RIPLEY UNDER GROUND
US, 2005, 103 minutes, Colour.
Barry Pepper, Jacinda Barrett, Ian Hart, Clare Forlani, Alan Cumming, Tom Wilkinson, Douglas Henshal, Willem Dafoe, François Marthouret, Simon Callow.
Directed by Roger Spottiswoode.
Ripley Under Ground is based on a novel by Patricia Highsmith. Previous films about Tom Ripley, his character, his deceit, vanity include The Talented Mister Ripley, Anthony Minghella’s with Matt Damon, Rene Clements Purple Noon, with Alain Delon, Wim Wnnder’s The American Friend with Dennis Hopper Ripley’s Game with John Malkovich.
Compared with the other films, this person is rather low-key, in its plot, with comic touches, in the performance of Barry Pepper as Tom Ripley. This is an English production with a strong English supporting cast.
Ripley is performing in a drama on the London stage, has some friends involved in the art world, including Alan Cumming as the dealer, Claire Forlani as an accomplice, Ian Hart as a forger. Ripley becomes entangled with a young Frenchwoman, played by Jacinda Barrett, who takes him to France.
The central crime focuses on a painter, played by Douglas Henshal, who is killed in a car accident after his proposal to Claire Forlani being rejected. Ripley’s persuades the group to pretend that the artist is still alive and for the forger to do his paintings so that they continue in value.
There is some tension within the group, trying to keep face, trying to pretend that the artist is still alive but hidden away in France. The drama comes to a head with Willem Dafoe as an art expert wanting to buy and Tom Wilkinson as a British detective.
The film was directed by Roger Spottiswoode who has directed a number of films, especially thrillers for many years. Turner and Hooch, Under Fire, Tomorrow is Forever.
1. Patricia Highsmith novels?” About murder at the opening of the film? Creating the character of Tom Ripley? The series of Ripley films? His character, psychology, crime, charm?
2. The present cast, the director and his action films? The London settings, the French settings, the Eurostar? The art world in London? Paris, the country mansion? The French château? Cars, chases and crashes? The musical score?
3. The introduction to Ripley, acting, the interchange with the director who didn’t like him? The on-stage performance? Friendship with Jeff, Cynthia, Bernard? The aftermath of the performance? Ripley outside, the car, stealing the money,Heloise asleep, waking up, her boyfriend and his aggression? Inviting them to the party, the exhibition? Derwatt and his proposal to Cynthia, the embarrassment, her refusal? Driving, the pursuit, the crash?
4. Ripley and his taking over, the situation, taking the body, putting it in the freezer? The pact between the? Jeff as the manager of the new company? Bernard, his nervousness, being persuaded to do the paintings? The discussion about the loss of money if the news of the artist’s death came out? The exhibition, the sales?
5. Ripley, going to France, the encounter with Heloise’s father, his antagonism, staying, the father warning his daughter about Ripley’s reputation? The two in love? His insinuating himself into the household?
6. Murchison, the discussions with Jeff, his being a collector of the artist’s paintings? Offering the cheque? Getting the painting? Suspicious? The threats about the police? His going to France, Ripley disguised as the artist? Murchison and his explaining about the use of cobalt blue and other developments that artists make? The confrontation, the threats? Ripley unmasking himself? Murchison’s murder, the dogs taking the wig, Ripley burying Murchison in the garden? The dogs and the wig, almost being exposed? Heloise throwing it in the rubbish?
7. Webster, his arrival, interrogation of Ripley, working in the garden, the comment on the tomatoes? Ripley and his answering all questions? Heloise and her responses? Webster returning to London, meeting with Bernard, the confrontation, Bernard trying to tell the truth? Ripley and Bernard, confrontation, Bernard hitting him, Ripley moving Murchison’s body, thwarting Webster? Heloise having the body in her room? The different burial place? The two returning to London, Heloise complicit, and talking of killing her father?
8. Webster’s threats, going back to London, Ripley and Heloise on the train, the search? Ripley and his confronting Jeff? Cynthia, their having made a deal with Webster? His locking them in the elevator? Getting the car, getting the body out of the freezer, with Bernard, the crash, finally rescuing Bernard from the fire, Bernard becoming demented and taken away? Ripley putting the body in the car, setting it alight?
9. The preparation for the press conference, the news of the artist’s death? Webster and the police, having pursued Ripley, his being too smart for them?
10. Ripley and Heloise, surviving for another story?
11. The classic status of Tom Ripley as a literary villain, and as interpreted in the various movies?
