Ripley | Review by: Amanda Guarragi

 When Andrew Scott began his career, he was mainly a background actor floating from television series to series. He had done some independent films, but he shortly after appeared in some features like Spectre and made an impact. Even if you didn’t remember his name, you remembered his presence. When Scott was cast in BBC’s Sherlock as Jim Moriarty, everything changed for him. People saw how brilliant he was, and after he made himself known. Scott is an underrated actor who can tap into the darkness of one’s soul. He can deliver a layered performance with ease. And expose every corner of the character he’s portraying.

After watching Ripley, adapted by Steve Zaillian for Netflix, you will appreciate how talented he is on another level. Every time we see Scott in a new role, he shows audiences a different side of himself. The series is adapted from Patricia Highsmith’s novel The Talented Mr. Ripley. This is the best new limited series that Netflix has released. Zaillian has always been a master of his craft, but after writing and directing this eight-episode psychological noir thriller, he has solidified himself as one of the best. The limited series could not be more of a departure from the film from 1999, directed by Anthony Minghella. Choosing to shoot this in black and white added to the period and the conventions of the noir genre. Zaillian gave viewers a character piece for Tom Ripley, which gave viewers a much fuller perspective on the con artist. 

The limited series is meticulous in its execution, and like other noir projects, its delivery is subtle. Richness fills the screen in every frame because of the wide shots and the architecture in Italy. Each frame has a purpose, and it’s to show the depth of Ripley’s process. He is always five steps ahead, and each episode peels back those layers in a delayed manner to have audiences question when he decided to continue the farce. It’s an incredible limited series because of how the story unravels for Ripley. The 1999 film brought the allure and sensuality that the limited series lacks, but it makes up for it by exposing Tom Ripley’s process. Every line uttered in any discussion becomes a vital source of information throughout the series for Ripley, and it’s fascinating to watch his mind work. 

Ripley is now streaming on Netflix.

5/5 

Review by: Amanda Guarragi 

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