THE FUTURIST! had read all but one of the Tom Ripley novels written by Patricia Highsmith. He was quite anxious to see the filmed version of the very first in the series of books. Highsmith writes devious, deadly psychological thrillers about sociopaths who desire much ... and most of the time it is to absorb the very being of another ... morally effete empty men like her character in Hitchcock's filmed adaptation of her novel STRANGERS ON A TRAIN. There is a heavy undertone of homosexual longing that, not satisfied due to the hesitancy of latent feelings, erupts into murder. Ripley will use anyone he can to gain what he wants. A handsome conniving psychotic who goes through life playing a charade. The books were very good, but the film had a different quality that Highsmith never injected. The film Ripley was made sympathetic and portrayed as a sad man ... who could never love or allow love due to his crimes and his masquerades. THE FUTURIST! found the movie to convey a whole different mood than the novels. It wasn't something that bothered THE FUTURIST!. He tries to ALWAYS separate one medium from another ... different takes on an idea ... a book can never be THE movie or vice versa. This film, however, made THE FUTURIST! feel very melancholy and felt a semblance of understanding of some of the cinematic Ripley's feelings. THE FUTURIST! would never take an oar to a friend, of course. But, he might hit Philip Seymour Hoffman with an Italian marble bust.
Please enjoy this piece from the soundtrack composed by Gabriel Yared. THE FUTURIST! owns this soundtrack and loved the flow of the Ripley theme throughout the film. There is even a lovely Italian-styled version on the CD. This piece expresses the thoughts in Ripley's head and the increasing mounting jealousy, mania and insanity. IT is pure movie music that brings the film (and it's mood) to mind whenever it is heard.
Listen:
CRAZY TOM composed by Gabriel Yared from the motion picture THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY (1999)
5 comments:
Anonymous
said...
This is the only Minghella film I would consider watching again. It is very good. I have never read the novels, but if it's best to start from the beginning, I'll add it to my queue of books to read (which has become a pretty hefty volume all its own).
I was just looking at this novel in the bookshop yesterday! Nice entry, I like TF!'s writings on particular films or filmmakers. Anything one is passionate about!
TF! only saw this once, but would watch it again gladly. He recalls allowing the strange turns and different ending (the book is quite different) to hold him under their bizarre spell.
Truly, everyone has too many books to read.
Dara:
You really were just looking at that book yesterday? How strange that TF! posts this piece. Is this a sign of psychic connection? Coincidence? Hmmm ..
TF! read all the Ripley books a long time ago except RIPLEY UNDERWATER. He should re-read them all and then read the last one. Highsmith was a strange woman. Creepy. TF! thought she was from Great Britain, but she was an American ... from Texas. She would visit any and all places her character Tom Ripley visited in the books and pretend she was he. An odd author/character relationship. TF! saw a documentary on her that was aired in England. She scared THE FUTURIST! (she was an alcoholic, too!)
I should add that this post reminded me that Strangers on a Train was on TCM last night and that I had meant to record it. Only when I saw this post and remembered, it was already an hour into it.
5 comments:
This is the only Minghella film I would consider watching again. It is very good. I have never read the novels, but if it's best to start from the beginning, I'll add it to my queue of books to read (which has become a pretty hefty volume all its own).
I was just looking at this novel in the bookshop yesterday! Nice entry, I like TF!'s writings on particular films or filmmakers. Anything one is passionate about!
Matthew:
TF! only saw this once, but would watch it again gladly. He recalls allowing the strange turns and different ending (the book is quite different) to hold him under their bizarre spell.
Truly, everyone has too many books to read.
Dara:
You really were just looking at that book yesterday? How strange that TF! posts this piece. Is this a sign of psychic connection? Coincidence? Hmmm ..
TF! read all the Ripley books a long time ago except RIPLEY UNDERWATER. He should re-read them all and then read the last one. Highsmith was a strange woman. Creepy. TF! thought she was from Great Britain, but she was an American ... from Texas. She would visit any and all places her character Tom Ripley visited in the books and pretend she was he. An odd author/character relationship. TF! saw a documentary on her that was aired in England. She scared THE FUTURIST! (she was an alcoholic, too!)
Glad you liked the post.
I should add that this post reminded me that Strangers on a Train was on TCM last night and that I had meant to record it. Only when I saw this post and remembered, it was already an hour into it.
I thought it was important to share that.
Matthew,
Always free feel to share.
Always.
THE FUTURIST! wants you to share.
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