RIPLEY UNDER GROUND (2005)
Tom Wilkinson. Simon Callow. Clare Forlani The casting is fine with the unfortunate exception of Barry Pepper (excellent in The 25th Hour) who is miscast as Patricia Highsmith's Tom Ripley. Then again, this movie is only nominally a Ripley film. Why, because the misfiring slapstick of the screenplay taken with the frenetic "action" orientation of the pedestrian direction are wrong-headed. And that's a shame. Actors, however competent, cannot save films lacking intelligence, wit, subtlety, and style. Highsmith requires these four things, plus atmosphere. Postcard shots of a French château, jump cuts, and wooden dialogue just don't meet the mark. Nor is mere attitude (for example, an arty archness) any substitute for substance (in this case, the mental machinations of Mr. Ripley). And yet, there are worse movies on offer. Far worse.
Tom Wilkinson. Simon Callow. Clare Forlani The casting is fine with the unfortunate exception of Barry Pepper (excellent in The 25th Hour) who is miscast as Patricia Highsmith's Tom Ripley. Then again, this movie is only nominally a Ripley film. Why, because the misfiring slapstick of the screenplay taken with the frenetic "action" orientation of the pedestrian direction are wrong-headed. And that's a shame. Actors, however competent, cannot save films lacking intelligence, wit, subtlety, and style. Highsmith requires these four things, plus atmosphere. Postcard shots of a French château, jump cuts, and wooden dialogue just don't meet the mark. Nor is mere attitude (for example, an arty archness) any substitute for substance (in this case, the mental machinations of Mr. Ripley). And yet, there are worse movies on offer. Far worse.