Twenty years after it’s left theaters, we hear the the film The Talented Mr Ripley is being made into a TV show. While we’re not exactly sure how this is going to play out and how you stretch a movie with a finite end into a multi-episode series, we’re going to use it as an excuse to share with you how much of an influence of Anthony MInghella’s film still is. Here, we’ll revisit how the film’s style, although set in the 1950s, has become one of the most influential films ever in terms of men’s style, and how we place its characters among the most iconic figures in terms of men’s fashion ever to be seen in film, alongside such iconic roles like James Bond and Danny Ocean.
Not to put a fine point on things, but what makes Ripley as long-lastingly influential as it remains is not simply the fashion, which of course is massively powerful. The setting of the film in 1950s Italy and features the best Jazz music of all time (along with featuring the opera Madame Butterfly,) adds to this aesthetic, making the film unique among many of its contemporaries.
But as much as these settings, set pieces, and sounds add to the richness of the film, let’s not kid ourselves…we’re here to talk about the film’s piece d’resistance: STYLE. There’s no legacy to Ripley without the clothes, and Jude Law’s style is what was this movie not only enthralling, but Mount Rushmore-level great. Fortunately, he is supported by some of the greatest actors of our generation who seem to simultaneously pull their own weight and make Law’s look stand out even more (did we mention that the actual star and title character is Matt Damon, and the film features Gwyneth Paltrow, Jack Davenport, and the late, incomparable Philip Seymour Hoffman.)
So, let’s get to it. Here are some of our favorite looks from one of our favorite films, which is not only an excellent thriller, but a love letter to our former home Italy. Enjoy, ragazzi!
MANNER 