series is a good scene, many of them... are great. And with how the cinema in general was last few years, it's really nice to finally (meaning mostly year 2023/2024) see a refreshment.
And yes it's slow and have much details because that's exactly how... with good eye and imagination you can create a masterpiece. Infantile art needs to be "mad" "outrageous" or dirty... ambitious art needs to be clean, raw and pedantic at times some films can safely be both but just a story alone doesn't make a good movie and isn't even close to making a great one. Just making the plot interesting is also mediocricity, there is much more to cinema than it is to a book and this series feels like a set of finely captured photos with a smoke of an expensive cigar, a fine drink at a fitting weather outside and a perfectly matched record on a vinyl player. And it shows much more than just the plot... it's an insight into a whole world of it's own. I could eat it with a spoon everynight and by season three I'd probably know some italian, but it's good it ended here and there, because otherwise it wouldn't be so good.
@@Garvin285 OK thanks. My feeling is the delightful witty banter is so much better in the movie. Maybe it's less realistic in that sense; plus I like the faster pace which may have sacrificed detail and realism but the lines are all so compelling and witty; I was very entertained and amused. The charming personalities throughout are all likeable even if evil. Matt, Jude, Philip, Gwyneth, Cate and Jude's dad are people you care about and with well-rounded personalities and flaws.
So many unforgettable scenes are in the movie, including the boat party with all the tension and Freddie Miles taunting Tommy with "How's the Peeping Tommy? tommy tommy tommy". Freddie's intro scene, Dickie and Tom tub scene. Im the movie you slowly see Tom's evil but you know it from the start in the video. Tom and Marge and Dickie are pretty bland in the series but playful and engaging in the movie. The movie's music score is great.
Sensory overloaded with beautiful precision.
Has everyone noticed how the ONE TIME colour is used is when the cat steps into last droplets of blood?
I saw that too. What an amazing touch that was!!!
what does it mean tho?
@@alikhalil2863 For me, given that the while movie felt like an art piece, every shot so beautiful in a classic way, those droplets were like wake up to reality. Murder is ugly, there's nothing dreamy or artistic about it. IDk if I manage to get my point across. But that red pulled me out of the depth of the story, made it striking how this act interrupts harmony and beauty.
Ooo I didn't know that was the only time
His biggest mistake? The one thing that could have brought him down maybe
"To incriminate the viewer." That is an excellent description of a key element of this story. I think that incriminating the reader is one of the most important elements of Highsmith's novel. This is just one of the critical elements of this excellent novel that Zaillian got so right.
I firmly believe that all the criticism this adaptation got is from the people who wrongly understood that this is a remake of the 1999 film, when in reality it is yet another adaptation of a novel.
@@umbertoaguiar This show is yet another adaptation of a book, the same way all the previous movies were. The 1999 took A LOT of liberties in crafting characters and stories that are very different and sometimes not even part of the original book. This show follows the book plot more closely but chose to make the characters older and that entails changes, too.
Also, literally all the criticism I saw as soon as it came out was about how this negatively compares to the 1999 movie, even in published film reviews. So no, I am not mistaken. You are free to your opinion, though.
@@umbertoaguiar You chose to not accept my comment from a few weeks ago (when most of the criticism I saw was about comparing this to the TTMR film) and argue with it. All adaptations differ from the original source, the 1999 film is widely different, much more so than this. You think the actors were miscast, fine, your prerrogative, but YOU sought to fight in my comment, YOU are the one not accepting other views. Also, personages is not a word. Have a good day.
as an italian, watching the series in original language, i must add the perfection of the dialogues spoken in italian by the various characters (both italians and americans)
Scott's ability to learn to speak Italian so lovely.
This version was brilliant! Entire episodes dedicated to single murders.... Slow, exhausting and frustrating. Gave a lot of emphasis on the "why" of Ripley. Loved it.
I think a "How Andrew Scott Perfected Ripley" video would be great.
I loved it so much!!! And shot so beautifully it hurt!!! Completely different than I expected. I'm so glad you showcased it!!! And Andrew Scott killed it, pun intended.
I'd watch the hell out of a "How Andrew Scott Perfected Ripley"-video.
@@Arcananine77 Ditto.
I read Patricia Highsmith’s Talented Mr Ripley recently and these clips are brilliant visualisations of her scenes. This is not a remake. This looks like an excellent adaptation of the book as if the Matt Damon and John Malkovitch films didn’t exist or were disregarded completely.
Malkovitch was magnificent in Ripley's Game.
This review explains exactly why no one could ever unsee this magnificent production and performance.
It grabbed me from the first few frames. The b&w presentation was amazing! Every scene was carefully planned and lit, and the varying perspectives took my breath away. Best thing I've seen in ages.
This version is masterful. The actors are SO GOOD. You can see they know more than theyre saying to each other in the performances. I loved every second of it
Superbly shot, great acting, fantastic locations. A true masterpiece.
Watching this has caused me to not only read all the novels but also watch all the Ripley related movies. This series is the best adaptation of any of the Highsmith stories
Exactly right. Although Malkovich made a great Ripley in Ripley's Game.
I agree. Ripley is my new all-time favorite series. Truly a masterpiece. Love the stunning B&W visuals. The suspense and dark, detailed unfolding of the story were masterful. I was totally engaged with the story from the opening sequence through to the last. This should go down in movie history as the pinnacle murder mystery cinema.
The method of storytelling reminded me of Breaking Bad. It focused a lot on ‘process’. I remember how Walt and Jesse were confronted with ‘body disposal’ problems.
I’ve watched the entire thing twice. It’s insanely beautiful.
I’ve watched this series 3 times.
Beautiful cinematography and fascinating with the Caravaggio nod.
Loved this take on ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’.
Nicely observed. On a pedantic level, the series isn't a "remake" of the Mingella film, but another adaptation of the novel, but it does bring up questions I had after watching it. Are the dissimilar plot points in "Talented" a screenwriter creation, or do some of those events take place in subsequent entries of the book series? It's not like scripts won't make major changes, but if the ending is a Hollywood creation - showing him as a character capable of falling in love right on the heels of his murders - that's a pretty major departure from the impenetrable cold-as-ice sociopath we watched in Ripley. I searched, but couldn't find anyone commenting on the changes one way or the other. Talented is a tragedy of hubris. Ripley is a straight, chilling character study.
To my knowledge, in the novels Ripley never overtly expresses any kind of queer identity or affection for Dickie - but this is Patricia Highsmith we're talking about so it's safe to assume the subtext is there. I think the two Ripleys of the movie and miniseries respectively represent ends of a spectrum - Damon's Ripley being impulsive, emotional, and chaotic, whereas Scott's Ripley is devoid of feelings except those of resentment and envy, and filled instead with machinations. Personally I find the choice to age him up and make him more canny and world-weary is extremely evocative of our current times, whereas in the Minghella film it's very representative of the much different attitude that pervaded the 90s.
We live in different times...
Minghella actually changed a lot from the book. Peter Smith-Kingsley is mentioned once or twice in the book as a friend Tom makes in Venice but nothing past that. Meredith Logue just straight up isn’t in the book from my memory. Also the person who commented above that queer desire isn’t apparent in the book isn’t quite right. Tom out and out claims to like men and women to his New York friends: “I can’t make up my mind whether I like men or women, so I’m thinking of giving them both up”.
This claim is backed up by the very apparent lust he has for Dickie, which we see even after he’s decided to kill him on the boat, “he could have hit Dickie, sprung on him, or kissed him”. He also has a wife in the later books who he is also sexually attracted to, although arguably not in love with her
I would also like to say that Minghella’s Ripley is not the exact same character as the books and does not intend to be. I’ve seen quotes from Minghella saying that he wanted to create a more sympathetic character than the one Patricia Highsmith wrote, and that changes a lot the character intentions, for better or for worse (better in my opinion). Tom isn’t explicitly shown to be a criminal/scammer at the start of the movie, he’s just quite a talented and skilled liar. He is a lot less of a cold blooded killer too, as the situation with Dickie is more of a crime of passion. I would argue Minghellas version absolutely had the capacity to love- both Dickie and Peter- while Highsmith’s and the 2024 Ripley do not
@@dorkbaitart I found Scott's Ripley very expressive for the fact that he was trying to cover himself from the crime of murder by appearing so distant & calm & measured. He was a puzzle that the police could not completely finish.
TV doesn't get any better. Ripley is an absolute joy to watch. So well done and every element is pretty much perfect and works so well.
I agree this version of Ripley is a masterpiece. Your description of its excellence is great. I would mention Ripley's fascination with the art of Caravaggio as a highlight.caravaggio was also a murderer. You di😅dnt mention the soundtrack which is superb .The use of popular Italian ballads of the 50' In particular the scene in the patio where the female singer walked down the steps towards the waiting audience She sang so evocatively, phrasing perfect,dressed elegantly in 50's fashion. She was.an actress miming a once famous italian singer which probably went unnoticed .It was such an exquisite scene,so superior to the loud frenzy of the jazz club in the earlier Ripley with Law and Damon.
It shows just how damn difficult getting rid of evidence can be...two people can keep a secret if one is dead. The intensity, the adrenaline, the psychological strain, all of it.
The three adaptations of Patricia Highsmith's novel are really great: Purple Noon (1960), The Talented Mr Ripley (1999), and Ripley.
That boat is scarier than jaws and the elevator is as terrifying as the apartment building in The Tenant by Polanski
Thank you, finally someone who loved this show as much as I did. All the other reviewers called it “boring”, hated so many details and frankly did not understand this masterpiece at all.
I have to agree Ripley is in my top series for this year - Shogun takes the top spot though for now
Ripley is sooo much better. Another ball park completely
@@Alerrrt Shogun is good but not nearly this good.
Dead-on commentary/analysis, as usual, and couldn't agree more -- it's quite the most evocative and authentic feeling takedown of Patricia Highsmith we've seen to date, and certainly the most intriguing television show of 2024 thus far. Engrossing, unnerving, and enveloping. Thanks ever so much.
The telephone! That phone! Also towards the end of the series, again! Brings back memories of a bygone era when you. didn't. know. who. was. calling.
The actor who plays Miles is even more icky than Ripley! He/she looks downright freakish as opposed to Hoffman who played him in 'The talented Mr. Ripley' .
I watched it specifically so I can watch this video and it was so beautifully filmed! Every shot is cinematic, gorgeous!
It was a masterclass in what film making should be.
One of the best to come along in awhile.
I loveee how detailed, thorough, and critically engaged this video essay is!!!!!
Excellent observations. I was so blown away by this show, don't review shows/movies on my channel but did for this one. This might be the best neo-noir I've ever seen. Masterclass and one of the best remakes ever (your words)... couldn't agree more.
I don’t usually comment on videos but you have done such a good job on analyzing each detail and putting into words the significance of each scene that I just had to commend you! I immediately liked and subscribe!
I am watching it again it's so good! Andrew Scott takes it away very subtly, slowly, what a fantastic performance!
Want to give a shoutout to Mauricio Lombardi, who plays the Inspector. Amazing performance
Excellent review. Ripley is gripping television. My only point of difference is your use of the term “Gothic architecture”. Very little Gothic architecture is seen in this series. There is a predominance of ancient Roman, medieval, Renaissance and later centuries, all of which help to make Italy a historian’s dream to visit.
So glad you made this. I was trying to tell people how good this was after seeing it, because I was so surprised. The cinematography in black-and-white is just perfect. The acting is amazing and the series does not rush, which is so refreshing. Brilliant, and better than the film.
Great analysis for a superb series. Andrew Scott can do no wrong. If you haven't already, watch him in All of Us Strangers - beyond words
Yes! I’ve been waiting for a channel I like to talk about this. If you do any more about this show I will watch them all.
I need to watch this show!!!
Great series! So glad you did a video, was looking forward to your keen eye and insightful take on it. Keep em coming!
Well done. Great commentary on a beautifully crafted remake
I wasn't aware of the series, but I am now, thanks for that 👍✌
A must!
The sound design is brilliant!
My significant other and I watched this, and we were obsessed. We've loved familiar dramas like Six Feet Under or True detective, severance, but after watching The Lighthouse, i was excited to watch something in black and white that captured acting and storytelling beautifully - and this was it.
When he has the discipline not to have a drink, and instead goes all the way back to the Via Appia to finish the business, you know, if you didn’t already, what a masterpiece this is. The part where the motorboat careens round and round with its horrible cargo quasi-animated by the motion grows out of that scene in “Psycho” when it looks as if Marion’s car won’t sink.
I can only compare the two movies, the first one starring Alain Delon (same story) called "Purple Noon" ("Plein Soleil" in French) and the famous one starring Jude Law and Matt Damon. They have many points of intersection (being both of them the very same story) and yet they couldn't be more different. Some characters brought to life in The Talented Mr. Ripley simply can't be found in Purple Noon. But what really makes Purple Noon's atmosphere unique is the presence of Delon, the whole nostalgia of French Nouvelle Vague (it is more of a tribute to the Nouvelle Vague) and the shocking final scene, much better than the open epilogue of The Talented Mr. Ripley, in my humble opinion.
I loved this show so much that immediately after I started reading the book. And it's amazing how the book is even more dense. I think the show is still more gritty and dark, but both work in their own way/midia. In the book we are 100% inside Ripley's head, whereas in the show we only see his thoughts through his eyes (AMAZING performance by Andrew btw).
Yes. Scott's eyes were everything. They are dark & mysterious & expressive to a degree that is mesmerizes the viewer.
Extremely well done overview of Ripleys world.
Very nice video, i felt everything you described while watching the show as soon as it was released…also, while digging up info, i found out there is an even older adaptation of the book, making that the original one, in the form of the french movie Purple Noon, can’t wait to watch that one as well! 🤗
Only half way through but wow, incredible visually, and story telling.
Totally agree. Masterpiece! Grateful thanks to all artists, artistry and supportive audience consciousness.
Love your breakdown explaining why I enjoyed this show so much. Thanks!
Ooooh! Thanks for the recommendation! I needed something new to watch :)
A really enjoyable video, as always!
Excellent analysis of an excellent series!
Loved this show - the scenes were so beautiful. Something about HD black and white.
Very well done. Thank you Sir. I look forward to watching it myself.
Thank you and enjoy!
@@JustanObservationHello, can you also take a look into the purple noon 1960, which was the original mr. Ripley starribg Alain Delon
I've been obsessed since watching the show and have sought many reviews such as this. And as much as I thought I could learn thing nothing new you threw in a few great observations. Your focus on the lift was great.
If you liked the documentary aspect, I would recommend "C'est arrivé près de chez vous". It's a french movie that depicts a documentary about a serial killer
I agree with you. As I was watching the first time, I was just hoping that it was good old Ripley, like the one with Matt Damon. It took me a little while to become really sure and just enjoy the ride until the end. Every murder scene and every details. I have rewatched it just a couple of days after and I think I was just smiling throughout the 8 episodes. Since that, every time I think about it, I google to see if the second season is on!
Thanks - such good insights to an amazing movie. I realize now that the lack of insistent music, so common these days, adds enormously to the experience of Ripley.
Thank you for this insightful analysis.
Recently rewatched the film, but am half way through Ripley and it is stunning. A perfect dissection of murder
Thanks! I had the same reaction (not another remake...) but this looks beautiful! And not just because I have a very soft spot for 40s-60s movies.
It is not a remake, it is an adaptation of the novel. It is faithful to the novel but not slavishly. However, the dealing with the body emphasis is there and part of what makes the book so good. The second in the book series, Ripley Underground, turns this up further. Patricia Smith imbues these scenes with a black humor while also giving great insight into Ripley. Tom's thinking is horrifying, hilarious and fascinating-I find the books oddly relaxing, something about viewing the world through Tom''s eyes. Maybe because his world view is simple, because he is, when all is said and done, a sociopath. The movie is a terrible adaptation of the novel as is Purple Noon (the earlier French adaption), both films simplify the character of Ripley in different ways.
It was as if I’m reading a book. Slow, methodical and yet riveting
The pacing of the show is perfect. I didn't know this was a remake of an existing story. The fact that I can't fathom how the story squeezed into a 2h19m film says a lot about Zaillian's version.
I just watched The Talented Mr. Ripley, because I was trying to watch Good Will Hunting but it wasn't on Netflix
I was like "you know.. I always scroll past this movie, might as well watch it. Seems like it's probably similar to Good Will Hunting anyways" 😭
As someone who loves the book by Patricia Highsmith, which to me is as perfect as a novel can get, I was disappointed when I saw the 95 movie adaptation.
It isn't a bad movie. And I suspect that audiences at that time wouldn't be willing to engage with such an anti-hero, which is different to the modern day audience in a post Soprano/Breaking Bad/Dexter era.
So I am so happy that we now have a tv-series that is more faithful to its source material, which I think contributes to the shows greatness.
Not to harp on a small point, but this isn't a remake of either of the two existing films, it's the first full series adaptation of the novel. Am I crazy for thinking that's an important distinction? Like, with that logic the 1999 film is a remake of Purple Noon.
Absolutely right. Zaillian didn't start this project by reading through the movie script several times.
Andrew Scott makes anything brilliant.
As someone who read the books many years ago. And has seen TTMR multiple times. I’m a little shocked I didn’t know about this series.
Thanks for the heads up.
Great observation! Not "Just an Observation".. Kudos, for educating on how to view and appreciate good cinematic art.
May have to renew my subscription for this one. Just from the first few minutes of this video, it reminded me of Reed, Antonioni, Resnais, and Hitchcock. And a little bit of Greenaway. This is the kind of filmmaking I fell in love with.
After watching this, the question should be why do filmmakers make films in color. Props to digital technology to capture so many shades of grey 😅. Watch it on a good OLED TV.
With one tiny splotch of red.
Gorgeous work and how the shadows represented more due to the Caravaggio nod.
This is the same director who did Night Of and the similarities in direction and details, even the music are so apparent I loved it
A Masterpiece, Every scene is a Painting ❤
Thanks to this show I listen to Il Cielo In Una Stanza over and over
Small point, but it's bothering me. "Ripley" is not a remake. It's an adaptation of a book/books. The books are brilliant and more credit should be given to Patricia Highsmith. There's a reason why this show was so good, and part of that credit lies with the complexity and viewpoint of the books. In my opinion, this show really captured the essence of the book. We become very aware we are rooting for the "bad guy". Maybe we are too. Or maybe things are always much more complex than just good and bad. (obviously, but it's captured so well ...)
There's nothing more interesting to me than the mundane in the dramatic. This series really surprised me.
I totally agree, on all points ! It is not a remake. And also , it was the brilliance of P. Highsmith who first created it all for us to enjoy, in all its variations. I read "The Talented Mr. Ripley" while laid up with a broken ankle at home in a small village in Wales. My fiancee got books from the library for me, and fortunately, he chose Mr. R. After that, I read every P.H. book I could get. Going for a re-read after having watched Ripley.
@@mp-ch2ws I think I need to reread it now too! Probably should read all of them while I'm at it.... :)
I loved every part of this show…except the scene where the detective interviewed Ripley as himself, after the suspicion was subverted into Dickie. That fake wig was so obvious I burst out laughing, I couldn’ t tell if they were trying to be ironic or not.
I can agree with that. But episodes 3-6 are masterpieces
It was pretty faithful to the book. I think Highsmith wanted to show what a large role luck played in getting away with a crime. Ripley made some serious blunders but also caught some lucky breaks that allowed him to slip away.
Incredible deconstruction of this series. It's one of the more amazing series I've seen, maybe ever.
Thoughtful analysis! Thank you. But I'm puzzled by the characterization of this as a remake. It's a translation of the novel to the screen, not a reworking of the Minghella film.
Thank you. This makes me want to see it so much more. And observe the details..
Definitely a great watch! The composition was 👌🏻✨✨✨✨
I began Ripley last night and just finished. Wow. What a ride! Everything about Ripley is A+. While the black & white took me out first by the end it was a clear artistic choice and the absence of color became part of the mood.
Except one element: the *horribly miscast* Freddy Miles. As one reviewer noted, the desk clerks seemed to have more intention in their casting than the actor who portrayed one of the plot’s driving characters.
The cinematography was gorgeous, but who would trust that Ripley for 30 seconds? I stopped after one episode because it was so unbelievable.
Andrew Scott made it believable.
@@g.flesch9731 No he didn't make it believable. He is the worst Ripley that ever appeared on screen. He is worse than the cowboy Dennis Hopper. Tom, in both Alain Delon (25) and Matt Damon (29) films is charming, funny, subservient and apparently harmless. They are the kind of young friend that the fun loving, spoiled Richard would like to have around him in a paradisiacal village with a beach.
The best way to see how weak and farcical is Scott's interpretation of Ripley is to watch Alain Delon in "Plein Soleil"
Patricia Highsmith was asked in a recorded conversation at the British Library why she had decided to write sequels to "The Talented Mr. Ripley" which was originally supposed to be a one off book. She replied ""Maybe, in a curious way, The French film affected me in a positive way because Alain Delon did such a good job … the right age ….One hundred percent correct"
But Scott's Ripley is a solitary psychopath right from the beginning. It's very different to the book and two films. He looks miserable and too serious all the time. Who would like to have him around? He looks like one of those serial killers in some Scandinavian noir series.
I guess this adoration for the miscast actor is caused by a numbness created by too much viewing of Scandinavian noir and other psychopaths in modern TV. Numbed people need an obvious villain.
The Netflix series is so different to the book ( despite many details from the book being present only in the series) and the two better films that I even think it's some sort of plagiarism to call this series "Ripley".
I would say that the 1999 film was the one that was like a Hitchcock. It very much has that location-as-character technicolor '50s glamor thing you get from VERTIGO, TO CATCH A THEIF and MARNEE. The Netflix series is more like '50s Film Noir meets Look Magazine photos. Although, the story itself is something you'd expect Hitchcock to tackle himself.
Hitchcock directed Highsmith's _Strangers on a Train_ rather than any of the Ripley books.
I could watch it again with no sound, just to admire the quality of the cinematography. Each change of scene was a little masterpiece. Some not so little. (Spoiler alert) My favourite was I think the four cars parked at the scene of Freddie's murder. I want to read the book, to see if Tom was talented. He was inept (sometimes comically) and very lucky in this adaptation. So well written. The scenes around Dickie's ring in Ep.8 were superbly written and constructed. I bet when I watch it again I'll pick up lots of things I missed first time around.
Someone should market the rag Ripley uses to clean up his crime scenes. That thing seems to absorb 50 times more than a Shamwow.
Reddits r/film subreddit says this show is pretentious and too slow-paced which is just amazing to me. They're basically mad it isn't a one to one remake of the movie.
It is much much closer in feel and tone to the novel. Ridley’s deadly pragmatism and awkward distance comes through well, although this version plays down slightly his craft of becoming someone else. The B&W cinematography is gorgeous and effective. It does trade the color which is really intrinsic to actually being in Italy for its stark contrasts, effective framing, and period feel. A stylistic trade and effective.
A sociopath does not live in color.