RIPLEY

"A great series if you need something to make you drowsy & dozy🥱 It’s especially relaxing to watch this on a dark, rainy couple of days like I did — BUT SERIOUSLY, I actually DID ENJOY this, even though I fell asleep 6X while watching!! — It moves at a snail’s pace in comparison to the original 1999 thriller starring Matt Damon — But this version, being shot in black and white, has that classic noir look & feel about it, and each frame honestly is a work of art, showcasing beautiful, ancient Italian architecture, numerous oil paintings, particularly by artist Caravaggio (the Italian Baroque painter who was also a notorious criminal and murderer) and other artists like Picasso, lovely landscapes, stunning coastlines, rare antiques, and nostalgic artifacts from the 1960’s that I can remember from my childhood, but had long forgotten. In addition to the spectacular visuals, the beautiful Italian music also lulled me to sleep a few times😴 And there are numerous scenes where there isn’t much dialogue, which made it easy for me to close my eyes, also making me feel weary & slumberous 🥱 If you go into this series knowing that it’s DEFINITELY NOT going to be a scene-by-scene remake of the suspenseful original, and treat it more as an artistic remake, you might find it interesting on its own merit."

"3.25⭐️ I have never given any show so much time and space anticipating some brilliance to unfold. First because I’m a big fan of the Damon/Minghella adaptation and appreciator of the Delon/Clement French version. Secondly, RIPLEY the show is a visual masterpiece. If you like the aesthetic of Fellini in B&W or 50s detective noir you will be enraptured with the artistic photography painstakingly displayed from the first frame to the very last. Like an exhibition absorbed slowly through a museum visit, every_ single_ shot is an exquisite portrait playing with shadow and light, setting a gothic stage and portending things to come…. Unfortunately the comprehension doesn’t take long that for all of that, it’s a stagnant beauty, a lot of style over little substance.… This show is painfully slow, like watching very beautiful wallpaper dry. The acting is flat and dry. Some might say subtle and inflectional instead, but I never grew to be invested in Andrew Scott’s Ripley or really any other character, except maybe the cat (who does deserve a best acting by a feline nod). There are too many details that don’t make sense, too many dumb moves on Ripley’s part with too many plot conveniences to help suspend the disbelief that he could’ve gotten away with anything OR be considered *Talented*.… I actually gave up in frustration after episode 4. But maybe after a week or so, somehow convinced myself to pick back up. Episode 5 is shocking, suspenseful and gripping..ALMOST brilliant. The remaining episodes, though better than the first four, never reach the tension filled apex of 5. And the scene with the wig and the inspector…so ridiculous I may have screamed at my tv…. Maybe I should blame my expectations, but this version, very UNLIKE the two previous iterations, left me with a hollow feeling. I’m not sad I watched it but a Matt Damon rewatch is definitely in order. "

"Tastefully done! An artistic genius in black and white. A must watch show! "

"So slow it’s boring "

"Once more with feeling please. I read a scathing review in Variety this morning that called this show “arduous rather than enticing” and thought wow…how bad could it be?? Well now I know. I give a tv show one episode to hook me. I’m now watching ep 2 mostly for laughs. This show is like watching paint dry. The writing is boring & the characters, who are clearly phoning it in, have zero charisma. Odd it’s shot in black & white too. The movie (which I hated in the 90’s but recently rewatched & found to be better) is far more “enticing”!"

"Worth watching! What a terrific show. I am rereading the book *and* watching the new Ripley. Andrew Scott is wonderful, the perfect sociopath. Spoilers here: As Tom Riley, Scott uses his face, silence and actions to demonstrate how to kill people and then dispose of their bodies. Scott portrays Tom Ripley with smoothness and smarm, the character convincingly nearly snapping when a desk clerk works too slow. My first experience with Andrew Scott"

"I don't understand the bad reviews. I think if you're trying to compare this to the one with Matt Damon years ago, then yes, maybe you'll find it lacking some plots that were not in this or in the book. Imo, Ripley stays truer to the novel. I love that they did it in black and white. It moves slow, but character studies are meant to move slow so you can get to know the character as it slowly unfolds his motives. Anyway, I really liked it but to each their own. "

"The outstanding cinematography and gorgeous Italian landscapes more than make up for the slow pace of the first few episodes of the series. Overall, I absolutely loved this adaptation. Plus, the cat! 🥺"

"I did not have high hopes for this series because how can you top the original?! These were some pretty big boots to fill . At first I did not like Marge at all- she’s supposed to be likable and sweet like Gwyneth! Don’t get me started on Jude Law’s character or PS Hoffman ‘s 💔. But then the Italian scenery took hold - the black and white was just visually stunning. Upon hearing that this version follows the novel more closely - I mentally prepared myself for this to be in a separate class from “The Talented Mr. Ripley” and boy did it not disappoint. 4⭐️ for visuals and plot, took off a star for casting (Marge & Dickie) not so great. "

"Andrew Scott displays remarkable talent in his role, delivering an outstanding performance in RIPLEY. His subtle changes and evolving demeanor throughout the series are truly impressive. RIPLEY stands out as one of the most beautifully shot series, thanks to Robert Elswit's noir-inspired, artistically stunning cinematography. It's a meticulously crafted show that delves deep into Ripley's motives and inner world, brimming with both style and substance. The screenplay is exceptional, making the entire series a mesmerizing and compelling portrayal of Tom Ripley. I thoroughly enjoyed it, ranking it among my favorite series of the year. My Review on Serializd"