Underwhelming ***WARNING***(MILD)PLOT SPOILERS*** This film really disappointed me. It had an interesting premise, but the most interesting parts of the plot were never developed. Near the beginning of the movie, Tom Ripley (Matt Damon) tells us that his talent is impersonating people -- taking over their character and identity. He even demonstrates this with a little voice mimicry that is really impressive. Then, we are lead to believe, Tom is going to use this talent to take over Dickie Greenleaf's life and character, but this simply doesn't happen. Sure, he pretends to be Dickie to different people at different times, which leads to a lot of predictable confusion, but never does Tom actually take on Dickie's mannerisms and ticks. In fact, in the latter half of the film, one of Dickie's friends even remarks that a room that Dickie supposedly decorated (but that Tom actually did) reflects absolutely nothing of Dickie's personality. This is such a lost opportunity! As I said above, the plot turns are ultimately predictable, once you catch on to the basic premise of the movie. Man lies, man lies some more to cover up old lies, and is finally driven to murder to keep everything straight. Maybe some of this would have seemed sharper and fresher if the film moved along more briskly, but instead, everything is drawn out so much that things just get boring. The acting is competent, but no one really shines except for Gwyneth Paltrow. I must commend Matt Damon, though, for taking this gutsy role -- it certainly cast him against type, and it was a brave career move for him to take it. The script was not really up to snuff. Movies like this need sharp, subtle dialogue to keep you interested when the plot can't, but some of the dialogue here was painfully obvious and transparent. I think this movie would have done better if it had been made in black and white during the 1950s. If made back then, it would have had to have been more creative in disclosing some of its darker sexual undercurrents, which would have made the movie all the more interesting. The plot of this movie belongs squarely in the '50s, and having it made in the cynical '90s deprives it of a critical sense of genuineness. It's just like watching the '90s remake of "Psycho": even if some of the plot points were there, it just never feels quite right.