Word: tale
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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...really want you to see the movie The Talented Mr. Ripley. Even though I still haven't decided how I feel about the embellishments concocted by writer-director Anthony Minghella to update this compelling tale of 1950's class envy and blossoming psychosis. The outlines of the story are the same in both versions: Tom Ripley (Matt Damon), a poor, smart chameleon, comes to Italy under false pretenses and insinuates himself into the wealthy life of prodigal Dickie "Ouch!" Greenleaf (Jude Law). Dickie's not always as naughty as the name suggests, but sometimes he's far worse. Jude...
...Minghella weren't such a smart writer and director, the changed emphasis might have obscured the icy brilliance of Tom's amoral talents. But Minghella knows a good story when he sees one--his last triumph was the sweeping, stony The English Patient-- and he treats Tom Ripley's tale like David Lean on an epic bender. The thriller story becomes woven into a gorgeous, glorious travelogue through the high points of Italian sightseeing, circa 1957. And, I'll admit, I'm a sucker for a pretty shot of Roman sunlight...
...expertly shapes and surfaces the dark, manipulative undercurrent of Moss's persona, as well as his jealousy and frustration. David Waller '00 occasionally flounders but eventually pulls through in his well-defined portrayal of John Williamson, the white-bread office manager whose position of power and seemingly cold, tattle-tale tactics render him an object of both envy and scorn by the other sellers...
...Anna and the King-imperialism and Ms. Oscar-bait herself starring in a self-proclaimed epic about the "East meeting the West." Sure, the story is recycled, but who cares-it's good for you! The Hurricane tells the also "epic" tale of a boxer's struggle to battle racism and the justice system after being wrongly convicted of murder. Gag. There's more-Bicentennial Man's story of a "robot journeying to be a real man," Ride with the Devil's Civil War extravaganza, The Cider House Rules' lovey-dovey schmaltz, etc. Add in last week's Green Mile...
...point of counterprogramming), Jim Carrey does Andy Kaufman in Milos Forman's Man on the Moon. In this issue, we give you a look at The Talented Mr. Ripley, Anthony Minghella's follow-up to The English Patient that stars Matt Damon and Gwyneth Paltrow in a wicked little tale about murder, sexual identity and Italian palazzos...