Summative essay – English CommunicationsFilm Review and study on “Talented Mr Ripley”
... audience in following such an idea throughout the film – there is a much deeper meaning than that. What I was trying to convey was the turmoil in the inner life of Tom – him not being able to come to terms with his true identity, leading him onto developing an extremely erratic and mysterious personality. His homosexuality was a side effect of these emotions and his infatuation with Dickie. It’s one possible result that anybody would go through when they completely have no confidence or faith in themselves. When they are obsessed for a life and an identity that isn’t their own - why and what Ripley does is a process of Tom crushing himself in attempting to re-invent who he is. TM: So this scene is focusing on his homosexuality, to convey to the audience the mixed-up emotions inside Tom that contributes to his haunting ways? But how precisely were you able to develop this theme through one scene? AM: Well of course I used a variety of techniques - the first being music. Because the scene dealt with sexuality I chose a smooth jazz piece (actually based on the piece in the introduction of “Cain’s lullaby”) to create a sensual and slightly erotic atmosphere on the set. But the song also represents the primal story of Cain and Abel in the Bible – the son who gets mocked, becomes enthralled with desire and ends his suffering by murder. The sexual atmosphere was heightened by the set being a steamy bathroom and therefore enabled me to play with ideas of condensation, water and sweat on close ups of Tom’s eyes and Dickie’s body because sweat is automatically associated with being sexually aroused. There were also some visual symbols incorporated into the set like the candles set up around the room and red wine used to add some romantic notions to the scene. Matt Damon (Tom Ripley) had to work hard to achieve the right facial descriptions I wanted for Tom in this scene. If you watch it, there are many shots focusing on Ripley’s eyes – the eyes to his soul, in the longing for Dickie’s figure (physically and emotionally). I believe that Tom did not actually love Dickie’s personality but more obsessed with who he was, what he had, the people he knew, the privileged life he led and this idea was very important in letting the audience realise how deep and intense these emotions of Tom’s were. Ripley was also positioned and portrayed to be sexually provoking, with his shirt undone and the dialogue, trying to bind himself and Dickie into one; “We both had no brothers or sisters….. Well we both had no-one to share a bath with” - (Tom Ripley). The message behind this is that Tom is trying to convince himself and Dickie that they are the same kind of people with the same desires. Therefore subtly enticing Dickie of the notion of having a relationship with Tom, a relationship that Tom believes would be quite unified and an opportunity for Tom to gain a life he has always wanted. But of course this is ridiculous and Dickie briskly dismisses the idea and mocks Tom in shock of his actions and of not wanting to be involved in any homosexual business at all! TM: Yes it is interesting that throughout the film, even though Ripley is a psychologically dangerous man you make the audience sympathetic towards him. Why is that? AM: Well I make the audience feel compassion for Tom Ripley because as the main character of the film, many themes relate to his inn...