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Jude Law shares his verdict on Netflix series Ripley

Law was nominated for an Oscar for his role as Dickie Greenleaf in 1999

Lydia Spencer-Elliott
Wednesday 11 September 2024 05:42 EDT
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Jude Law has given his opinion on the Netflix series Ripley.

The eight-part show, based on the 1955 novel The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith, starring Andrew Scott, Johnny Flynn and Dakota Fanning, has been nominated for several awards, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, at the 2024 Emmys.

Law, 51, was the first actor to play Flynnā€™s character Dickie Greenleaf in Anthony Minghellaā€™s 1999 The Talented Mr. Ripley film, which landed five Oscar nominations at the 2000 Academy Awards, including a Best Supporting Actor nod for The Holiday star.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly at the Toronto International Film Festival, where two of his forthcoming films ā€“ The Order and Eden ā€“ premiered, Law heaped praise on Ripley director Steven Zaillianā€™s interpretation of the source text.

ā€œIsnā€™t it interesting to see a really good bit of material viewed, creatively, from such different perspectives?ā€ he said.

ā€œI loved the series. I thought there was so much in it, but a completely different mood,ā€ the actor added, commending the seriesā€™ ā€œicinessā€ and ā€œpsychopathyā€.

ā€œYou saw it almost through Tomā€™s eyes really, the world, and then [film director] Anthony [Minghella]ā€™s world, which is romance and love and escapism and colour. Interesting,ā€ he said.

Jude Law and Andrew Scott as Tom Ripley in ā€˜Ripleyā€™
Jude Law and Andrew Scott as Tom Ripley in ā€˜Ripleyā€™ (Getty Images and Netflix)

Law has previously praised Ripley, saying in an interview upon the seriesā€™ release in April that Zaillianā€™s adaptation was ā€œinterestingā€ as itā€™s ā€œvery different stylisticallyā€ to the 1999 film he starred in alongside Gwyneth Paltrow and Matt Damon.

ā€œBoth versions reflect the director in many ways,ā€ the Sherlock Holmes star said.

ā€œOne is visual, colourful, and romantic. The other is quite forensic and more sinister. Film, to me, often reflects the person at the helm of the camera.ā€

Scott in ā€˜Ripleyā€™
Scott in ā€˜Ripleyā€™ (Philippe Antonello/Netflix)

Zaillianā€™s choice to film Ripley in black and white left Netflix users divided, with some complaining that they ā€œdidnā€™t last the first episodeā€ because ā€œthe cinematography is so annoyingā€.

Law admitted that although he hasnā€™t watched his version ā€œin many, many yearsā€, screening the new one brought ā€œso many memories in my mindā€.

ā€œI kept thinking, ā€˜Oh God, I remember this.ā€™ Down to the name of Dickieā€™s maid, Ermelinda. I always remember saying, ā€˜Ermelinda, Ermelinda.ā€™ There was an emotional level, too, to revisiting those characters,ā€ he explained.

Matt Damon, Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow in ā€˜The Talented Mr Ripleyā€™
Matt Damon, Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow in ā€˜The Talented Mr Ripleyā€™ (Rex Features)

In a recent interview with The Times, Law revealed he almost turned down the role of Dickie in The Talented Mr. Ripley over fears of being typecast.

ā€œIt was delusion and madness,ā€ he said. ā€œThere was a panic in my head that I was going to be typecast as this good-looking guy.

ā€œThatā€™s where my 23-year-old brain was, yes,ā€ the actor continued. ā€œWhat I missed, idiotically, were the complexities of that role, but honestly? I just wanted to be taken seriously. ā€˜I do theatre!ā€™ It was as simple as that.

ā€œNow Iā€™d say to myself, ā€˜Donā€™t give yourself a hard time.ā€™"

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