Who do you think was the best Ripley?

I don't think Minghella tried to make Ripley a sympathetic character in "The talented..." I've read all Ripley's novels and it is a quite faithful adaptation. Even in the homosexual nature of Ripley, which is there if you read between lines.

The same goes with the "gap" between "The Talented.." and "Ripley's game". They have the same "problem" yopu mention, that both Ripleys are completely different characters. There's a novel in between, I think it is "Mask of Ripley, but it doesn't fully explain the evolution in its personality. Still, there are traces of the Ripley he used to be: In the film "Ripley's game", he asks his wife for anal sex, which she refuses to do, and later, in what probably is the only moment Ripley appears sans mask, when he speaks with the artisan in the bathroom of the train station, he mentions that once he was as naive and horrified with murder as he is at that moment. In the subsequent novels, Ripley also remembers his first murder, and he notes to himself how different his crimianl career has turned, since his first killing was both passional (which again, it is telling) and improvised.

About your main question, I cannot answer it. I have yet to see "Ripley's return", "The American friend" or the first adaptation of "The Talented...", a french film that features Alain Delon as Ripley. From what I have seen so far, nothwistanding Matt Damon's excellent work, I prefer Malkovich's Ripley. But again, tthat may be because, as you, I prefer the late Ripley to the young one.

I couldn't disagree more. In the Ripliad, Tom Ripley - after the first book - is a very quiet, behind the scenes kinda guy trying to preserve his relative wealth and stay out of the limelight, including in Ripley's Game, the novel. John Malcovich's interpretation (and although he didn't direct, I believe he was a producer and helped pay for it, so, it's probably as much "his vision" as the directors) actually has Tom being a more overt crime lord . . . at least in the first few scenes. True, in this book, Tom is at his most deliberately manipulative state -- but, still, he's behind the scenes, careful not to make a splash.

Contrast that with the opening scenes of the movie where Tom blasts away at a potential client when an art deal goes bad. It seems at odds with the rest of the movie (and book) where the plot returns to the book somewhat, but there's still an attempt to capture Mingella's interpretation of Tom as a philosophising villian (his speech in the bathroom). In those two moments, the production seems to leave the book to capture the audience (those that want a more "action film" and those enamoured by TTMR, the movie). Too obvious. Since it was an earnest attempt to interpret Game, they should have stuck to the book.

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It is not often that a brilliant book turns into a brilliant film.

Sometimes a good adaptation is possible if the filmaker can realize what aspects of the book would not work in the film and then the result might be a film which is not as faithful to the book as readers would expect.

This is the case with "THE AMERICAN FRIEND" directed by Wim Wenders where Dennis Hopper is Tom Ripley. The film has the same story with Ripley's Game. However it is a fantastic film and Dennis Hopper is the perfect Ripley. I am really sorry to see that most of the people here have not had a chance to see this movie it shows how a talented director transformed a book to a new work of art.

The film is not faithful to the book but focuses on the Ripley Character so well, and Dennis Hopper expresses the weird morality of the character so efficiently. It just gives you this feeling of watching a guy who is doing all this imoral things but you can't help it but like him and feel that deep inside he has his own weird personal ethics.

As far as I know Patricia Highsmith was really upset with the result, since the film really changed some aspects of the book. But it doesn't bother me at all since it is a brilliant film it is absolutely legitimate. An adaptation should focus on becoming a good film not putting the book into pictures.

Watch the older films. They used to be much much better.

Best filmed version of Ripley - "The American Friend"

Best character version of Ripley - tie between Alain Delon and Dennis Hopper

Best set design/cinematography for Ripley - "The Talented Mr. Ripley"

Damon was not very good as Ripley (even though he is an interesting actor). Of course, the director is to blame. Jude Law should have played the character.

Malkovich was good, but the premise was ludicrous. You never got the impression that he would fail or get caught.

Barry Pepper was good in 25th Hour, so he might be able to capture the role.

Depp is an interesting choice, but for now, I can't believe he would/could kill anyone in cold blood.

I think that Barry Pepper gave a very good and underrated Ripley performance.

My personal ranking:

1. Alain Delon (even Miss Highsmith herself praised him)
2. Barry Pepper
3. Matt Damon
4. Dennis Hopper
5. John Malkovich

I'd love to see Tom Cruise as Tom Ripley.

Alain Delon.


Faith means making a virtue out of not thinking. - Bill Maher