This review was made possible by advance screeners of all 8 episodes of Ripley. All episodes of Ripley are now available on Netflix.
Intrigue. Lies. Fraud. Murder. All the makings of a delectable thriller. In adapting the classic novel The Talented Mr. Ripley, new Netflix Original series Ripley aims to hit all of the right notes of the genre – and look good while doing it. But, with the story already being adapted into films in 1960 and 1999, does this miniseries have what it takes to grab your attention with an already-done concept, and keep it for a whole 8 hours?
The miniseries follows Tom Ripley (Andrew Scott), a man living New York with a profession of… well… nothing good. Forgery, fraud, the whole nine yards – he’s just an all-round not upstanding citizen. He soon meets a man who tasks him with traveling to Italy to convince his son to move back to the states – and this comes along with a nice paycheck. Ripley, always taking advantage of people where he can, accepts the job and begins his journey that quickly spirals into a further life of deceit.
While the plot does take a few interesting turns, it ultimately feels a little clichéd at times with its tropes. But, I can’t hold that entirely against it – being an adaptation of a classic novel, of course it has common tropes, as they’ve likely become more common in the time since it was written. Recently of note, Saltburn was widely seen as a sort of spiritual successor to ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’, so maybe it’s all just fresh in my mind. But Ripley still manages to stand out with its quiet style of storytelling that closely and thoroughly follows its protagonist… when it’s paced decently.
Quite frankly, the series is at odds with itself because of its pacing. Episode 1 was the definition of “slow burn” (with little payoff), while Episodes 2 and 3 were paced quite well, with plenty of perfectly-tuned tension throughout. That tension continues into subsequent episodes, of course, but it only sticks to varying degrees. For instance, I believe Episode 5 to be a high point in the series, combining high tension, dark comedy, and stream of consciousness storytelling with incredible prowess.
On the other hand, Episodes 6 and 7, while still having some intriguing moments, get stuck in a sort of repetition, as Tom Ripley seems to fall into these behavioral patterns that begin to feel monotonous rather than tense. It’s very cat-and-mouse at times, but I find myself struggling to be scared of the cat.
All of the performances here are just incredible. Andrew Scott, hot off of All of Us Strangers, brings back a bit of that creepiness from his Sherlock days. He most notably is masterfully acting with his eyes – in them you see how he responds fearfully, reacts slyly, and is caught by deadly surprise. He’s able to flick back and forth between pleasantry and vile scheming with ease.
Johnny Flynn, who plays Dickie Greenleaf, walks a line between high-class snob and everyman, as he has the charisma and mannerisms of the former, but the relatable, down-to-earth problems of the latter. Dakota Fanning portrays Dickie’s girlfriend, Marge Sherwood, who embodies skepticism, contempt, and pain with a grace and elegance. Altogether, the series is nearly at its peak when all three share the screen, fusing an unholy matrimony of emotions.
The one thing I didn’t expect to be so impressed by are the visuals. Ripley was shot on digital in black-and-white, and it takes full advantage of that. The series is superbly lit, and plays with shadows well. It doesn’t attempt to emulate film, but rather stands out on its own with crisp, clear shots. And everything is as gorgeous as the Italian locations it was filmed in. It’s a stunningly beautiful experience, top to bottom.
‘Ripley’ – Final Thoughts
Ripley is a great, but not perfect, telling of a classic tale of greed, deceit, and murder. While a few specific episodes are absolutely masterful, the rest of the series has pacing issues, even when you buy into its slow stream-of-consciousness style. But, Andrew Scott’s eerily charming performance stands out amidst that, and its majestic Italian settings are soaked in a gorgeous black-and-white photography that gives it all a uniquely classic feel.
Ripley releases on Netflix on April 4, 2024. Check out the trailer below.
The Review
Ripley
‘Ripley’ is a great, but not perfect, telling of a classic tale of greed, deceit, and murder. While a few specific episodes are absolutely masterful, the rest of the series has pacing issues, even when you buy into its slow stream-of-consciousness style. But Andrew Scott’s eerily charming performance stands out amidst that, and its majestic Italian settings are soaked in a gorgeous black-and-white photography that gives it all a uniquely classic feel.