Ripley Q & A with Andrew Scott, Dakota Fanning, Johnny Flynn, Eliot Sumner, & Steve Zaillian

Tomris Laffly moderates #Ripley Q & A with #AndrewScott, #DakotaFanning, #JohnnyFlynn, #EliotSumner, #MaurizioLombardi and director #SteveZaillian on March 27 from the Crosby Street Hotel in NYC.
Ripley premieres April 4, only on Netflix
Tom Ripley (Andrew Scott), a grifter scraping by in early 1960s New York, is hired by a wealthy man to travel to Italy to try to convince his vagabond son to return home. Tom's acceptance of the job is the first step into a complex life of deceit, fraud and murder. The drama series is based on Patricia Highsmith’s bestselling Tom Ripley novels.
Andrew Scott plays Tom Ripley. Dakota Fanning plays Marge Sherwood. Johnny Flynn plays Dickie Greenleaf. Additional cast include: Elliot Sumner, Maurizio Lombardi, Margherita Buy with John Malkovich.
All eight episodes were directed and written by Steven Zaillian.

[@antoninoferrara5298]

As italian i just wanted to say that this serie is an amazing gift to one of the best periods that Italy lived. Music, rythm, silences, art, poetry, italian language were exactly the " cultura della bellezza" that we needs so much nowdays.

[@tonylove4800]

Steps and steps and more steps! I truly loved every second of that series except the steps.

[@donnacarrere8652]

A gobsmacking experience.So much such! I was traumatized by every actor's ways. At one point the overwhelming magnificence seemed to be aggressing me and becoming as menacing as the characters. Whew!

[@netsic]

As Italian I totally agree!!!

[@christine6059]

The Italian actors were all first-rate! I especially would love to see more of Mauricio Lombardi. Simply amazing. His deadpan expression when the witness said his dog was also named Enzo was priceless.

[@mjw12345]

Yeah! I was wondering how Italians might view! For me, with 1000s color stuff on Italy, too much, I thought the B&W really immense. Woe, Caravaggio, Venezia, Palermo....it made me want to get on a flight to Italia pronto.

The detective deserves an Oscar.

[@philmickelsonscalves7585]

The scene when he sits down to talk with the bystander named Enzo and telling the detective his dogs name was Enzo too was incredible

[@williamgardiner2010]

Limited TV series are not accepted for Oscar nominations. The Emmys are designed for that.

[@user-xi5re1mo8p]

@@philmickelsonscalves7585 he told someone that his wife was from Cortina and later on he told someone else that his wife was from Atrani. He may have been trying to make the interviewee comfortable so the would divulge more information.

[@vikasvirtual..5913]

He never said to see the photo of Recherd 😃😄😄😄🤬🤬🤬

[@simonamckenzie4867]

@@williamgardiner2010 As are the BAFTAs!! They will have had plenty of time to consider this drama for next year's nomination and also they'd better not overlook this drama on so many fronts particularly Andrew Scott's acting.

[@laurenmusso4719]

The cinematography was amazing

[@Snikkelbek]

Yes, absolutely stunning 👍

[@luisev.wilcke3947]

Yes insane❤️

[@1NYCHombre]

The cast was so perfect that I think even the Cat should win a Golden Globe Award for “Best Supporting Feline!” The series is pure genius a real work of Art.

[@hinanochick]

the cat was so good!! then its owner told him no more mice!!

[@stevenwilson5406]

umm... purr-fect. :) Had to.

[@emes8742]

And the goat with its head cocked quizzically aside.

[@angeloneto7853]

Best coment ever! The cat has a name... I think it's Lucio. He definitely deserves an award. He's the only one who really gets Ripley! Think about it ... a cat! That says sooo many things!! Zaillian is a #genius

[@squishy-tomato]

King, playing Lucio

[@ireneassimacopoulos9209]

This is a work of art. It's done slowly to allow us to savour it . Brilliant

[@SR-kh6yq]

It was actually refreshing to see them cast actual Italian native speakers and have so many dialogues in Italian as it would be natural in the story's setting. Too many Hollywood films set in foreign countries switch to English as soon as they can or have everyone speak English just because- not to mention casting people who only pretend to be able to speak a language.

[@YoRHaCorb]

Definitely my favorite part of the show. Italian is a beautiful language and felt like I learned a bit too, I speak very basic Spanish and seeing similarities between love languages is always cool to me.

[@CJ-ft9yo]

I loved that too and very indicative of the times, before globalism, you’re expected to speak Italian

[@emes8742]

Yes, the Italian front desk clerks, housekeepers, detectives, etc. added so much to the movie and the storyline. It wouldn't have been as good without them, imo.

[@rhiannondavies4741]

You know what I didn't even think of this but you're totally right - it's so much more immersive as a result!

[@annablackwell444]

Inspector Ravini was absolutely amazing!

[@free-can5609]

Should have looked at photographs a bit sooner though

[@luisev.wilcke3947]

Yes this actor was my most favorite

[@barb572000]

Thank you Netflix for releasing all 8 episodes at once....I watched it straight thru and the tension kept building which would have lost a lot of its punch if released weekly....highly recommend it!!

[@angelcitygirl]

Agree. I've watched it twice. Was amazing except for casting a woman as Freddie. That was laughable.

[@anitacanada7742]

I’m going to watch it over again many times. Cinematography, casting, sets, costumes, script… incredible.

[@tedtamada]

It’s beautifully done. One of the best the best series I’ve seen in a long, long time.

[@angeloneto7853]

Agree!

[@TreeFiddyProductions-tk3ko]

I was not remotely prepared for how stunning the show is on a visual level and the originality of everything.

[@annasutton8078]

It was so atmospheric, making it in black and white was perfect. Andrew was brilliant, so much dialogue to learn. Great cast I loved the detective and that cat!

[@thisisjuliacosta]

Johnny is so naturally funny, I love this guy

[@Hannelore7]

Just finished watching it. Was amazing piece of art.

[@xvisionimaging273]

It is probably one of the best cinematic pieces I haver ever seen.

[@thegrynne]

Lombardi is so good in this, with a terrific silent-movie face. What a revelation.

[@treesny]

Absolutely. The series really shifts into high gear with his entry into the story (Episode 6). His scenes with Andrew Scott's Ripley are particularly gripping.

[@otkaczalkawariatka]

I love Andrew a.k.a hot priest, but Johnny tho 😍 This man is too precious ❤️ His shyness is so endearing 😍🥹

[@tedtamada]

The way both murders occurred and the aftermath were fascinating to watch.

[@americanpancakelive]

Maurizio Lombardi as Inspector Ravini is f*cking amazing. He steals all the scenes he is in. What a performance, what a voice!

[@user-xi5re1mo8p]

What a great version of this story. Very well made. I loved the cast and that cat was great

[@kathleenross5181]

Love that cat!!

[@angeloneto7853]

Lucio can see everything!

[@davesmith5470]

Outstanding piece of cinema - congratulations all round. Genius to film with black and white, loved all the repeated visual motives (statutes, steps, wet pavements, vanishing point perspectives), just gorgeous, a collaberative genius work of art.

[@lorettanericcio-bohlman567]

Johnny Flynn was also spectacular in The Dig

[@patriciachambers6867]

It was so refreshing to see someone else's take on this wonderful book. I was sceptical of watching this especially as I am a huge fan of Matt Damon and loved him in Talented Mr Ripley.i loved the whole series, very cleverly done. Bravo all, especially Andrew Scott, amazing actor

[@louisrios5546]

I was impressed by the great number of 5-second shots without dialogue that were still so rich in detailed set decoration, period-correct costumes, etc. It was such an immersive experience to watch.

[@BenildeMoreno]

Where's Lucio. He knows it all.

[@angeloneto7853]

Exactly!

[@marcoscamargo7763]

O Lúcio foi a grande Maravilha bela que faltou nesse encontro. Eu o amei desde o primeiro flame da Série. ✨🐈✨

[@miadavanza1035]

Lucio forever!

[@marcoscamargo7763]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻😀✨LUCIO! 🐱🐈🌟

[@rhiannondavies4741]

Watched this twice through i loved it so much, and I had no idea Johnny Flynn was English!!

[@mirandascott8058]

This series was so beautiful and well done! I love Andrew Scott but I love Elliot sumner character, Freddie Miles

[@alejandramarquez6804]

Oh for me was the worst

[@angelcitygirl]

Casting a woman as a man was a joke. But then when Sting is your father, you can be a horrible actress and still get cast. Ludicrous.

[@maggieriley8525]

Absolutely love this series----watching in So. California

[@Fabo100]

One of the best series I’ve seen in a while. When a mini series is done well it always hits harder than anything else. Ripley, Chernobyl, Night of. Less is more

[@cherylrleigh1912]

Ripley shines brilliantly in every conceivable aspect, and as a devoted admirer of Patricia Highsmith's work, I am thoroughly convinced that she would be profoundly pleased and proud of this exceptional project. I fervently hope for the possibility of more Ripley tales narrated by the incomparable Andrew Scott. My heartfelt commendations extend to the entire cast and crew for their outstanding performance and dedication to bringing this remarkable story to life.

[@BarbaraFerri-wo9fw]

The best there is to watch, to adore, to enjoy, to praise, to admire in the field of cinematic productions, I say cinematic because it is.Thank you so much.

[@denisenowell7360]

All of the actors were phenomenal! I especially was intrigued by Eliot Sumner as Freddie.

[@chestermarlock5749]

Ce long film est une merveille.Scénario, composition,la photo et le B&W sublime.

[@rosebud6250]

Outstanding series of this story by Patricia Highsmith. The actors were all superb; each character was developed so they captivated the scenes they performed. The scenery, music, artwork were absolutely magnificent! I loved each actor …Freddie Miles was just fabulous…as were the actors playing the hotel staff; the police etc…I really love how each character was so memorable and developed. I have already watch the series 2x and will watch it again. Bravo to the screenwriter, director and all those involved in this masterpiece of a performance. Bless all those involved!

[@simonamckenzie4867]

Totally agree with Steve Zaillian to make this adaptation in black and white…..so well done. Please ask him why sooooo many stairs…. Beautiful as they were….was there a meaning behind them?

[@tonywhite5485]

Have you been there? There are stairs

[@simonamckenzie4867]

@@tonywhite5485 I was born in Rome 😂

[@florencepi6232]

I saw the stairs as a symbol for his will to be part of the high society and at the same time as the symbol for the laborious and hard way to get there (I particularly liked the realism of the aftermath of the murders, especially the difficult aspect of it and the length of it).

[@L_Martin]

The difficulty with the stairs reminded me of Tom's difficulty with both murders. In both cases, Dickie's and Freddie's, Tom runs into so many issues (e.g. the boat nearly killing him, and having to drive all the way back to Freddie after "disposing" of him, to retrieve the passport). The inspector also struggles with the stairs, in much the same way as at stages of his investigation, it turns into a slog where he can't get anywhere (e.g. frustrating phone call in French to Tunisia). This would seem to comment on the clash between the Hollywood-style fantasy we expect of how things will go, vs. the reality. Murders in real life do not go smoothly, in the way they are depicted in fiction, and instead there are all sorts of errors and ways of thwarting yourself as you collide with reality. I also think there is a degree to which in Act 1, Atrani is presented in the film as a kind of "heaven", like a place touching the clouds, compared to the subterranean Hell that Tom is escaping from in New York (I'm thinking of the Hitchcock-style backing-up of the shower drain with the water going black at his feet). Atrani by comparison is like an Olympus or something, where Gods live - that is, the insanely rich and removed from real-world concerns, like Dickie + Marge. So for Tom to climb from "Hell" all the way up up up to join them, to attempt to walk among them, it's fitting that it is a dizzying climb, he gets winded and drained of all his mortal energy lol (This kind of struggle to acclimatise is also a great way of showing the fish out of water protagonist leaving behind the world of Act 1 and crossing the threshold into the alien world of Act 2, and later we have contrast to show Tom's development, once he is able to climb the stairs like Dickie without any issue, showing us how he has learned how to integrate into the upside-down world of Act 2) Inspector gets winded too - contrasting his practicality and real-world nature with the "head in the clouds" and removed from all practical real-world concerns life of Marge + Dickie, the upper crust, who do not need to have jobs or be worried about real life.

[@Lushy260]

Great interview, thanks for uploading!!!

[@oscarpaxin2160]

Loved it. The cast were outstanding but Marge in particular I thought was incredibly well played.

[@anaisanais22]

this show is a visual and storytelling revelation. thank you.

[@frozenflower5764]

Thank you

[@brada-smith2807]

So nice to see Mr. Ripley as Andrew Scott. Very sweet energy. :)

[@JonahUniverse]

For those that don't know, Eliot Sumner made some incredible music that I would highly recommend you check out!

[@jamespendleton9879]

Suspicious Freddie rocked!

[@angelcitygirl]

Ripley is a masterpiece. Andrew was amazing. Casting a woman as Freddie was odd and was the only thing that stunk about this otherwise brilliant show.

[@charlesduncan2051]

I really liked the cutaways to the paintings. It was like saying the only people who see what is really going on are the faces in the paintings.

[@Belaugh]

Wonderful insights and background, and shows how going deep into a well known character and reassessing to bring the character on the page into real life takes a new look and new aspects

[@anitacanada7742]

The film is beautifully crafted. A masterpiece.

[@placasontime146]

excellent work, wonderful photography. It is difficult to show a wonderful renewal of a story that has already been told. The acting is a masterpiece.

[@bobragucci9266]

Excellent critique So proud to be Italian

[@chocho8036]

excellent series, one of the best i have seen in a long while

[@maiabob4780]

Fabulous series, great acting, beautiful art and locations of Italy, so engaging...binged watched the entire eight episodes, which I seldom do with most shows

[@KEMPESS]

Çok yavaş gidiyor ama insan diziyi izlemekten kendini alıkoyamıyor ben uzun zamandır bu kadar sakin ama bu kadar oynamaya çalışmadan bu kadar iyi bir oyuncu kadrosu seyretmemiştim oyuncu yönetmen ve casta kadar herkese çok teşekkür ediyorum MÜKEMMEL...

[@dominikseljan3043]

I've just finished with the show and it's been absolutely amazing

[@tinjadog]

I am currently in the middle of watching Ripley and I keep wanting to yell at the screen, “GET OUT!!”

[@yagiyumiko2170]

Chilling and beautiful show!! I have only seen the film with Dennis Hopper so was not comparing to past adaptations...this Ripley is in a class of it own. Andrew Scott is awesome. I re-subscribed to Netflix just to see Ripley and I don't regret it.

[@amateurmusicresearch1972]

these guys deserve all the awards out there

[@martinavolpe7584]

The series was just perfect

[@marianmartinez1494]

it's a brilliant production with wonderful actors. really got me in.

[@elainelam5305]

Eu não consigo dizer o que gostei mais. Andrew Scott é um ator maravilhoso, impressiona com sutilezas. Todo o elenco sensacional. E a fotografia! PB só intensificou o mistério, a ambiguidade e a beleza. ❤

[@franmarz1980]

Andrew Scott is a great actor. Very good movie. Splendid pictures .

[@leech1219]

what a beautiful show! emmy is waiting

[@catalinaa766]

Loved the show, but did anyone else find it silly when Tom threw a wig on to talk to the detective?! Like I was laughing so hard when I saw it because it was just beyond stupid 😂😂 like how would the detective not tell??

[@rickbeggiato375]

😅😅I agree! It was kind of obvious that he was same person ! How couldn’t the detective have noticed?

[@SonjaLund-bd3ym]

“I got to eat pasta three times a day” god I love them!

[@jamesbyrne9312]

I think dickie was really well played. Brilliant acting too

[@TWINS10984]

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💙💙💙💙💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖THIS SERIES BRILLIANT GEORGOUS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE SERIES. LOVE LOVE LOVE ANDREW SCOTT !!!

[@CJ-ft9yo]

I learnt how saying the alphabet in Italian is like in welsh ah not eyy for a, buh not bee, cuh not see etc etc - that delighted me

[@lourdesbaby964]

Ciao! I think you are learning the wrong alphabet! B in Italiano is “bee” (not buh) C is “chee” (as in CHeers) Definitely not CUH! Buona fortuna 👍🏼

[@simonamckenzie4867]

@@lourdesbaby964 The best sounding letter in our Italian alphabet is ipsilon for Y 😉😁

[@snowman01]

Casting Eliot was genius

[@user-iz3ud9dr2u]

Andrew Scott is GREAT, Eliot Sumner is ...Sting😂

[@asiaoharasbutterflies9425]

Freddie said he’d bring The Police 🥁

[@dickblom290]

Is there a book (or something..) which has pictures of the scenes in it ?? If so ..here take my money !!

[@angeloneto7853]

Zaillian is nothingg but a #talent and so is Scott ... what a team for #ripley

[@jersonmajin]

Adorable

[@archierice333]

A MASTERCLASS IN CINEMATOGRAPHY - lackluster actors

[@Mercy-zl4gt]

I love it!!! All characters nailed it but Tom is the real deal

[@saraclarke1616]

Love that they are all wearing blacks and greys, almost to honour the black and white colour of the series. Missed that if it was intentionally mentioned!

[@chestermarlock5749]

..sans oublier les acteurs bien sûr !

[@sammydetroit]

A modern-day film noir, outdoing classics like The Third Man and Gaslight. And while all the acting was stellar, I think Eliot Sumner gave a particularly mesmerizing performance as the much too confident friend of Dickie Greenleaf. When awards time comes round I hope this magnificent work garners its share of the glory.

[@ClaudiaVirmondMadeira]

The first four episodes were very interesting. The rest, exceedingly slow. Very slow, indeed. The B&W hmmmmmm.......Going back to documentaries, the real thing. Real drama. Real stuff.

[@alicebartocci1886]

Guys stop making nice, genuine and clever comments, I can't like every single one of them.

[@lexistenceestailleurs]

😍😍😍😍

[@FreshfromEden]

The sound is bad in this piece. What a shame.

[@luck2know]

Eliot look so much like her Father !!!!! STING

[@jamesbyrne9312]

Didn't recognise ravini here

[@chocho8036]

Dakota does that question sound at the end of statements ,,, sort of a way of talking that i only hear in young women. i heard it a lot with my young female store sales staff and i never understood what it was about.

[@wearethenightparty]

Such a weird 2024 conceit to pop a woman in the role of Freddie and expect the characters to act like she's a man and for viewers to also pretend that she's a man. What a bizarre, anachronistic thing to do to an otherwise excellent production. Completely blew the suspension of disbelief.

[@user-cl3ke3gy2f]

2024 ripely explains alot from 1980 matt dann/jude law movie... super in black and white.... 8 espodies n all great scenery millions of steps n jumping from country to country ..... great cinema.

[@DesigNatedAudio]

Dakota, honey… It’s pronounced: im•por•tant

[@quest4050]

She can pronounce it any way she wants.

[@DesigNatedAudio]

@@quest4050 sure she can, but she sounds uneducated. So, I want to help her.

[@patiencekillz]

@@DesigNatedAudioimagine thinking dakota fanning wants or needs your help

[@DesigNatedAudio]

@@patiencekillz you’ve schooled me. Thank you. I’m grateful. 🙄

[@krioni86sa]

her nips so lovely

[@kayanoreeves1949]

I never read the book or saw Matt Damon’s version. I’ve heard mixed opinions about Sting’s daughter portraying Freddie, but I thought it was a great unforgettable performance.

[@eddiehartsfield9012]

Agreed! We were big fans of Hoffman’s closet campy performance, but Sumner hit it out of the park in a totally different way. Those scenes were some of the best in the series.

[@nobodyowens8159]

Scott and Sumner wete the two stsrs in tnis

[@jshuffield]

The actress doing Freddie was a bad choice for the character. She clearly didn't get it for her acting prowess.

[@eddiehartsfield9012]

Wow, really? We thought those were some of the best scenes in the film. Quite different from Phil Seymour Hoffman‘s version, but just terrific. Hoffman‘s Freddie was closeted, in contrast to Elliott’s Freddy who makes no effort to hide his orientation. Both yielded really interesting results: Hoffman only drops his frat boy, playboy mask when alone with Tom during their confrontation. it becomes quite clear that these are two gay men who spotted each other right away and are vying to be close to Dickie. In contrast, Elliott’s Freddy was an openly young gay man who felt free to express himself because he had boundless amounts of money and privilege to protect him. This riles and angers Andrew Scott’s Ripley because, lacking Freddy’s resources, his Tom is forced to hide his identity in order to make his way in the world. With Elliott being openly gay, their confrontation turns into a top dog/underdog skirmish, with deadly results. Both interpretations deliver great scenes and great entertainment. Hoffman’s is campy and fun. Elliott’s is more realistic - his scenes are more tense and threatening, with a dash of dark humor.

[@CURVEDGLASS123]

Dakota blew a great chance in this series. She's boring.

[@philmickelsonscalves7585]

It was incredibly refreshing to watch Netflix show with no political propaganda

[@umbertoaguiar]

You are joking, right ? The casting is pure political propaganda.

[@philmickelsonscalves7585]

@@umbertoaguiar what political propaganda was the show pushing? Obviously every actor in Hollywood is a liberal. I understand they casted a non binary person, and ripley is a gay man very involved in LGBT, but still no woke bs was pushed

[@stevej9058]

Sting’s daughter, Coco, looks like a feminine version of her dad. It’s an uncanny resemblance. She did a pretty decent job. 👍

[@Rhauxshna82]

The series was very film noir and stylish, a real homage to Italian art. The acting from Lombardi, Scott, Malkovich and Flynn was superb. However there were many absurd non-sensical scenes (the laughable disguise scene, the underwater boat scene in which Ripley gets multiple head injuries and stops an unmanned boat, the Inspector who never BOTHERS to even check what Ripley/Greenleaf look like at all 🙄🤯). Fanning and Sumner's acting was monotone, boring and lifeless. I felt this iteration of Ripley lacked any charm or personability, just sociopathic, creepy vibes but I did enjoy his Asexuality and premeditated actions rather than the schoolboy fumbling/accidental killer portrayel of Damon's version. Flynn's Greenleaf was much more likeable and nuanced than Law's sleazy, cruel playboy version. Putting Sumner is Seymour Hoffman's iconic role was sheer stupidity. Hoffman was a superb actor and Sumner is basically Sting's nepobaby with no acting talent or charisma at all. I think Paltrow is an awful actress but compared to Fanning was 1000x more lively, believable, glamourous as opposed to Fanning's wooden, judgemental, po-faced, dowdy and dreary Marge. She was a horrible choice to play a glamourous socialite type. Even her sister Elle Fanning would have been a smarter choice honestly.

[@L_Martin]

I have to say the disguise scene reminded me of Rochester disguising himself as a fortune-teller woman in 'Jane Eyre' lol The director withheld the "reveal" shot of what Tom looked like, and I have to confess me and my friend who I watched this with burst out laughing. I think the very large wig did it. Unintentionally very comedic moment.

[@jamesbyrne9312]

Elliot is stings som

[@percy4unow136]

Couldn't you have found a moderator with a non-nasal voice who would ask interpretive, deeper questions?

[@bobburroughs6241]

They're in colour! Marvellous series. What ARE Eliot Sumner? Probably no chance with those two as parents.

[@helenpaul67]

Something abt AS, just so bland n dull... Just like dorian. Dull all the way.

[@umbertoaguiar]

Please allow me to differ from the cheerleading crowd over here. First of all, it's strange that the cinematographer, who is probably the main responsible for the success of the series, is not in the Q&A. Maybe he was invited but couldn't attend? I don't think the series "captured" Patricia Highsmith's book because "Ripley" is so different to the book. Examples: The American detective who first meets Ripley doesn't exist in the book. Richard Greenleaf is not any near as rich in the book as he is in the series. Also, there is no enchanting Caravaggio in the book. Of course not. The idea of tracing a parallel between Ripley and Caravaggio is preposterous. Ripley is not as immoral and criminal in the book as he is in the series. He never tried to cash the cheques, for example. These are from the book: " ...He wasn't stealing money from anybody.Before he went to Europe, he thought, he'd destroy the cheques..." "...Yet he had a feeling of guilt. When he had said to Ms. Greenleaf just now . I will do everything I can...Well, he meant it. He wasn't trying to fool anybody..." Also, Ripley is a loner but not solitary in the book. As a matter of fact, a group of young people visits him in the ship before his departure to Europe. And this is the description of Freddie Miles in the book: "...a young man with red hair and a loud sports shirt...He was also overweight". Any similarity with the skinny actress wearing stylish 21st century dark clothes in the Netflix series? More from the book: “He could feel the belligerence growing in Freddie Miles as surely as if his huge body were generating a heat that he could feel across the room. Freddie was the kind of ox who might beat up somebody he thought was a pansy" Can anyone imagine Sting’s daughter as an “ox’ with a “huge body” and able to beat up a “pansy”? Ah, the irony! I don't need to ask why they cast the daughter of a celebrity to play a big, bully man but it's very sad to think about better and more suitable actors who didn't get the job because their fathers are unknown civil servants, bank clerks and so on. And it is a sure thing that the producers are all about "equality". The hypocrisy. Another striking difference is the sensuality present in the book and even more in the two films but absent in the antiseptic Netflix series where Dickie and Marge act like brother and sister. There are many more examples of blatant differences between the book and the Netflix series. I could go on. So, no. "Ripley" didn't "capture" the book. The two film versions were also unfaithful to the book but they did capture the book. The spirit of the story is there, the actors are far superior to the actors in "Ripley", there is no political agenda steering the films as it happens in "Ripley", the sensuality and intimacy one would expect from young people at the height of their sexuality is in the films but completely absent from the tamed Netflix's series. Most posters on KZbin think that the film with Matt Damon was the only one about the book "The Talented Mr. Ripley". I guess they never watched anything made before the 1990s in a sign of a culturally impoverished society? There is a film which I think it’s the best film based on the book even if it is the most distant from the book because of its ending: "Plein Soleil " with Alan Delon who was 25 at the time. The exact age of Ripley in the book. It was filmed just a few years after the publication of the book so it shows a more authentic Italy where Rome's streets, for example, are not deserted as they are in "Ripley". Many posters on KZbin praise the performance of Andrew Scott, the Netflix actor . Their most amusing comments are the ones where they say he is the best Ripley despite the fact that he is so different to the Ripley in the book . Beginning with the age. Ripley is 25 in the book. At 47 and looking it, Andrew Scott is old enough to be the father of Matt Damon (29) and Alain Delon (25) at the time of their films. Second, Ripley is funny. He makes Richard laugh. He does a funny pantomime at some point in the book, for example. But the Netflix actor looks miserable and too serious all the time. He looks like those serial killers in Scandinavian noir series. Ripley is subservient, funny, charming and apparently harmless. It’s a shock when the Ripley played by Matt Damon and Alain Delon murders Dickie ( Phillippe in the French movie). It’s unexpected. But the Netflix personage is just too obvious! He looks like a psychopath so there is no surprise, no shock when he kills Greenleaf. Incidentally, this is from an interview with Patricia Highsmith in 1988: “Highsmith thinks that handsome Alain Delon was excellent as Ripley in Plein Soleil/Purple Noon (1959), René Clément’s adaptation of The Talented Mr. Ripley,” And this is what Patricia Highsmith said in a recorded conversation at the British Library when asked why she changed her mind and decided to write a sequel to "The Talented Mr. Ripley" : "Maybe, in a curious way, The French film affected me in a positive way because Alain Delon did such a good job … the right age ….One hundred percent correct" But it's not only Andrew Scott who is weak as Tom Ripley. One just needs to watch Jude Law (27 at the time of Minghella's film) as Richard, Matt Damon or Alain Delon as Tom, Seymour Hoffman as Freddie and Marie Laforêt as Marge to know that. And then all the posts about the beautiful black and white cinematography! It fooled me as well for a while and I also praised the black and white filming before. But the series was shot with colour ! They removed it in the editing. Netflix does have a copy in colour but it’s unlikely that they will ever release it. Or maybe they will when they have milked the black and white version long enough. Much has been said about the cinematography of "Ripley". It is truly magnificent but some images in "Plein Soleil' are even better and that is because of the "voluptuous" colours captured by Henri Decaë who was some sort of Renaissance man: Sound recordist and editor , Air Force photographer during World War II, photo journalist and then a revolutionary cinematographer who worked with Louis Malle, Jean Pierre Melville, René Clément , Claude Chabrol, Godard, Truffaut. "Ripley" is a success despite the seriously miscast actors, the distortion of the original story in order to fit Netflix's far left political agenda, the antiseptic tone of the series , the dumbed-down "translation effects" . The effects really irritated me. The use of effects to translate words in newspapers and even on the wall of buildings is not a new idea although many people will think it is "new, therefore good''. They did that mainly in low budget films in the 30s and 40s when cinema was still maturing. That distracting , intrusive effect kills what Jean-Claude Carrière called "absence of disbelief" . It's pure dumbing down. It’s cultural homogenisation. All in all, the success of "Ripley" despite its many serious shortcomings is a sad indication of the world we live in. On the other hand, I suspect the main reason for the success of the series is its exquisite cinematography. But there is something wrong about a film where the images are more important than the story. This is especially noticeable in "Ripley" seeing that its director , a scriptwriter for the most of it, wrote the script of excellent films such as Schindler's List , A Civil Action, Moneyball etc. "Ripley" is a wasted opportunity. Netflix did it again

[@Jake-be9ji]

Black and white was a huge mistake.

[@tekkieman]

This show is horribly miscast in every way. Dreary looking and everyone far too old for their characters. Not to mention, having a talentless, woman nepo baby playing a male part. I turned this off after the second ep.

[@kenableken]

Its funny when people brag about not watching something 😂

[@philmickelsonscalves7585]

If you wanted to watch a show that’s exact like the original, you should just watch the original

[@johnrivers3813]

@@kenableken when people place their ego in disliking things and act superior in those who do are just boring people pretending they're deep.

[@mannatuu]

Despite a few flaws in the script which stretched credulity, it was a masterpiece in story telling and photographic cinema. So so enjoyed it . All were ''right for their role'' . Beat Matt Damon's Ripley hands down . Respect to you all and thank you for 3 enjoyable nights in. Maurizio was a joy.. and yes he was right.