Stylish Cinema

Trapped in my apartment and looking for something to assist my efforts at not doing an assignment that's due next week, I did the first thing any good procrastinator would do: turn on the TV. Things you realise when you aimlessly turn on the TV : there is nothing on TV; TV probably makes you dumber; precious hours of your life can slip away while watching Z grade celebrities engage in a ballroom dancing competition.

Thankfully outlier station Gem was showing The Talented Mr Ripley. What a treat for the eyes, and a glorious reminder of my brief visit to Rome in August. 

The Talented Mr Ripley is set largely around Italy in the mid-1950s, and centres around a group of young, beautiful and wealthy Americans gaily spending their parent's money as they holiday over an Italian summer. Filmed in 1999 (I think this almost puts it into "classic" territory), the all-star cast is very young and very, very gorgeous. Of course, set in the 1950s, the clothing is immaculate. 

It's a big call, but I think this film really captures Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow at their best looks-wise (that's not a very nice thing to say, as they both still look great, but they are gorgeous in Ripley).

Paltrow plays Marge, the doe-eyed, sweet and innocently devoted girlfriend of Dickie (played by Jude Law). Dickie is selfish, at times unkind, but ultimately rather likable with his rakish attitude to life. Marge is a glamour puss: espadrilles and classic white shirts by day, and dripping diamonds and ball gowns by night. As winter closes in, and she starts to wise up to Ripley (played with a dab hand by Matt Damon), her clothing morphs into a more sophisticated, grown-up style. 

Do not mess with leopard print-wearing woman

A good trench never goes out of style

Also starring is Cate Blanchett as Meredith and Philip Seymour-Hoffman as the man who smells a Ripley-sized rat long before anyone else.

The Talented Mr Ripley had me longing for summer days in Italy and a scarf in my hair.