It is said that a good movie is one that feels like a sensual and emotional *experience*, rather than simply a visual presentation. A brilliant movie, then, is one that is not simply a singular identifiable experience - it is a multi-dimensional layer of intertwined experiences; individual plots, ambiences and presentation styles, all masterfully combined into a tour de force of a film. THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY is one such movie, a breathtakingly accomplished combination of several potentially separate film experiences. It is at once an ornate and dazzling drama; a multifarious, intriguing and heart-wrenching romance; a reticulate and psychologically manipulating thriller; and, ultimately, an unsettlingly potent psycho-portrait of the American dream. From its characters to its composition, from its symbolism to its script, the entire film is splendidly multi-dimensional, an innovation in the art of direction. Whether it captures you, terrifies you, disgusts you, or all three, or whatever you might make of the film, there is no denying it - THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY is a unique experience, a film and a half.
Review of The Talented Mr. Ripley
