Saltburn VS The Talented Mr Ripley - Who Did The Psychopath Better?

[@BrainPilot]

Which movie did you prefer out of the two? It's clear to see that they are definitely similar but i'm intrigued to see which one reigns supreme amongst you all! Let me know your thoughts below.

[@cjlaity1]

Ripley was a masterpiece. Saltburn is just an implausible mess.

[@marksmoviemenu1290]

Definitely, The Talented Mr. Ripley

[@yolandahall1247]

💯

[@leonardomaranhao2861]

Ripley. Even Tom would find owning a giant mansion all to himself to be useless. I really prefer the theory that Saltburn passed Oliver and twisted him to kill everyone.

[@maggyfrog]

wasn't ollie sticking it to the ground basically him broken over the fact that he didn't get the chance to sleep with felix? like, he'd still totally delete felix but it's twisted that he's more sad over the fact that he didn't "tick the box off his checklist" before he deleted him and now that ship has sailed.

[@bouncyshak]

Saltburn relies on every character being inexplicably charmed by Oliver for no reason (lazy writing and dumb characters), whereas Ripley constantly has to think on his feet to outsmart suspicious people, creating actual intrigue in the plot. No contest.

[@shaneh633]

Agreed!!!

[@julin8597]

Yes Also, Its unrealistic that the wealth was transferred to Oliver so easily. Wealthy people have so many things in place to rpotect them. Oliver would have had to face down a Team of lawyers before he ever got a dime. They would have intervened at every turn. Also the Butler would have gone out of his way to ensure Oliver is gone. Butlers know family secrets and often know how to protect the family and what to do if there is a threat to them, they have the authority to do so.. Also wealthy friends and family would not overlook this, one of their own dropping like flies now way, trust me they would be sticking their nose in and investigating what happened and not necessarily because they care. Oliver did not have the connections or the understanding of that world to successfully pull off what he did. I love the actor, he has what it takes but the writing let him down. I enjoyed the movie yes, it had so much potential.

[@bouncyshak]

@@julin8597 It was aesthetically lovely with good performances but the writing majorly let it down. All the gross shock value stuff in place of logical plotting actively made it unenjoyable for me.

[@Sarah-yj6yl]

⁠@@julin8597yes generations of wealth just transferred over to some randomer 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@EverythingInTheFrame]

Oliver does prey on peoples weaknesses, he feeds into the mothers ego and confirms her false theories of other people she has, he helps the sisters body dysmorphia making her feel less gross about her body, he even helps the friend (I’m struggling with names sorry) by making himself bottom of the pecking order instead of him. I do wish there was other people more suspicious of Oliver but the bath tub scene with the sister kind of was that

[@lynnellscott9079]

The Talented Mr. Ripley is the better movie to me.

[@barry4649]

It’s the better movie but I think Barry Keoghan’s performance was better

[@alexcaceres100]

Barry’s perfomance is way superior than anything Matt Damon ever did

[@lynnellscott9079]

@@alexcaceres100 Both actors did what needed to be done, but my reference was to the movie, Saltburn as a whole.

[@lynnellscott9079]

@@barry4649 A few of the scenes had me cringing. So, yes I'd agree with you there, but I personally enjoyed The Talented Mr. Ripley enough to watch it more than once whereas Saltburn once was enough.

[@gpcheng87]

agree. SB is TTMR's Gen Z offspring.

[@nomadicolours]

Ripley had more depth, we saw his layers, his conflict. We felt that last scene when he had to kill the one person he cared for. Saltburn was trying more to do a big reveal. And there was no need to spell out what he did. I did like the Saltburn aspect of not knowing who was the bad guy or is the family going to hurt him. But nothing can touch Ripley. It's classic. I have watched a few times. Saltburn was stylish, but lacked something. Ripley didn't try to be stylish, but the locations were characters in itself which brought style. It felt like another world.

[@BrainPilot]

Agree with all of those comments! Especially the one about the locations because they did add so much elegance to the movie.

[@bunnywavyxx9524]

I completely agree. You can't outdo the doer. Ripley did what he did with some remorse and internal conflict. I think Saltburn definitely felt like another world though

[@justschr]

@@bunnywavyxx9524Only in the movie version. The book version he’s calculated and has no remorse or conscience for his actions.

[@nataliaalfonso2662]

He didn’t care for that guy 😂😂😂😂 are you nuts?

[@nataliaalfonso2662]

There was obviously even more of a need to spell out what Oliver did bc I realize no one seems to get he was legitimately a vampire. That’s why Duncan was terrified of him. How did he show up knocking on the front door if the castle gates were closed!!?!! You see them closed behind him too.

[@TheFantasticFox822]

The Talented Mr Ripley is one of my favourite films ever. It was so suspenseful, and you could really feel Tom’s anxiety and shame driving him. Matt Damon and Jude Law were incredible in it. So were the rest of the cast. Just outstanding. Oliver seemed to be the more cold, murderous type that we commonly associate with psychopathy, whereas Tom worked himself into difficult corners where he chose murder rather than exposure and accountability (not saying either method was good, but Tom really took you on his ‘oh, fuck, what do I do now?’ journey). Saltburn was fascinating, but still, not a patch on The Talented Mr Ripley.

[@BrainPilot]

Yeah I feel I preferred Mr Ripley!

[@Flanole]

I thought Ripley was better because it managed to make me sympathize with his desires which makes the final scene shocking. Just when it seems Ripley has a shot at happiness, he throws it away for material desires. Ollie did not generate any empathy from me. His demeanor indicated a calculating personality from the beginning. Ollie was a murderer who planned his crime. Ripley often committed murder because the situation motivated him to act. Otherwise I agree with your analysis.

[@nightmoose]

I also think Ripley is the better story (and the obvious inspiration for Saltburn even though the director has denied it) but at the end he doesn't just kill his lover for material desires, he does it because his lover is friends with Dickie's entire circle of contacts and will inevitably expose him and his web of lies. He "has" to kill him on the ship out of self-preservation if he wants to keep living the lie and not go to prison. Great tragic ending as he continues to live in a cage of his own making.

[@jeffreywillstewart]

I didn't find Ollie attractive or charming enough to be so confident seducing everyone. And I'm not sure the sad sack fake back story would win them over so entirely.

[@jeffreywillstewart]

@@nightmoosecompared to a young Matt Damon?

[@saraearriazola4915]

i completely disagree

[@Hello-hello-hello456]

Ripley doesn't kill his lover for material wealth, it's so he doesn't get caught as a conman

[@DavidMichaelCommer]

Ripley is psychologically sophisticated and the plot made more sense, as unrealistic as some aspects of it may have been. Ripley wasn't just a poor guy who aspired to greater wealth; he was also gay at a time when there was no way to express that outwardly, and one could say that his inability to 'perform' as the person he really was resulted in him performing as someone who society rewarded simply for being who he was. He had an obsessive crush on Dickie, and if I am remembering correctly, he became dangerous to Dickie only after Dickie became bored with his friend and started to let him loose. Ripley's obsession wouldn't tolerate the rejection, and all that rage he held inside came out in a sudden explosion on the boat. The movie set us up to understand that Ripley had a highly versatile intelligence, and so all his manipulations of others that followed, and getting away with another murder even when Gwyneth Paltrow's character was onto him and told people, was not beyond the realm of belief. But Ripley didn't really come across as a psychopath because he seemed to have genuine affection or love for Dickie and genuine emotional reactions to killing him and to other events, especially the murder in the end. I read The Talented Mr. Ripley as a story of a social pariah with high intelligence desperately seeking the attentions of someone who embodies everything he wants to be, and whose obsessiveness *plus* the effect of people not respecting him driving him to make one terrible mistake after another, which he gets away with because he is smart enough to outthink everyone. Saltburn is a fun movie. Some aspects of it definitely draw from Ripley but the writing is not as sophisticated as Patricia Highsmith's, and it's a different kind of story-one that feels characteristic of 2020s storytelling by the revelation montage in the end that shows he plotted everything that would happen. The main character certainly is more of a psychopath than Ripley was. Ripley had genuine feelings. This character, it's eventually revealed, wasn't performing in the identity of someone else as Ripley did; he was performing his own identity, including his own feelings. He didn't have remorse for anyone he killed. The only real emotion he seemed to have was sexual arousal, and only in taboo situations. He didn't have any conventional relationships with anyone aside from the ones he performed. Beyond these differences, Ripley isn't just 'darker' in the end, it's emotionally disturbing specifically because we feel deep sympathy or perhaps pity for Tom Ripley because we felt his desperation throughout the movie and saw him as a lovesick puppy for the bulk of the movie, even if he was manipulating and using people. Halfway through Saltburn, we learn not only that Oliver lied about his family but that his parents appear to be perfectly nice, kind, loving and supporting people, and he is entirely cold to them and only concerned about himself and his plan being foiled. The scene with the uptight British family repressing their feelings in the morning showed that the whole family was mourning with expected mixed emotions, but that Oliver was not at all. He was totally cold. Then he brutally murdered the sister who it appeared during some scenes he may have had some kinds of human feelings for, and then the father and then the mother. And then he celebrated. That's psychopathic behavior. (And I'll add that because the movie is so wild, I choose to suspend disbelief, but being a contemporary movie with contemporary technologies, it's hard to accept that the police were not able to or interested in connecting him with the four separate murders of four different family members he happened to be with when each of them died. I mean...) I enjoyed Saltburn. My only 'issue' with it is that I read Barry Keoghan said that he feels the ending scene of Oliver celebrating alone and naked in the house was 'earned,' and that he feels that given everything that transpires, the audience is celebrating with him and feels he won over those horrible people even though he did horrible things. I didn't feel that way at all! Felix and his father and sister were not horrible. Felix in particular went out of his way to help Oliver when everyone at school except his one outcast friend shunned him. Even if we were told by several characters that Felix always chooses a new summertime plaything and that Felix would tire of him, the behavior we saw from Felix appeared to me that Felix was emotionally sensitive and he cared. His father cared enough to continue supporting his nephew. Victoria wasn't any worse than most people are. The mother and the cousin felt rather sociopathic and opportunistic, respectively, but not to the level that merits killing them. I mean, the guy slaughtered an entire family. If the aim was to give us something like Parasite, that did not work for me. Without the commentary that everyone got what they deserved, I liked the movie. If the movie was meant to show the triumph of poorer people over elite people-yikes. I don't think it worked. Either way, Ripley's writing was far superior to Saltburn's if we're talking psychological depth of characters and thoughtfulness of plot. The acting in both is excellent. Barry Keoghan is new to me and while I don't mind ogling if he wants to show off, I am more impressed with his acting chops than whatever he wiggles. Rosamund Pike is really made for narcissist-sociopath roles, and Archie Madekewe stole a lot of scenes. I found Jacob Elordi's performance the most moving and probably the greatest triumph given that he played the privileged playboy but played him with heart and if I were to come away from the movie with any moral, it would be that 'people in the one percent can be victims, too.' While a lot of the students at Oxford were shown shunning, insulting and looking down on Oliver, even before Oliver 'wooed' Felix, Felix was never unkind to Oliver, and he ended up dead because of his generosity. That could have come across as unbelievable, too contrived, etc., and Elordi made all the emotional twists and turns believable to me even amid a bunch of wildly wacky characters.

[@theloniouscoltrane3778]

Excellent comment. Are you a professional writer? Keep it up

[@JW-mw7sr]

I love both movies and I am so glad you did a comparison. Mr. Ripley felt like a more intimate movie rather than a lavish thriller. It was more about the individuals involved in the situation and they felt more like real people with real motivations and depth. The characters in Saltburn felt more like CHARACTERS.

[@BrainPilot]

Yeah that’s a good way of putting it. I feel like we really got to see how Ripley’s mind worked and his fantasy of quite literally becoming Dickie. Something which added a sick, haunting edge

[@sivannatalie]

This is a fair assessment

[@AREA-jp8vb]

The reason I like the ending to Saltburn, and the fact that Oliver didn’t face any consequences is because rich people normally don’t. No one cares about what happened to that family. We saw how little they cared when Pamela died, any “friends or family” are too self obsessed to look into the deaths.

[@bunnywavyxx9524]

Exactly that.. they merely accepted all the deaths. They won't even bother with grief being an internal challenge. The mother signed away the home thinking Oliver was like a helpless fawn despite being unscathed from all the deaths because he knew none of them for long.

[@ScottShedd123]

In reality the Royal family would care. The owner of the estate was Knighted, that's why he had the title of Sir. Anyone that understands British royalty would know that the ending is complete BS, Oliver would never have the rights to a Royal estate.

[@PowerDiva]

I think this is what makes the movie so interesting. Oliver is obviously the villain, but that doesn't mean that his victims were innocent. We're so trained to look for good vs evil in films, but what happens when everyone is evil - and one just comes out on top? This is summed up perfectly by a line Oliver says in the end... about how he loved Felix, but sometimes he hated him too.

[@felin_de_la_nuit]

I love your analysis on that, I haven't thought of that "the greatest of the evils" ​@@PowerDiva

[@justschr]

@@PowerDivaFelix’s downfall/character flaw was his saviour complex.

[@blessing291]

for character depth it's Mr.Ripley...for the cinematography it's Saltburn, it's beautifully shot🤌

[@BrainPilot]

That’s a fair point!

[@etamommy]

@@BrainPilotI think Ripley is beautifully shot too. To me it is the better film (Ripley). I give Saltburn credit for trying to be a thriller AND a somewhat humorous satire but do not think it was wholly successful at fusing the genres. To me as easy to negatively judge as Felix’s family was - there is no pay off in Olly’s infiltrating and defeating them. He is far too evil and as bad or worse than those he has bested.

[@Ares14]

I think the cinematography is amazing in both but I'd still give the edge to Ripley for it's set pieces. A lot of beautiful Italian locations in that film..

[@rumblefish9]

Ripely felt grander. Cinematography was better.

[@lumityviktuuristanartist4100]

Ripley looked better Imo but saltburn looked good too

[@arontamas5639]

I prefer Barry as an actor over Matt Damon ANY DAY but the way Mr Ripley has been portrayed is MASTER CLASS. Way more layered than Oliver! Barry is great at playing creeps and he definitely raised his game in Salburn. However the writing in The talented Mr. Ripley is way more complex, his motive is more understandable, he is an opportunist till the point he meets Dickie and there comes his oppressed human desire too, to be loved but the way he calculates things for his own benefit, causing more and more trouble in others lives.....the things that are beneficial for him only matter, no matter through how many lives he must go...... At the end of the day he is just a psychopath.

[@necros8715]

The french movie Purple Noon from 1960 is the first adaptation of the talented Mr. Ripley. Starring Alain Delon as Tom Ripley. Highly recommended!

[@marianaaguiar2761]

The first movie has more depth, which is something I feel lacks in movies today.

[@BrainPilot]

That’s fair! Yeah there was way more set up in Mr Ripley!

[@KC-ez6yv]

Same

[@daviduhr4941]

I think there were a couple marked differences that made TTMR the far superior film to Saltburn. The first, as you talked about was the layers to Ripley's character. He was constantly in conflict with himself. He didn't see himself as the bad guy and really the depth of his character and Damon's performance was absolutely remarkable. At the same time as you sort of feared him and what he was capable of, you almost liked Tom Ripley and sympathized with what he was going through. In contrast, Oliver was cold and calculating the entire time. Even though they made a poor attempt to veil his motives and his sickness, it was clear to me from the beginning that he was consumed with darkness. In the end, the only redeeming qualities that he seemed to possess were creations; part of the con. Olie was sinister the entire time and the entire movie was a game that he orchestrated. Compelling as he was, this made the movie seem shallow. The second bit was the way the movies treated the audience. TTMR was a masterclass in storytelling. All of the little moments that you pick up with a second and third view. All of the little glances that hint at Ripley's true nature. The way Dickie was portrayed and his relationships with everyone around him. It made the grandeur of the whole thing very believable, where it could easily have fallen flat if not done well. I mean, the story was utterly ridiculous on the surface, but it was handled so expertly that you almost had no problem believing that Ripley could be himself one moment, and Dickie Greenleaf the next. For Saltburn, the ending really killed it for me. Throughout the movie, there were (not so) subtle hints that made the ending reveal completely unnecessary. Watching the reveal montage, i couldnt help but feel disrespected as a viewer, watching Emerald explain literally everything in the film, as though I couldnt put the pieces together myself and hadnt already come to the same conclusions that the reveal led me to... And much like her first film, Promising Young Woman, she tried too hard to tie everything up into a nice clean bow.... in PYW they should have ended the film when Cary Mulligan's character was murdered and her body disposed of... in Saltburn, a perfect place to end the movie would have been after the "chance" encounter with Elsbeth in the coffee shop, where she says "you should come back to Saltburn" and then he watches her leave, through the window, a smile creeping onto her face. I think if the movie had ended there, instead of explaining every last detail, this movie would have been one of my favorites of the year. instead, it was a very good movie that fell flat in the third act.

[@denverjustbecause8599]

I really liked Saltburn but I think the Talented Mr. Ripley is superior because there was more suspense and the stakes were larger. Plus I found some of the characters in Saltburn a tad 2 dimensional.

[@BrainPilot]

Yeah i'd agree. Ripley takes it for me too!

[@bethje30]

The Talented Mr Ripley, because Tom seems more human and makes you feel it more, the consequences are scarier and more realistic. Saltburn beautiful to look at but I cared a lot less about the characters, they are just more distant. Very good movie I don't know why people found it shocking. It's always fascinating to get a peek at the British upper classes, its just a world upon its own.

[@hoodhippychick]

That tub and grave scene were so SHOCKING to me I literally covered my eyes 😫

[@mrmagoozle]

Ha! You now understand my Tom Ripley comment. How’s the peeping Tommy? How’s the peeping…. Tommy Tommy Tommy.

[@thepurpleone5959]

lol love that line

[@swanstep]

Your bringing up Phil Seymour-Hoffman's excellent character is a reminder that Oliver never really faces any serious challenge like that. Venetia and Farleigh both *talk* big but Oliver squashes them both easily, and the main butler-dude never even tries to save the family from Ollie. It's a reminder that Fennell's poison pen makes the aristocracy pitiful and weak and unadmirable at every turn.

[@Problematicphilosophie]

I’m so happy you did this comparison! I’ve been waiting for someone to do this ever since I saw saltburn

[@BrainPilot]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@cherylrleigh1912]

The connections between "Saltburn" (2023), Patricia Highsmith's 1955 novel, and the 1999 film adaptation of "The Talented Mr. Ripley" can similarly be observed in the 1990 play and its subsequent 1993 film adaptation, "Six Degrees of Separation."

[@richperez2168]

You're supposed to make it less obvious you copy pasted, not more obvious.

[@hemadririchhariya466]

I watched saltburn and liked it but then saw people comparing it to mr Ripley so I watched it yesterday and wow. Saltburn holds nothing on this movie it was a good movie but the emotions I felt for mr Ripley are not even close to that of saltburn. The scenes, the acting, the storyline everything was perfect. And the ending ohh the ending it was amazing i nearly cried because I can feel the emotions for Tom and also hates him I don't feel anything at the end of saltburn it just ended. Also the portrayal of grief, love and identity is so beautiful in Tom's character. So overall I loved mr Ripley it got way more depth than saltburn.

[@jonbon6843]

the movie, yes, but I will say however that Barry Keoghan's performance was definitely better than Matt Damon's

[@randywhite3947]

@@jonbon6843nope

[@FacheChanteDeux]

Matt Damon's performance in TMR was beyond insane, it was more like Silence of the Lambs. Saltburn reminds me of Brideshead Revisited mixed with Shallow Grave and a little bit of Trainspotting.

[@christinas4528]

Every actor in Ripley was perfectly sublime. They captured not just rich people, but a type of old money East coast wealth, at a very specific time, the 1950's. Both Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Cate Blanchett crafted performances that were not a lot of screen time, but were pitch perfect. Cate Blanchett's role was expanded because she was so good as Meredith.

[@twhis9843]

Matt Damon’s best performance. Great acting on any scale.

[@Zumcho]

At the end of Ripley, we realize along with Tom, that he can never truly rest while he's pretending to be Dickie. Whereas in Saltburn, Ollie seems to have taken out everyone that was on to him. Although, Farleigh and the butler had his number too. So maybe Ollie shouldn't have celebrated his success too early. 🤷‍♀️

[@mbanerjee5889]

Talent Mr. Ripley is way better. Tom's motivations are more understandable and thus makes him a more likeable character. While Oliver's obsession with Felix makes sense, Oliver's hatred for his family seems shallow. Too much of Saltburn is reliant on shock value and the ending feels rushed.

[@buzzardbeatniks]

The Talented Mr Ripley is a better movie Saltburn is a better music video

[@kimvanfelton3413]

Excellent way to put it.

[@Melanatedbarbie1]

Talented Mr Ripley is way better mainly because, like you said, there were moments where you felt like he was about to get caught and the whole scheme was about to get blown. Then he somehow bounced back, which made the film intriguing because you never knew what was about to happen next and it kept you on the edge. In saltburn, he got away with everything, which was too easy and unbelievable that he was never pressed about these deaths happening around him. Both great movies but Mr.Ripley for the win🙌🏽

[@AlbionTVLondon]

Ripley is decidedly better because it was written by a seasoned author who knows how to develop characters and drive sophisticated plot to conclusion. Saltburn is of course also very very good and is a very stylish production of decadence, sex and dark gothic sex, but it lacks depth of plot structure and it fails the test of realism. Saltburn is more of a fantasy whereas Ripley is solid thriller and a real page turner.

[@donnamoore9898]

Talented Mr. Ripley was a complete masterpiece of cinema. Ripley was an awkward outsider. Allowed briefly to inhabit the world of the elite only when he knew his place and then quickly discarded when they grew tired of him. His crimes were not premeditated but rather impulsive acts of self preservation. In contrast Oliver was a calculated psychopath whose motives weren’t clear.

[@kimvanfelton3413]

I struggled with Saltburn - felt too predictable, style over substance, and relied on 'shock value' with nothing new to say. The performances were good though. Tom Ripley was a despicable loser in some ways but sympathetic in others. The characters in TTMR all felt more nuanced and fleshed out. I also prefer the cinematography in TTMR. Something about Saltburn was a little too sleek for me. The film also felt a little too satisfied with itself and Oliver just wasn't an interesting anti-hero to watch for two hours - just a sociopathic middle class dude. Tom was more tormented, most definitely a leach, but not without real human feelings. His murders provoked by heartbreak and/or self preservation. There wasn't much joy in it, but it did afford him a lifestyle that he also aspired to.

[@yuyij6703]

Watched both but I still like TTMR more. It’s more realistic and the victims are not as naive as in Saltburn.

[@alexanderwright6001]

Great analysis! Loved both films equally! Each bringing its own artistic style and pace 👌

[@BrainPilot]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@mikkuzi6719]

I've never seen the Talented Mr Ripley, I've read some recap of the movie once, but when I saw Saltburn I immediately thought of this movie. Saltburn's not bad, he's got good performances, good staging but he's so predictable, 2 minutes of film and I already knew how it was going to end and I wasn't wrong, ok everything except the little dance at the end. I'm going to see the 99. I totally agree with you, something I wanted to add is that Saltburn's cinematography is good, but it's not just cinematography that man lives on.

[@jovito8163]

I felt much more for the character Matt Damon created. I almost wanted him to get away with it, I felt his pain. I did not feel that with Saltburn. I also found it completely implausible , predicable, with only shock value to keep it going. I did not find Saltburn a good script at all. Writing was completely unoriginal.

[@michellecrocker2485]

Ripley, I noticed was always in this mindset that once he was worried about being found out, you were his next victim because he knew the consequences for even murdering dickie. This was the 50s so he likely was facing capital punishment. You were as safe as long as you didn’t pose a threat

[@zanyzana66]

Thanks. I knew Saltburn reminded me of something, but I couldn’t quite bring it to mind. I feel better now!

[@__ZANE__]

Ripley was done first in a movie called "Purple Noon". check that one out for a more fitting ending.

[@mr.mammuthusafricanavus8299]

LOL I totally thought about Talented Mr. Ripley as I was watching Saltburn :P

[@ishathakor]

ripley is a solid psychological thriller, especially the second half after he kills dickie. saltburn is just kind of bland throughout. with ripley i was genuinely anxious for tom. with saltburn i wasn't invested in any of the characters.

[@azovandy14.88]

TTMR was an instant classic that remains excellent and a great watch to today where Saltburn was sleek and entertaining but doubt it becomes a classic.

[@spatialeternalhorizon]

its like as if the writers and director watched parasite, the talented mr. ripley & knives out and completely missed the fucking point

[@LoversLane16]

Mr Ripley haunted me for years. Granted i was very young when i saw it, but it was scary thinking people were capable of something like that. There was lots of panic and chaos in that movie too. Saltburn just felt like a long con.

[@celemax4692]

I remember I used to really like Ripley when I was a teenager, because of the settings, the actors and the script; I think it could have been better but it was a good movie. I watched Saltburn thinking it would be a similar movie to “Call Me By Your Name”, then I realized all of the characters from movie were annoying and the script wasn’t interesting. Some scenes were disgusting, and at one point I thought anything could happen, because didn’t realize where the plot was going. Two things were good though Barry Keoghan and the cinematography, that’s it. But The Talented Mr. Ripley had class and the character of Ripley was far way better developed in my opinion.

[@flygrace]

I read Patricia Highsmith's Ripley novels (there are five) years ago and love them. It's very unsettling feeling sympathetic towards such a wicked character and hoping they get away with all their crimes! The film was good but Matt Damon was nothing like my imagined Tom Ripley so that was a problem for me.

[@TheAshMcG]

Did you see Ripley's Game (2002) with John Malkovich. Wow, what a character...I loved Damon's work, but Malkovich was a true psycho.

[@flygrace]

@@TheAshMcG No, I'll have to track that down. Thanks.

[@randywhite3947]

@@flygracewatch Purple Noon and The American Friend

[@flygrace]

@@randywhite3947 Plein Soleil! 😀 saw hat many years ago.

[@horacebones493]

I like Saltburn, it was a fun movie to indulge in the drama and the Machiavellian/ manipulation tricks Oliver played. Buuuutt, The Talented Mr. Ripley is a better film that doesn’t rely on pure shock to get people to talk about it.

[@BrainPilot]

Yeah I'm more on the side of The Talented Mr Ripley!

[@Ginger-ou6bs]

I find it amazing how everyone in these comments is absolutely sleeping on Saltburn’s substance. Emerald Fennell used sprinkles of Shakespeare, Greek mythology and Ripley to weave a story about desire and wealth and set it in the 2000s, which just so happens to be the time period when celebrity culture and reality tv exploded and suddenly the general public wanted to be famous for being famous. I don’t think that’s a coincidence at all given the themes. Ripley is a strong movie but Saltburn clears… hope it gets the praise it deserves in years to come.

[@Fresh_Daisy501]

Emerald Fennell also used two critically acclaimed 60s British thrillers "The Innocents" and "The Servant" that enriches her film psychologically. For example, the film plays with the disparity between the British upper and middle classes and the strange delusions that exist within that gap. It's interesting that this tension isn't between the rich and poor, but between the wildly rich and the middle class.

[@AmandaVieiraMamaesouCult]

Yeah, Saltburn really went over these dudes heads. The tones of the movies are even different, you could see they had very different objectives, even if some plot points were similar.

[@2009LuckyStar]

Mr Ripley wanted to be him and in saltburn, Oliver just wanted the house.

[@hopeemch8511]

Saltburn's psychopath didn't reveal himself until the last ten minutes of the movie -hardly playing fair. We knew going in with Mr. Ripley what he was up to. The suspense was all the traps that stood in his way of achieving his goal and whether or not he would be found out. I preferred Ripley.

[@Sarah-yj6yl]

Mmm saltburn is very predictable

[@saraearriazola4915]

@@Sarah-yj6ylsuch a lie

[@Melbnolan]

The Talented Mr Ripley edged out Saltburn for me.

[@NikkiBWithTheAdHd]

I like both movies a lot but Saltburn is the winner imo. Barry’s acting in the role was top tier. Plus you have some phenomenal actors and actresses in Saltburn. Which Ripley had the same. I just find both films, very different. But, also very similar. If that makes sense 😂 Also, Jacob is beyond gorgeous! Like, it should be a crime to be that attractive. I mean, don’t get me wrong. Jude Law is a stunningly attractive man as well. But, Jacob, my God Jacob lol! It’s criminal I tell you, criminal 😂

[@randywhite3947]

Jude law is on another level

[@georginakey6298]

It’s difficult to quantify these two films-I loved them both for different reasons. Saltburn is a dark comedy so the tone is very different from the serious drama thriller of Ripley. Yes, the endings are quite different but they suit the tone of each film perfectly in my opinion.

[@simplyrowen]

I watched Saltburn first. Aside the cinematography, I didn’t care for the screenplay-it needed a lot more rewrites. I watched TTMR tonight for the first time, and I thought immediately “It’s a better made Saltburn”. That’s why I came looking to see if anyone has made the comparison. TTMR doesn’t have that gorgeous cinematography, but it doesn’t need it, it’s a superior screenplay and film overall.

[@gg00777]

Look up Purple Noon, the earliest adaptation of the talented Mr Ripley made in 1960

[@BrainPilot]

I'll have to give it a search!

[@jessicagudino8461]

Alain Delon ❤

[@pepsicola0786]

As someone who watched saltburn before the talented mr ripley.. I felt the plot was made to be more entertaining through shock/ graphic moments in the movie but otherwise felt quite hollow. The talented mr ripley felt whole without being too flashy. You could actually feel sorry for Tom because we saw there was a part of him that was hesitant at some point. That hurt and probably never came to fully accept that evil inside of him until he had to kill the person he probably had genuine feelings for. He's not happy at the end and that's somewhat more satisfying to watch because the money and materials won't ever take that darkness inside of him away. In saltburn, oliver gets the estate and is dancing around.. that's it?? That's boring and hollow.

[@veragrig8645]

They got similarities but Ripley was obsessed with a persona, and had feelings in a strange way, while Olive was obsessed with the fortune and fame, and while Ripley had Dickie as a source, Olive used Felix as a tool; cold, a-human, logical.

[@maggyfrog]

the talented mr ripley is better by leagues imho, although saltburn isn't bad.

[@IndigobluBeauty]

Im so glad you did this vid! I was going to actually suggest you watch this one when i saw your response to my last comment! Talented mr ripley is one of my favorite movies and one of my goals is to see the amalfi coast in italy. I liked it better but i liked saltburn too though ive felt people praising it maybe haven’t seen the latter. Happy new year!

[@BrainPilot]

Hope you enjoyed it!

[@IndigobluBeauty]

@@BrainPilot i did

[@rachels.8051]

Wouldn’t the difference between Ripley and Ollie be that Ripley was a sociopath and Ollie a psychopath? Ollie’s actions were clearly shown to be premeditated. Ripley’s were an emotional reaction to rejection and weren’t as calculated.

[@APimpNamedNastyNesto]

I think the thing that tickled me the most with how moral corrupt 😂he was. That in reality dude was in middle class life he wasn’t even really struggling like that 😅 I saw 👀 his dedication dude stayed on point and achieved his mission 🕺 😢into victory. I like Saltburn ending because he wasn’t in love with Felix or his family. He was in love with the lifestyle. I feel Mr. Ripley villain had a different outlook on his con and Tom mentality was different.

[@BrainPilot]

Yeah they were. It’s so similar but also so different!

[@SirtenlySurprized]

I don't know if this is a fair comparison see them as very different films even though obsession is a core feature in both, motivations were very different. Tom's psychology is more sensitive than Oliver's. Tom killed out of emotional impulses born out of desperation. Oliver was far more cunning and there was a coldness and method to what he did. Tom, to me, is a more sympathetic character than Oliver. However, Oliver was more complicated and that made him more interesting. Both are stellar films.

[@teeeesh4420]

Both films are so epic and wonderful

[@BrainPilot]

Definitely!

[@gretaenglish3519]

Ripley was definitely better! Much more layered, complex and with consequences (as you said).

[@BrainPilot]

Yeah I feel Ripley delivered more!

[@rodycaz8984]

Ripley has WAY more substance. Saltburn is all style. For my money, Ripley wins.

[@marksmoviemenu1290]

Have yet to see Saltburn, but it’s definitely on my must see list! The Talented, Mr. Ripley is near perfect to me and is one of my favorite films for many of the same reasons you mentioned. I see from other comments that you have not seen René Clément‘s 1960 French film Purple Noon, based on the same Ripley novel. Excellent in its own right, but I miss the more in depth structure of Anthony Minghella‘s version. Alain Delon gives a riveting portrayal of Tom Ripley, but I think the film does a disservice by not covering the gay aspect of the original story. I would love to hear you thought after you see Purple Noon.

[@BrainPilot]

I'll definitely have a look into that!

[@sarkahalastova9667]

Purple Noon does a disservice by casting a gorgeous charismatic star as Tom Ripley. Good film, but I couldn't believe for a second that Delon would need more than just walk across the room and smoke a cigarette to get every girl in the world.

[@randywhite3947]

⁠​⁠@@sarkahalastova9667purple moon made delon a star

[@sarkahalastova9667]

@@randywhite3947 I was joking of course. Still, if he was unknown actor, that does not disprove my point. He was absolutely stunning.

[@drewm6119]

If you haven't watched Saltburn yet I'd honestly recommend leaving comparisons at the door! I love TTMR and Purple Noon, but Saltburn felt like a different animal to me. That being said, the way Keoghan is styled in the last act felt like a very clear nod to Alain Delon to me.

[@clarisahernandez5280]

Is Elspeth allowed to leave Saltburn to Ollie since the husband is a sir?

[@realSimoneCherie]

Eh Saltburn is billed as a comedy, albeit a dark one. Depth of character development, pacing and more just can’t be compared apples to apples but I think they did a remarkable job with the level of character development they DID manage to pull off

[@stevenmalham2234]

Riipley is SO much better. Matt Damon's performance was Oscar worthy.

[@BrainPilot]

Yeah I think Damon is great in that role!

[@rossrreyes]

Saltburn IS The Talented Mr Ripley done by Gossip Girl writers. One film is for teenagers, the other for adults

[@BrainPilot]

Yeah it's true, there's major similarities isn't there!

[@suzetteanthony5181]

I saw both movies and liked them. I liked the Talented Mr Ripley the best because I felt he couldn't be happy. I also loved the photography and wardrobe. Saltburn was colder and darker in photography and story. In both movies, it showed the rich befriending a lower class person for entertainment then when they were bored wanting them gone. Both movies are a must-see.

[@treyturner8446]

TTMR is a masterpiece; Saltburn doesn’t really work by the end. No comparison. Ollie’s master plan would only work if he had charisma, which he absolutely doesn’t.

[@justhereforagoodtime88]

Really bugs me as an armchair psychologist that matt damon's ripley is labeled a psychopath/sociopath. Imo he was borderline with narcissistic traits. None of his murders were pre-meditated and he expressed remorse during and after the killings except for freddie. His identity disturbance and instability is textbook BPD.

[@deadlvrs]

Completely agree.

[@oceanlover3530]

They’re both great films with great actors. I enjoyed both equally. ✌🏻👍🏻✌🏻

[@paduanicoc.7019]

I'll go with Ripley, the thing with that film is it has that layers that explore the character of Ripley. It showed that despite Ripley has bad intentions at the very beginning it explore his character being kind, thinking, manipulative, strategic, regrets which made me feel empathetic and feared at the same time towards him whereas Oliver is straight obsessive at the very beginning. The film Ripley executed the character builds or character arc of the main lead. When it comes to main lead's performance I love both, Barry is phenomenal and Matt also did a great job. Matt executed perfectly that very charming, kind, always smiling which is scary as we have no idea what really is on his mind. Matt is talented as being con artist and a natural psychopath. Meanwhile Barry is that shy, timid, psychopath but more of being obsessive/narcissist. Ripley still has more layers of the story, especially to the main lead Ripley.

[@rohnehill]

You’re leaving out Plein Soleil/Purple Noon (1960) in your comparison here. Minghella’s Highsmith adaptation branches out more from the book.

[@BrainPilot]

Yeah i've not seen it! I should probably give it a watch

[@asgo7320]

I don't think Oliver wanted to become Felix. I think he was just in love with him, and it became an obsession of wanting to be near him all the time. That's why after Felix's death Oliver was wearing his clothes. And in the last scene when Oliver is dancing through Saltburn he blows a kiss to a photo of Felix and him together. So he still loves Felix after all those years.

[@knuman]

Very different movies. One is more of a traditional thriller, the other is a twisted, very dark comedy of sorts.

[@zachlen48]

Ripley , 100%. Saltburn tried too hard to be Intellectual. Even the last scene of Oliver dancing nude was thrown in due to it being directed by a woman.

[@thepurpleone5959]

First thing I thought of, both are really good films.

[@mc-ge2bt]

I'm often left with feeling that the better parts of Saltburn were direct rip offs of Talented Mr. RIpley.

[@FrithonaHrududu02127]

Tough call. I gotta go with Ripley it's such a good movie.

[@BrainPilot]

Yeah it's such a good film!

[@FrithonaHrududu02127]

@@BrainPilot it's one of the few movies that really outshines the book. There are a few subtle changes in the movie that I thought really added to it. Also the acting was a straight up master class. I'm from Boston so I kind of root for Matt Damon. Netflix has a series based on the Ripley books coming out, I'm pretty excited. I'm a bit of a sociopath so it's nice to see a fellow sociopath as a protagonist.

[@cherylrleigh1912]

The exploration of autism and obsession is intriguing, as obsession often emerges as a defining aspect of autism. This trait is typically more prominent in individuals with high-functioning autism, who frequently exhibit a profound fixation on particular topics or areas of interest. For example, individuals with autism may display an unwavering commitment to refining a specific skill or an insatiable appetite for absorbing all available literature and information about a particular subject. In the context we are delving into, Ollie's fixation was directed squarely at Felix and the profound symbolism he represented.

[@ScottShedd123]

Oliver wasn't autistic, his friend was, the numbers guy. Oliver was more Narcissistic personality disorder with sociopathic traits.

[@cherylrleigh1912]

@@ScottShedd123 It is not a mere coincidence that Oliver Quick bears a striking resemblance to Elon Musk, who openly shared during his hosting gig on Saturday Night Live in 2021 that he identifies with some aspects of Asperger syndrome, although he has not received a formal medical diagnosis. It is worth mentioning that individuals on the autism spectrum can also exhibit characteristics associated with malignant narcissism and sociopathy.

[@ScottShedd123]

@@cherylrleigh1912 Oh bs if he was Autistic and obsessed with Felix, he wouldn't go around seducing everyone else. Sociopaths are known for their lying and bisexuality also using it for a means to an end, this is not the behavior identified with an Autism diagnosis. Also he wouldn't be able to handle all that stimulation if he was Autistic. Like I said before his friend Micheal was Autistic.

[@zombiesingularity]

It had nothing to do with autism.

[@AmandaVieiraMamaesouCult]

There was nothing autistic about Ollie.

[@marikoum4141]

The Talented Mr. Ripley is more talented :) and the story (plot) too.

[@parisbreakfast]

Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) with Alec Guinness has a similar premise. Ripley is far superior to the copycat Saltburn imo. You can’t top Patricia Highsmith’s writing.

[@BrainPilot]

I've not heard of that one! Interesting

[@shadowprince101]

Saltburn is absolutely a better portrayal of psychopathy. I always felt Ripley was pretty lacking in that regard.

[@ScottShedd123]

Ripley was more Borderline personality.

[@shadowprince101]

@@ScottShedd123 Jude Law in that movie seemed more sociopathic than him, definitely a narcissist

[@ScottShedd123]

@@shadowprince101 Yeah, Jude Law's character was narcissistic. The whole relationship dynamic reminded me of the dance between a Borderline and a Narcissist. The push pull. That's why I thought Ripley was more Borderline than Sociopath. Borderline's are known to kill out of jealousy. Psychopaths kill for pleasure. So in that regard Ripley played a better Borderline.

[@bachelorr1110]

Anthony Minghella's Mr. Ripley should have been his Oscar best picture winner; not The English Patient. The Talented Mr. Ripley is his magnum opus. Saltburn is a triumph! Still, the movie and its director are many levels of grandeur and genius bellow Minghella and his 1999 film. The talented Mr. Ripley is a crown jewel of cinema, whereas Saltburn is one of the best movies of 2023...

[@milkyb9546]

Ripley is the better film

[@BrainPilot]

That’s fair! I think I’m leaning more towards that movie

[@JayVeerayano]

I prefer the talented Mr. Ripley.

[@neotokioboi5152]

I would like to have share an idea that I believe separates these films in a large way. When discussing the Matt Damon film, I think that it is incredibly important to take the title into account. The title lends credence to two separate lines of dialogue that will segway into my eventual interpretation about the film overall. The first is a line from dickie himself. Dickie says "That's three. Nobody should have more than one talent." when asking tom about tom's set of skills, that ironically aid him in his cursed adventure throughout the film. Then Dickie's father says "What a waste of lies and opportunities." when speaking to tom an marge. This is what I am aiming at due to the title of the film. It's a tragedy for the killer and all victim in his path. A little bit of an odd angle to take for a story. But I think that that's the angle nonetheless. Tom Ripley was a talented individual. He wasted his talent by using it to fly too close to the sun. He ruined his own life and ended several others, when he could have used his talent to build a life that would result in luxury and comfort anyways. He was incredibly talented. Oliver was incredibly intelligent, yet intellect isn't going to launch you into the lap of luxury. Ollie had to play robin hood with a tad bit more murder. Ollie also WON in the end. Scott free. Whereas Tom was stuck in his own lie.

[@catiagoncalves2590]

Both movies are amazing. But I prefer Saltburn the cinematography and the house itself is a character. But Mr Ripley is soo good too. I love Matt Damon's interpretation.

[@aly4920]

Great video to start the new year 🎉 I preferred The Talented Mr. Ripley as a film, but Ollie is just evil and has no remorse. Plus, he can wait for years to get what he wanted. Scary.

[@BrainPilot]

Glad you enjoyed the video! Yes, I think i'd agree with that. I enjoyed seeing the ever present darkness that was there with Tom, and the fact that in the end he had to kill the person he was going to start a new life with. Showed that there was no end to the chaos

[@asgo7320]

You guys know that Talented mr Ripley is a copy of the french movie Purple Noon, right? Based on the novel of course.

[@luiscalzoncit2820]

Then it is not a copy. It is just another adaptation of the same story.

[@Ram90ification]

Saltburn to me is overly hyped with unncessary nudity thrown at your face and trying to add depth with his bisexuality power fetish but at the same time he was a whimp infront of Felix. But at the end he did it all for the money. Like what??

[@KateCarew]

Apples and oranges. Love them both. Rioley was TENSE, it was well written, acted and directed. There was a push and pull that drove the film. Saltburn had Barry, and Barry is amazing. I like the comedy. I wish they would’ve use Rosamund Pike a little bit more since her timing was genius. I wish the ending had been flushed out a little little bit better… But I thought it had a good pace, and moved along well, and it had enough Discomfort to make you squirm. I thought it was great. I don’t understand the hate that it is received I think for a sophomore film it’s very well executed and promising young woman never mind the title would be quite hard to live up to. I find it interesting that people seem to miss the entire point of the film, which is, that people who live in that social strata don’t need to be entertained by someone because they’re brilliant or fascinating. It’s like poverty porn for them. They didn’t mind him being around because he lent them an air of credibility m, that they’re down to earth and sympathetic to traffic types, he let them believe they were in touch with “the real people“. Never did they suspect he was insincere, with the exception of Felix. Felix was genuinely into him as a friend. He was kind. But sooner or later, he would’ve been engulfed by his families, shallow ways, and reverted to a blissful life of the feet nothingness. They got to feel like they were doing charity that it was there. Noblesse oblige so to speak. He could’ve been anybody he could’ve been nobody it didn’t matter. They were obtuse and banal. They couldn’t pick up on nefarious antics because it would never occurred to them that anything bad could happen to them. People who live in that upper echelon of society always show their bellies. People assume they’re savvy when in fact, they’re often extremely dull and dim. The only thing they have is money. The only protection they’re granted is buy those around them who are beneath them who wish to protect them. I think a lot of people who saw this movie who think it’s unrealistic haven’t known people with money. I don’t mean money like they haven’t taxes. I mean money with a capital M. Money with a capital M is extremely impressive.

[@angelleigh9468]

Farleigh was suspicious of Oliver even though their first interaction was dismal.

[@angelleigh9468]

Talented Mr. Ridley #1. The Cattons cared for no one. They dismissed the aunt and cousin like garbage.

[@ValkyrieZiege]

Or, did Dickie's father send in Mr. Ripley knowing he would get rid of the social embarrassment that Dickie had become for him thereby absolving Dickie's father of any direct condemnation, blame, or guilt for the murder of his son? Saltburn, is the same. Felix, working with Farleigh, invites in Oliver, thinking Oliver will get rid of the competition for Felix, then Felix would get rid of Oliver & inherit everything only to be defeated because he didn't factor in Oliver's crossed purposes.

[@TracyDD]

I prefer The talented Mr Ripley

[@BrainPilot]

Definitely feels like there’s a bit more to it. And more of a focus on the messed up nature of the character

[@hoodhippychick]

I LUV The Talented Mr. Ripley and when I saw this video pop on my feed I paused it to go watch Saltburn that keeps getting recommended to me on Amazon Prime. Whoa 😳 very intense and I would say it’s almost as good, I enjoyed it immensely. Thank you for sharing ❤

[@bionic_bat]

I like both movies for different reasons. They are similar but also very different so I think it's unfair to say Saltburn is a ripoff of Ripley.

[@BrainPilot]

That's fair! If there's good things to take away from both then that's good.

[@4Mr.Crowley2]

I can’t even articulate how beautiful Jude Law was in 1999. Also, Philip Seymour Hoffman’s character is beyond creepy. Hoffman was truly a fantastic actor. Also, I am giving Gwyneth credit - she was wonderful as a somewhat naive rich east coast prep school girl who finally sees the darkness (that final scene with her shrieking “I know it’s you” at Tom just guts me). So sad Hoffman isn't still with us.

[@randomgoats]

I think Tom Ripley is a much ore compelling character because despite being deeply evil and sinister, he also has this vulnerability that makes it hard to hate him, despite seeing him do these terrible things. He seems damaged, partly because of Matt Damon's incredible acting. The end made me sad, not only because Peter had died, but also because Tom had destroyed all hope for his own happiness. It's almost as if, in killing Peter, he was also killing himself - erasing the only good thing in his life in order to continue living as Dickie and to cover his tracks. It was incredibly well done, and I feel like a lot of that complexity was missing from Saltburn.

[@careyatchison1348]

Patricia Highsmith created the Tom Ripley character in which the Sam Mendez movie is based and which Emerald Fennell (Saltburn) obviously ripped off..

[@jeffreygevant3126]

I enjoyed watching SALTBURN than TTMR. Barry Keoghan is phenomenal! I hope he gets another Oscar nom. Bravo!

[@BrainPilot]

That's fair! He was amazing in the role