BlakeC Scott

Ripley is the single most cinematic television production I’ve ever seen. It puts even beautifully shot and directed shows like True Detective, Breaking Bad, and Fargo to shame. Both the direction and cinematography deserve oscars… I would say they deserve Golden Globes or Emmys but that is not what I mean. They are so far ahead of anything eligible for those awards that those awards are inconsequential. The cinematography rivals the best films of all time: a cross between the dutch angles and mise en scene of The Third Mani and the clarity and sparkle of Alfonso Cauron’s Roma…except, honestly, better than both. As a cinephile I was stunned. Stunned repeatedly. This is a masterpiece of both art and craft from the first scene of the first episode to its strangely Psycho reminiscent ending. Ripley is an artistic achievement of the highest order. It is also well acted, especially by Andrew Scott and Maurizio Lombardi, and is a very reasonable adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel. There will be people who do not like Ripley. Some viewers will call it slow. Some viewers will be confused that plot points and motivations are implied and not explained. Some viewers will complain about the lack of color. Those viewers, bless their hearts, don’t deserve this show. It is slowly paced; It does rely on the intelligence of its viewers to piece together details; It is in (absolutely resplendent and jaw-dropping) black and white. These facts add to the show’s impact; they do not take away from it. If you are a fan of great movies, do yourself a favor and watch Ripley. You might come away lamenting that a TV show is ineligible for the Sight and Sound list.