The theory that a dead painter's work will increase the value of his pictures, is at the center of the story. Contrary to what we might have thought, young star Derwatt, a man who seems to have arrived in the world of art in London, does not quite rate as having the clout to push prices up if he is not around anymore. Derwatt, who loves to drive at high speeds suffers a fatal accident right after his adoring fans have bought all his paintings.
Tom Ripley, who is now living in London, shows no means of earning an income and faces eviction from his apartment. He runs with an arty crowd, that includes Derwatt, Bernard, an undiscovered, but talented painter on his own, gallery owner, Jeff Constant, and Cinthia, who seems to be a groupie into that scene. All of them have witnessed the accident and decide to have Bernard produce canvas as though they were Derwatt's ; after all, the guy can certainly imitate his friend's style to almost perfection.
Enter Neil Murchisson, a collector of Derwatt's paintings. He has come to buy more for the museum in Ohio he represents. Since all the production is sold, Ripley and his friends decide to press Bernard into creating a few pictures imitating Derwatt. Murchisson, who insists in buying the next batch of pictures, pushes a check into Jeff's hands, who in turn is convinced by Tom Ripley to continue the charade, knowing no one will find out the deceit.
Ripley, who has met the gorgeous Heloise Plisson at the opening, decides to follow her to France. Ripley, who comes into some money after the phony Derwatt's come into the market, decides he wants Heloise for himself. He is amazed by what he finds when he gets to France. Heloise, not only is gorgeous, but also she is immensely rich. Her father, who sees right through his daughter's friend, is powerless because the young woman is smitten from the start with Ripley, the gold digger.
"Ripley Under Ground", adapted from a Patricia Highsmith's novel, and directed by Roger Spottisgoode, doesn't quite have the punch that other, more successful films based on this character had achieved, most notably, in Rene Clement's "Purple Noon", and in Liliana Cavani's "Ripley's Game". Those earlier films have powerful and charismatic actors, Alain Delon, and John Malkovich, in the central role. Barry Pepper, an otherwise excellent actor, does what he can with his Tom Ripley, but doesn't quite pull it. "Ripley Under Ground" is by no means horrible, but it could have been better.
The basic problem with the screenplay by W. Blake Herron and Donald Westlake, is that it never settles into either a crime story, or an Euro-thriller. The best thing in the film is the ensemble cast that was gathered for it. Alan Cumming does quite well with the straight part, of the ambitious art dealer. Jacinta Barrett plays Heloise with charm. Claire Forlini, Douglas Henshall, Tom Wilkinson, and Ian Hart do good work for the director. Willem Dafoe appears as the American art lover who falls prey to the ambitions of these assorted group under the guidance of Tom Ripley.
There is an ironic twist at the conclusion of the film, which comes quite unexpectedly, but we had already sensed was a possibility.
Tom Ripley, who is now living in London, shows no means of earning an income and faces eviction from his apartment. He runs with an arty crowd, that includes Derwatt, Bernard, an undiscovered, but talented painter on his own, gallery owner, Jeff Constant, and Cinthia, who seems to be a groupie into that scene. All of them have witnessed the accident and decide to have Bernard produce canvas as though they were Derwatt's ; after all, the guy can certainly imitate his friend's style to almost perfection.
Enter Neil Murchisson, a collector of Derwatt's paintings. He has come to buy more for the museum in Ohio he represents. Since all the production is sold, Ripley and his friends decide to press Bernard into creating a few pictures imitating Derwatt. Murchisson, who insists in buying the next batch of pictures, pushes a check into Jeff's hands, who in turn is convinced by Tom Ripley to continue the charade, knowing no one will find out the deceit.
Ripley, who has met the gorgeous Heloise Plisson at the opening, decides to follow her to France. Ripley, who comes into some money after the phony Derwatt's come into the market, decides he wants Heloise for himself. He is amazed by what he finds when he gets to France. Heloise, not only is gorgeous, but also she is immensely rich. Her father, who sees right through his daughter's friend, is powerless because the young woman is smitten from the start with Ripley, the gold digger.
"Ripley Under Ground", adapted from a Patricia Highsmith's novel, and directed by Roger Spottisgoode, doesn't quite have the punch that other, more successful films based on this character had achieved, most notably, in Rene Clement's "Purple Noon", and in Liliana Cavani's "Ripley's Game". Those earlier films have powerful and charismatic actors, Alain Delon, and John Malkovich, in the central role. Barry Pepper, an otherwise excellent actor, does what he can with his Tom Ripley, but doesn't quite pull it. "Ripley Under Ground" is by no means horrible, but it could have been better.
The basic problem with the screenplay by W. Blake Herron and Donald Westlake, is that it never settles into either a crime story, or an Euro-thriller. The best thing in the film is the ensemble cast that was gathered for it. Alan Cumming does quite well with the straight part, of the ambitious art dealer. Jacinta Barrett plays Heloise with charm. Claire Forlini, Douglas Henshall, Tom Wilkinson, and Ian Hart do good work for the director. Willem Dafoe appears as the American art lover who falls prey to the ambitions of these assorted group under the guidance of Tom Ripley.
There is an ironic twist at the conclusion of the film, which comes quite unexpectedly, but we had already sensed was a possibility.