The Talented Mr. Ripley

Written for the Screen and Directed by Anthony Minghella

Plot: An eccentric young man will stop at nothing, even murder, to assume the identity of a rich playboy.

The Talented Mr. Ripley is one of the most disturbing yet engaging psychological character studies to darken the screen in along time. Truly a film equal to the sum of its parts, the low-key, mysterious musical score backing the Saul Bass-style opening titles promises a journey down dark corridors that doesn’t fail in the delivery.Based on the first of Patricia Highsmith’s series of novels featuring the title character, The Talented Mr. Ripley captures the spirit of the noir novels of the 1950’s.Don’t be fooled by the upbeat, jazzy soundtrack or the beautifully picturesque cinematography that captures the ambiance of Italy; the atmosphere is quite somber.The gorgeous settings merely provide extreme contrast to the dark sides of the characters, especially Ripley. The film’s strongest element, as should be the focus of any good film, is its characters. And though it adds to tone--low lighting, murky shadows, and endless rain aren’t prerequisites for noir.Character. The ambivalence of the characters, portrayed by one of the finest ensembles of young actors Tinseltown has to offer, gives the meat of the movie’s appeal with a certain “creepiness” that either mesmerizes or disengages the viewer.There’s a superficiality of all the people Tom Ripley encounters.They all want to be something other than what they reveal.The problem for most moviegoers—nobody to root for. In my case, and maybe I have a soft spot for sociopaths (We all need somebody we can relate to!), I couldn’t help but keep my fingers crossed for Ripley’s success.Every turn for the worse made me tense up, hold my breath, and bite my fingernails.Sympathy is reserved for those characters everyone likes whereas fascination and interest is a mixture of the ability to empathize and understand.Tom is a synthesis of the environment in which he was nurtured and a basic need for attachment and belonging; something he has been looking to replace in the many personas he’s devoured.It is very difficult and requires much skill to show on film that a character--however devious, twisted, brilliant, ingenious, etc.--is a collection of several events and that their nature cannot be pinpointed to one particular event or grand epiphany that so many films, especially today’s so called “suspense/thrillers”, erroneously portray.And that’s what makes Ripley so good.Director Anthony Minghella knows how to pace the movie, propelling it forward while revealing, piece by piece, a character’s true nature without the use of flashbacks, a tired cinematic device that often slows a story down.With The Talented Mr. Ripley, Minghella has surpassed his previous outing, The English Patient, with all the lush grandeur of David Lean, the heightened suspense of Alfred Hitchcock, and the haunting moods of Stanley Kubrick.A must-see for fans of classic noir!

Recommended viewing:Six Degrees of Separation (an often witty and entertaining film of a different sociopath), The English Patient, American Friend(another Ripley story adapted by German director Wim Wenders), any Hitchcock, Lean, or Kubrick directed movie. 

Three Kings

Written and directed by David O. Russell

Plot: A small group of American soldiers go AWOL in an attempt to steal proliferated Kuwaiti gold from Iraq and find themselves embroiled in the rebellion against Saddam Hussein.

A superb war satire from the so far infallible David O. Russell, Three Kings hits the viewer on many levels.It will invoke laughter, inspire thought, incite anger, and pluck the heartstrings without strumming too loudly.The film is laced together by dynamic characters, a strong plot, hilarious dialogue, and strong anti-war commentary.The cinematography is an exceptional display of frantic pacing and washed out colors that capture the mood of a barren desert landscape.And while a bit out of place at times, the choice of soundtrack songs lends to the chaotic insanity of such a useless conflict.Clooney’s character is perfect for his stand-there-and-blink acting style, Wahlberg again, as with Boogie Nights and The Big Hit, plays the likeable, naïve everyman that of yet hasn’t worn out its appeal, and Ice Cube plays his character with a calm but hidden anger that portrays him as the most valiant and moral of the group.But it’s Spike Jonze that steals the comedic limelight as the hick who loves the chance to dress up in khaki and run around playing soldier.His delivery doesn’t miss a beat.The movie never lets us forget that amidst the glossed-over media depictions of the soldier’s efforts in the war, there are a lot of tragedies and real faces behind the endless procession of our “successful” bombing campaigns and military intervention.Make no mistake; despite the charm of the characters and strong plot, there is a message in this film.But, fortunately, it isn’t steeped in too much congeniality, and though at times the temptation is evident, Russell keeps tight reigns on the sunshine.It leaves you with a good feeling but not without astrong sensibility grounded in harsh reality. The war still continues long after the smoke from rifles and the dust of marching soldiers has cleared.

Suggested Viewing: For other war satires checkout Kelly’s Heroes and Dr. Strangelove. Spanking the Monkey and Flirting with Disaster (David O. Russell’s 1^st two films)

The Insider

Written and Directed by Michael Mann

At face value, Michael Mann’s films never look like they’re going to hold your attention. They appear to be one of those experiences that six months down the line you scratch your head and say, “What was that one movie with so and so about such and such?” Quite the opposite. He’s a detail-oriented director without the fancy window dressing.In The Insider, he has made a believable thriller that takes its time dispensing information while keeping you involved at every step. Russell Crowe, as the tormented whistle blower, continues his streak of success in the Hollywood mainstream by bringing conviction and intensity to the character.And though I love to watch Kevin Spacey in almost anything he does, I’m convinced that Crowe was robbed of the Best Actor Oscar that went to Spacey instead. Pairing Crowe with Al Pacino gives the perfect balance between the silver screen’s new blood and a veteran star whose recent forays into overacting bring him to the level of performance required for this particular character. Like other characters in Mann’s films, the greatest expense to their actions is the estrangement from family and/or love interests. However high the stakes may be, death never appears to be the greatest risk.A setting with a sharp focus on character is a complexity that could easily slip into mediocrity in the hands of an unseasoned director, but Mann’s eye for detail and calculated precision presents an intelligent thriller that will remain in the minds of those committed to quality viewing. You won’t soon forget The Insider.

Suggested Viewing:For more of Michael Mann watch Thief, Heat, and Last of the Mohicans.Also, for a corporate thriller of a different kind, David Mamet’s Spanish Prisoner will keep you guessing until the end.