Movie No. 60 (2013): PURPLE NOON
Purple Noon (a.k.a Plein Soleil) (1960)
Director: Rene Clement
Cast: Alain Delon
In French, with English subtitles
The film is an adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's 1955 novel The Talented Mr. Ripley. In the film, Tom Ripley is shown learning that he can get away with anything, including murder. His charms, good looks, and being literate are his camouflage to his sinister schemes as he persuades his friend, a playboy who has been bumming around and splurging in Italy, to return to San Francisco. Tom's getting $5,000 from the Philippe's parents if he succeeds to bring Philippe back is San Francisco. But, unexpected things happen (or maybe such things are part of the plan), which lead to a series of complications. Such complications will be the test to Tom's learning of the art of getting away with anything.
Director: Rene Clement
Cast: Alain Delon
In French, with English subtitles
The film is an adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's 1955 novel The Talented Mr. Ripley. In the film, Tom Ripley is shown learning that he can get away with anything, including murder. His charms, good looks, and being literate are his camouflage to his sinister schemes as he persuades his friend, a playboy who has been bumming around and splurging in Italy, to return to San Francisco. Tom's getting $5,000 from the Philippe's parents if he succeeds to bring Philippe back is San Francisco. But, unexpected things happen (or maybe such things are part of the plan), which lead to a series of complications. Such complications will be the test to Tom's learning of the art of getting away with anything.
In 1999, I (also) saw another adaptation of the novel - Anthony Minghella's. The film featured then relatively unknown cast that included Matt Damon (as Tom Ripley), Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate Balnchett and Philip Seymour Hoffman. I liked the movie in the same level as I like Purple Noon now. Alain Delon is a better Tom Ripley, although Matt Damon's Tom Ripley is noteworthy, because, quite obviously, the young Alain Delon in Purple Noon really looks charming and effortlessly convincing in doing his unassuming charades. Matt Damon's Tom Ripley is tasked to do so more things to be convincing as a poser. The suggestion of homoeroticism is less obscure in Rene Clement's adaptation than Anthony Minghellas's.
Purple Noon is supposed to be a thriller. Yes, it's thrilling.
Date seen: March 17, 2013
Rating: 3.5/4.0
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