Overview
The Talented Mr. Ripley is a 1999 American psychological thriller film written and directed by Anthony Minghella, and based on Patricia Highsmith's 1955 novel of the same name. Set in the 1950s, it stars Matt Damon as Tom Ripley, an underachieving young man that is sent from New York City to Italy to retrieve Dickie Greenleaf, a rich and spoiled playboy, and convince him to return home - however, after failing, Ripley takes extreme measures. Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett and Philip Seymour Hoffman also appear in supporting roles.
The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing $128 million worldwide. It received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for Law.
Plot
In 1959 New York City, Tom Ripley is approached by shipping magnate Herbert Greenleaf, who believes that Ripley attended Princeton with his son Dickie, as he is wearing a borrowed Princeton jacket. Greenleaf pays Ripley to travel to Italy, where Dickie has settled, to persuade him to return to the United States. After a first-class voyage aboard the RMS Queen Mary, Ripley pretends to be Dickie in the Italian ocean liner terminal and befriends American socialite Meredith Logue.
In the seaside village of Mongibello, Ripley befriends Dickie and his American girlfriend Marge Sherwood, claiming to be a former Princeton classmate. He enjoys Dickie's extravagant lifestyle and becomes obsessed with him. Once Dickie's wealthy friend Freddie appears, he tires of Ripley and starts spending time with Freddie, who treats Ripley with contempt. When he returns from Rome, Dickie is disturbed to find Ripley dressed in his clothes and dancing in front of a mirror. Dickie impregnates a local woman then spurns her, so she drowns herself. Ripley, aware of what has happened, promises a guilt-ridden Dickie to keep it a secret. After his father cuts off his travel funds, Dickie cancels a trip to Venice and tells Ripley that they should part ways, but offers to take him on a final trip to San Remo.
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