"It is difficult to choose between Plein Soleil and The Talented Mr. Ripley, which are different works based on the same original story but in a black-and-white noir style.
//Summary - Level-C2//
"Plein Soleil" and "The Talented Mr. Ripley" are adaptations of the same novel, yet they differ significantly in style and execution. "Plein Soleil" is a vibrant cinematic masterpiece with Alain Delon embodying Ripley's charm and menace. In contrast, the series starring Andrew Scott portrays a darker, noir aesthetic, emphasising tension through subtlety and clever manipulation in a shadowy, monochrome setting.
A)
1)
The series "The Talented Mr. Ripley", available exclusively on Netflix, is a dramatisation of Patricia Highsmith's mystery novel "The Talented Mr. Ripley".
This novel is known as the source for the masterpiece "Plein Soleil" (Perfect Sun) (1960), starring Alain Delon and directed by Rene Clement. The Japanese title of the Kawade Bunko version is also "Plein Soleil" (Perfect Sun) after the film.
2)
The title is also why this film is considered a masterpiece. The film's original title is "Plein Soleil" (Perfect Sun).
The tremendous Japanese title "Full of Sun" (Perfect Sun) was named by Sahoko Hata, who used to work for a Japanese distribution company and is now a film critic. The beautiful melody of Nino Rota's music, the big twist in the last scene and the charm of the young Alain Delon are inseparable from the title.
3)
Although based on the same novel, the title "Plein Soleil" (Perfect Sun) does not fit "The Talented Mr. Ripley". It is a remake rather than a new film.
The main story is the same: poor young man Tom Ripley kills and pretends to be the son of a wealthy man to commit the perfect crime, but this one has an entirely different atmosphere, with black-and-white images and a noir-style narration.
The course of Ripley's crimes is detailed in all eight episodes, making it a very different work to "Plein Soleil" (Perfect Sun) but very rewarding.
B)
4)
A cunning young man posing as the son of a wealthy man
The story takes place in the early 1960s. Ripley (Andrew Scott), who has been running a series of petty scams in New York, is asked by Greenleaf, a wealthy shipyard owner, to bring back his son Dickie (Johnny Flynn), who has gone to Italy and never returned.
After being turned down by Dickie's friends, Ripley tracks him down. Greenleaf pays the expenses and offers a huge reward, so Ripley, who is in dire straits, accepts the offer. The first episode ends with Ripley going to Atrani, Italy, where Dickie is staying, and finding Dickie with his girlfriend, Marge (Dakota Fanning).
5)
While "Plein Soleil" (Perfect Sun) is valid to its title, capturing the dazzling brightness and rich colours of the Italian sun and sea on screen, this film is shot in black and white with an emphasis on shadows, and the story is set in the deep shadows of an old town.
Ripley's skill is shown in a relaxed and unhurried narration that gradually builds the tension.
7)
If Alain Delon is the yang, Andrew Scott is the yin. Delon was 25 at the time and had just made his debut. Exposing his good looks and toned body to the Italian solid sun, he perfectly combined Ripley's cruelty with the danger of youth, which suited him perfectly.
The success of "Plein Soleil" (Perfect Sun) made his name known worldwide. On the other hand, Scott, born in Ireland, gained experience as a quiet actor. He recently starred in "All Of Us Strangers(2023)".
He plays the calculating and audacious Ripley with a touch of creepiness without moving his face or showing emotion. He blends into the darkness of the old Italian cityscape, creating a criminal image utterly different from Delon's.
C)
8)
Naples, Rome, Palermo... Visiting the famous places in Italy
The characters are introduced in the second episode, and the story starts moving from the third. Ripley kills Dickie as planned and impersonates him.
Ripley, intelligent and good at everything, continues sending letters to his parents and Marge in New York using Dickey's typewriter. He imitates Dickey's handwriting and signs the letters, making it seem like Dickey is still alive.
He rents an apartment in Dickey's name, stays in a hotel and leaves a trail that confuses Marge and Dickey's friend Freddie, who are suspicious of Ripley.
9)
When a second murder occurs, and the police get involved, she uses two different names to avoid being followed. The story takes Ripley from Atrani to Naples, Rome, Palermo and Venice, tracing the ancient cities of Italy.
The towns and buildings of each destination are beautiful, and the stone pavement of the rain-soaked night street and the structures that dominate the screen add depth to the monochrome images.
Ripley's evil plans are on the verge of being discovered several times, but he manages to elude his pursuers with cunning and luck. The suspense is the film's highlight, and Ripley's expressionless face is a source of suspense, but it also makes you smile.
D)
10)
A mystery unique to the analogue era
Steven Zaillian is the director. He is a skilled storyteller who wrote "Schindler's List" and "Gangs of New York" and directed "Searching for Bobby Fischer" and "All the King's Men." The film is set in an analogue era without mobile phones, email, or television.
The story cleverly uses settings and props, such as the typewriter's owner being identified by how he uses it and the difficulty of sharing photos in remote locations.
11)
Streaming drama series is becoming increasingly fast-paced and tends to include flashy scenes. There is a sense of speed, but it can also be hectic and tiring. This film is a departure from that rush and allows you to enjoy the flavour of the story and the visuals at your leisure.
12)
By the way, this novel by Highsmith was made into a 1999 film, directed by Anthony Minghella and starring Matt Damon, called "The Talented Mr. Ripley," which has the same title as the original novel.
"It is difficult to choose between Plein Soleil and The Talented Mr. Ripley, which are different works based on the same original story but in a black-and-white noir style.
https://hitocinema.mainichi.jp/article/pho0d7lqqj1v
The Talented Mr. Ripley - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Talented_Mr._Ripley_(film)
Film "The Talented Mr. Ripley" (2024)
https://hitocinema.mainichi.jp/films-info/s5xjqamgf
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11016042/?ref_=vp_close
Film "The Talented Mr. Ripley" (1999)
https://hitocinema.mainichi.jp/films-info/5ms5ae-9fa1b
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0134119/
Film "PLEIN SOLEIL"(1960)
https://hitocinema.mainichi.jp/films-info/tkooa2gzr6
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054189/
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%AA%E9%99%BD%E3%81%8C%E3%81%84%E3%81%A3%E3%81%B1%E3%81%84_(%E6%98%A0%E7%94%BB)
"All Of Us Strangers" main footage <The encounter between the two>│Released in Japan on Friday, April 19th
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eFVQKwRJOU
Film "All Of Us Strangers" (2023) -7.7/10 IMDb
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21192142/
Presumed Innocent- TV Series (2024) - 7.8/10 IMDb
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17677860/
Presumed Innocent - (1990) - 6.9/10 IMDb
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100404/
Add info No1)
"The Talented Mr. Ripley": A new interpretation of the classic original is creepy, funny, and recommended
https://note.com/koheiobara/n/n40a80aae7616
Although faithful to the original, for some reason, the cast is all "old"... What is missing from the Netflix version of "The Talented Mr. Ripley"?
https://www.newsweekjapan.jp/stories/culture/2024/05/post-104378_1.php
Top 10 Differences Between Ripley (2024) & The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyXh2Fikgj4
Mr. Ripley is all about changing his background. We're looking at two on-screen adaptations of Patricia Highsmith's Tom Ripley book series and their dissimilarities. We'll only be comparing the 2024 Netflix series and the 1999 film, and there'll be major spoilers ahead for both. Our countdown includes the ending, characterisation, Tom's reveal, and more! What did YOU think of the "Ripley" series? Let us know in the comments below!
Why Ripley Felt Different
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Bk6R4e-LgQ
This video essay analyses Netflix's Ripley, starring Andrew Scott and directed by Steven Zaillian. Ripley is a dark lesson in suspense that captures the mechanics of murder like no other television show. If you want to understand what made Ripley such a unique experience, then this video explains everything.
Add info No2)
French film giant Alain Delon dies aged 88 - 2024/08/19
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2n6y4g700o
Alain Delon' one of the last real French movie stars', says film journalist • FRANCE 24 - 2024/08/19
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tFq5TDtxmk
Film icon Alain Delon, whose death was announced Sunday, was "one of the last real French movie stars," said Rebecca Leffler, France Correspondent for Screen International, adding that Delon was more than an actor and a "personality".
Add info No3)
The Talented Mr. Ripley
While **Anthony Minghella’**s 1999 adaptation of The Talented Mr. Ripley (based on the novel of the same name by Patricia Highsmith) is a keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller—one can't help but notice the clothes despite all the intrigue.
https://www.vogue.com/article/dress-the-part-the-talented-mr-ripley
