‘Ripley’ is Thrilling
Andrew Scott in Ripley | Credit: Netflix
Tom Ripley (Andrew Scott) is a talented grifter hired by a wealthy man to track down his son, Dickie (Johnny Flynn), who is squandering his inheritance away.
Ripley is a thrilling ride! Andrew Scott gives a great performance (as always) and is a convincing chameleon as he changes identities throughout the film. We see him adapt to different circumstances and do whatever it takes to survive. Throughout the season, he goes from the proverbial gutter to beautiful palazzos; each place is an opportunity for us to learn more about who he is and what motivates him.
This show is also filmed in black and white, and it is absolutely gorgeous! In Tom’s small apartment in New York, the black and white helps to highlight his clear lack of funds. Everything about his environment seems harsher when there’s no color to be found.
When Tom enters Dickie’s orbit, the black and white helps make everything seem more luxurious. It’s almost as if we’ve entered into a different world. The ocean in the coastal town of Atrani is so stunning that you don’t need color to grasp its beauty. The ornate houses of the rich and the luxurious Italian museums he visits are made even more breathtaking in black and white.
The black-and-white filmmaking helps remind you that you’re in a different period. Ripley is set in the mid-1960s when it was much easier to be a grifter. Seriously, it seems like you could get away with just about anything.
Dakota Fanning, Johnny Flynn, and Andrew Scott in Ripley | Credit: Netflix
Near the end of Ripley, Tom’s adopted alias comes under scrutiny by the Italian police. Inspector Pietro Ravini (Maurizio Lombardi) is a welcome addition to this colorful cast of characters.
Inspector Ravini is quick-witted, good at his job, and doesn’t have any time for incompetence. He also has a dry sense of humor that I personally appreciated. It was so fun to watch him start to unravel the web of lies that we’ve seen Tom construct over the previous episodes.
There are times when it feels like you are watching a chess game played by two people who aren’t used to losing. Their equal competence in their various professions (I guess you could call grifting that, right?) makes their interactions so exciting to watch.
Will Inspector Ravini finally catch Tom? Or will Tom be able to come up with yet another scheme to escape his grasp?
Ripley is also so intentional in seeding each episode with various set-ups and pay-offs throughout. The cinematography will focus on certain objects that are vital to the story — a pair of shoes, a ring, an ashtray. When those objects show up later in the season, we understand the meaning without needing much explanation. And these moments create a sense of foreboding, which makes even mundane moments seem dangerous.
This show respects the intelligence of the viewers and rewards careful viewing.
Andrew Scott in Ripley | Credit: Netflix
In many ways, Ripley sets itself apart from so many other Netflix originals. This isn’t just one to have on in the background while you’re doing something else. Ripley is a show that you will want to pay attention to and soak in every beautiful frame.
The cat-and-mouse game is thrilling, even if you have seen the other adaptations, and it’s one that you want to keep watching. Andrew Scott gives another great performance and fills the lead role with ease, confidence, and charisma.
I can’t recommend this show enough!