The Talented Mr. Ripley

The adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's novel is a mixture of character study and a crime story. For once the audience actually gets to identify with the psychopathic murderer, which does not make the film any less grim and harrowing.

The main character Tom Ripley is a chameleon. He can change his personlity in a split-second and become somebody else. At a party he passes himself off as a friend of the host's son, Dickie Greenleaf, who is enjoying life in Italy while spending his father's money. Mr. Greenleaf asks Tom to go to Italy in order to persuade his son to return - for a handsome sum of money of course. Tom sees a way out of working-class squalor so he accepts the job.

In Italy Tom is included in the exclusive circle of the rich, young and beautiful, but when the charming and ruthless Dickie threatens to expel Tom from his life after having grown tired of his company, he is unaware how far Tom is willing to go in order to stay in the sunny side of the street.