The Talented Mr. Ripley
Metascore
76 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 35 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 35
  3. Negative: 2 out of 35
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  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    100
    The movie is as intelligent a thriller as you'll see this year.
  2. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Bob Graham
    100
    This thriller is so expertly -- and perversely -- poised that audience members may find themselves secretly rooting for the duplicitous Ripley.
  3. San Francisco Examiner
    Reviewed by: Wesley Morris
    100
    It's that rare movie with a sense of timeliness that is eternal, and a protagonist whose soul-crushed angst, even at its most fatal, speaks to the little boy/girl lost in everyone.
  4. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Lisa Schwarzbaum
    91
    Minghella makes an enticing, intelligent, well-shaped picture about the extreme perils of class envy and sexual panic.
  5. Film.com
    Reviewed by: John Hartl
    90
    In the hands of Minghella and his star, Matt Damon, Ripley has become a more complex character, in some ways more understandable and approachable, in other ways as enigmatic as ever.
  6. Film.com
    Reviewed by: Ernest Hardy
    90
    A dark film that raises more questions than it answers -- and it's meant to.
  7. TNT RoughCut
    Reviewed by: Christopher Brandon
    90
    The talented Mr. Minghella is aping Alfred Hitchcock as effectively as Tom Ripley is doing Dickie Greenleaf.
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  8. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Russell Smith
    89
    Just the thing to clear your Capra-glutted holiday movie palate.
  9. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: David Sterritt
    88
    The picture has fine ensemble acting and superb Italian scenery. It would have more power if it were shorter and tighter.
  10. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Rene Rodriguez
    88
    Delivers all the expected moments of high suspense --that is worthy of Hitchcock
  11. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Mike Clark
    88
    In a possible breakthrough role, Law would seem to be the big winner.
  12. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Jay Carr
    88
    A slick, twisty, top-of-the-line crime thriller with gorgeously sensual textures and a screenful of wickedly faceted performances.
  13. Baltimore Sun
    Reviewed by: Ann Hornaday
    88
    The only thing missing from this rich production is an emotional charge, which Highsmith could create on the page but which Minghella doesn't quite capture on screen.
  14. Portland Oregonian
    Reviewed by: Shawn Levy
    83
    It's a refreshing sensation, even if it makes you feel a touch seasick at first, and the fittingly eerie conclusion to a lavish and unsettling movie.
  15. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: Paula Nechak
    83
    It demands people pay attention and look inward to find the private compass that will navigate us through murky sensibilities that are as capable of seducing us as they are Tom Ripley.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.4 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 62 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 27
  3. Negative: 5 out of 27
  1. ConnorM
    9
    Truly remarkable. Damon really steps into the limelight after this stellar performance and Law also did one hell of a job.The emotional impact wasn't extreme but nonetheless you felt it. With it's unpredictable, yet thrilling plot and outstanding performances this is easily one of the best films of the 1990's.… Full Review »
  2. ElizabethM.
    10
    This film is my all time favourite film. The scenery is beautiful, the acting is great and the film is extremely well written.
  3. theahsanhaseeb
    9
    Tom Ripley is an intelligent, literate and a calm monster; his characterization is extremely astonishing. It feels like we know he's the bad guy but we still want him to get away and never get caught by anyone. That's the charm of Tom Ripley. Matt's performance was wonderful, as I expected, he shined. Intelligent screenplay and a classy thriller including the elements of homosexuality mixed with envy, jealousy and crime, now that's something to look forward to. It gets a bit boring and slow in the middle though but if you get past through that, you'll really love it. I haven't read the novel so I don't know how much this film varies from the originality, but whatever, I like this movie because it still has that charm that works for me and if you only watch the movie and don't compare it to the novel, I think you'll still love it.… Full Review »
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