At a cocktail party where he replaces a pianist friend, Tom Ripley, a simple butler assigned to the opera’s restrooms, meets shipbuilder Herbert Greenleaf, who is wrongly convinced that he is going to Princeton like his son Dickie. He plays the role of Tom so well that Herbert, fascinated, tells him his worries about Dickie’s future, all he cares about is spending his father’s fortune somewhere in a little paradise south of Naples. This is how Tom travels to Europe on a mission to bring his prodigal son back to the family…
In René Clément’s Plein soleil in 1960, Ripley had the stark beauty of Alain Delon. Thirty-nine years later, the murderous usurper of Patricia Highsmith’s novel had Matt Damon’s deceptively reassuring. This version of Anthony Minghella (The English Patient) offered the actor the opportunity to embody a darkness as opposed to the “ideal groom” image:I wanted this role because it was moving and devastating. Bring a Ripley with his indecision closer to the literary model.“
The talented Mr Ripley airs on Arte on Monday, February 13th at 8:50 pm.
Isabelle Magnier
Source: Programme Television
Joseph Fearn is an entertainment and television aficionado who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a keen eye for what’s hot in the world of TV, Joseph keeps his readers informed about the latest trends and must-see shows.
