Terry Hunter reviews RIPLEY

The fictional character, Tom Ripley, has been the subject of five books and five movies. Now he’s the focus of an 8 episode psychological thriller called simply, RIPLEY. Andrew Scott plays the infamous con man in this Netflix production. All eight one hour episodes are great. Ripley has an ingenious plot, superb acting, a fascinating main character, and the most beautiful black and white cinematography I’ve seen in years. What really surprised me is that I found myself sympathizing with a sociopath who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Andrew Scott as Tom Ripley is an imposter and a killer. He’s smart and cunning, cold and reserved. Why did I find myself pulling for him to get away with his crimes? Mainly because of Scott’s great performance and the clever plot. I enjoyed watching Ripley figure out how to avoid being caught over and over. The series is the work of Oscar winning filmmaker, Steven Zaillian and Oscar winning cinematographer, Robert Elswit. Every frame is beautifully composed and lit. And the classic Italian paintings and sculptures play an important part in the story. (Netflix)